Education Minister

Solomons

cries foul

The Solomon Islands Minister of Education, Alfred Maetia, has accused a newspaper of releasing a story which could threaten the safety of Solomon Islanders in Papua New Guinea.

And, Maetia said it could harm diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The story, released by the Solomon Star, a bi-weekly newspaper, involved the fatal shooting of a Papua New Guinea soldier by a Solomon security guard on the Solomon Islands side of the border.

The original report by Solomon Islands police authorities did not state anyone from either side was killed in the incident in which gunfire was exchanged at Komoliae village in the Shortland islands.

Komoliae was the scene of a cross-border raid by Papua New Guinea Defence sol diers in 1992 in which three Solomon Islanders were killed.

Maetia accused the Solomon Star of prac tising irresponsible journalism and being uncaring about possible repercussions on Solomon Islanders in PNG, especially stu dents.

PNG’s High Commission to Solomon Islands, Joseph Asaigo, has repudiated the report, saying it was in bad taste.