MINISTER CALLS FOR INVESTIGATION INTO ARMOURY RAID
SIBC News, JuLY 22, 2008 - Minister for Environment, Conservation and Meteorology Gordon Darcy Lilo reiterates calls for an investigation into the raid of the Rove Police Armoury.
The minister says former militants and leaders of Malaita and Guadalcanal provinces had requested the government to make public, information about planning and involvement in the raid before any proper and meaningful reconciliation can take place.
Mr Lilo says there have been allegations against certain leaders which must be proven in court.
He says there have also been sworn affidavits that must be proved in court.
Mr Lilo says if it's true that certain leaders were involved in planning the raid in 2000, appropriate actions must be taken against them.
SOGAVARE REFUTES FONO’S CLAIM
SIBC News, JuLY 22, 2008 - The Leader of the Opposition, Manasseh Sogavare has refuted claims by the Deputy Prime Minister that he is soliciting the support of former combatants for the upcoming motion of no-confidence in the Prime Minister.
Mr Sogavare says the truth was that the Opposition Group has had an audience with the former combatants at their request to outline its policy on the issue of rehabilitation.
He says, this in view of a change of Government which involves the continuation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to address all outstanding claims.
Mr Sogavare says the former combatants have been frustrated by the present CNURA Government’s failure to fulfil its policy statement on rehabilitation for the ex-combatants.
Mr Sogavare says he assured the former combatants that their concerns would be taken into consideration by his group group should there be a change of Government.
The Opposition leader says his group has nothing to hide about his audience with the former combatants and the same process applies to all sectors of Solomon Islands society.
Mr Sogavare says he had said on many occasions, the CNURA Government has mishandled the peace process by failing to address the rehabilitation issue as promised in its policy statement.
He says reconciliation is a pre-requisite for rehabilitation and the CNURA Government should have made this clear in its policy statement rather than making empty promises which serve to only further frustrate an already fragile situation.
FORMER MEF DENIES CLAIM
SIBC News, JuLY 22, 2008 - Chairman of former Malaita Eagle Force combatants, Moses Su'u denies claims by the Deputy Prime Minister, Fred Fono that his group was siding with the Opposition to oust Government from office.
Mr Su'u was responding to statements Mr Fono made at a press conference held with the local media yesterday.
Mr Su'u says the allegations that his group of former combatants were backing the Opposition to remove Government from office in a no confidence motion at the next meeting of parliament were based on speculation.
He says all meetings his group held with leaders in authority were made in open discussion and that community leaders were involved.
WOMEN & GIRLS MUST BE STOPPED: SINCW
SIBC News, JuLY 22, 2008 - The Solomon Islands National Council of Women says government must intervene now to find strong and effective ways to stop women and young girls from visiting foreign fishing vessels.
NCW General Secretary Ella Kauhue says the government needs to immediately do everything in its power to empower local police Officers with resources that are needed to effectively do the job.
She claims that perpetrators of such a crime are out there and the police must apprehend them.
She says that instead of highlighting the arrest of females, the Police Officers must arrest and charge people who are behind such an evil industry, the Crews of the foreign vessels who are involved in the operation and others who may be organizing these women to get to the boats.
Ms Kauhue says NCW has raised this issue in the past, but no one organization is going to stop these females from visiting the boats.
She says visits to foreign vessels by women and young girls will not stop unless the issue of poverty is taken seriously by the government and its development partners.
Ms Kauhue says if the government wants to make a difference to the lives of the people of Solomon Islands, there is a need to address women’s issues first.
GUADALCANAL MAN CALLS ON OPPOSITION TO WITHDRAW MOTION
SIBC News, JuLY 22, 2008 - A farmer from East Central Guadalcanal calls on the Opposition to withdraw the motion of no confidence it plans to move against the government when parliament convenes.
John Suku says farmers of the area have a lot of confidence in the current regime.
He says farmers are encouraged by Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua's promise of maintaining the roads during his recent tour of the constituency.
Mr Suku says if the proposed motion succeeds, then the promise will not be fulfilled.
He says farmers are finding it difficult getting their produce to Honiara.
