PM Sogavare Stands By Firearms Statement

PM Stands By Firearms Statement

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has written to the Special Coordinator of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands expressing deep concern over the head of the Australian-led mission's rejection of the Prime Minister's statement in parliament on uncollected weapons.

Mr Sogavare when concluding the recent parliament sitting last Tuesday said the government would require a full explanation from RAMSI regarding the status of the mission's disarmament programme after the MP for North East Guadalcanal revealed in the house that firearms still exist throughout the community.

The Prime Minister told parliament that the RAMSI Special Coordinator had on previous occasions told him that RAMSI was not aware of any firearms still in circulation amongst ex-militants or members of the public and the revelations on the existence of firearms in the community warranted an explanation.

Mr George last week issued a media statement denying having ever said that all weapons had been recovered from the community.

However in a letter to Mr George in response to his media statement, Mr Sogavare reminded the Special Coordinator that he and his former Deputy Special Coordinator, Paul Ash had told him (Prime Minister) in their meeting in January this year that they were unaware of the existence of any outstanding weapons.

The Prime Minister pointed out in the letter that he had a prerogative to inform the public on issues that have direct bearing on their safety and wellbeing where as the media statement by Mr George distorted the essence of what was being represented regarding the existence of weapons and the obligations of the visiting contingent.

Mr Sogavare said although a collective effort was being made to strengthen and rebuild the Solomon Islands Police Force (SIPF), it was important for the Special Coordinator to take note of the fact that the present force (SIPF) did not have the capacity to carry out disarmament operations and thus it was the sole responsibility of RAMSI with the support of SIPF to ensure all outstanding weapons were collected.

The Prime Minister also directed Mr George in the letter to provide him with a full report on the disarmament programme carried out since the arrival of RAMSI in 2003.

He wanted the report to include a list of all the weapons collected including the licensed holders who surrendered their weapons and an inventory from police records of the firearms in the police armory prior to the raid of the weapons storage in June 2000.

ENDS

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