The Chief Justice, His Honour Sir Albert Palmer has called for a Commission of Inquiry to determine the cause of the 2021 November rioting and looting in Honiara
He made the call during the opening of the legal year this week, which was conducted virtually.
Chief Justice Palmer said the Chinatown riots were a disgrace and an embarrassment.
He said the kind of criminal activities and lawlessness cannot be condoned.
“This is the second or third time this has occurred and is the most destructive of all,” Sir Albert said.
“Nearly the whole of China town was burnt down,” he added.
“For some businesses that had just rebuilt their properties, it would be heart wrenching to see their properties go up in smoke again.”
The Chief justice said the incident sadly was not confined to Chinatown but other parts of the city were also targeted, looted and burnt down as well.
“At the right time an investigation or a commission of enquiry should be considered to be set up to determine inter alia, the causes of the riot and recommendations to be considered as to how that part of the town and businesses and property can be better secured and protected in future,” Sir Albert said.
Meanwhile Attorney General John Muria Jnr said the events that occurred on November 24 last year were a sad event for Honiara and for Solomon Islands.
Source. Island Sun newspaper
Comment
I associate with the call from His Honour the Chief Justice for a Commission of Inquiry into last November’s rioting and widespread arson and looting for the very reason His Honour has expressed, but also because I believe there remains lingering reasons of a political belief or bias for the destruction that occurred.
A Commission of Inquiry could also look into any alleged failings in security that might be improved in terms of surveillance, intelligence planning and police deployment.
Also if the Solomon Islands is to attract foreign investmetment, trade, tourism and the wide degree of development support needed, then not only development partners but investors and importers will need to feel assured of the political and general security arrangements long term for the country.
International media coverage of the rioting and the consequential arson and looting by many young people conveyed a very bad image of a country over 40 odd years into its independence of a sovereign nation and despite the security arrangements in place for regional response to a security breakdown by countries such as Australia and New Zealand, it should be noted that not all sectors of the Australian population were in favour of the recent assistance mission that again stepped up to help the SI.
Another important consideration is the need for the Solomon Islands to be considered stable and secure for the hosting of the Pacific Games to be hosted in Honiara in 12 months time.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
