Renewed call for inquiry

into militant groups

ANOTHER official request has been made to the Solomon Islands govern ment to establish an inde pendent commission to investigate militant groups in Guadalcanal province.

The request came from Police Commissioner Frank Short during a recent meeting with Prime Minister

Bartholomew Ulufa'alu.

Short said remarks by the Prime Minister prompted his latest call.

The Prime Minister alleged that the current eth nic tension in the province is politically motivated and some politicians are involved in trying to topple his government.

Short said he reminded Prime Minister Ulufa'alu that he first called for a Commission of Inquiry into the affairs of militant groups* following the tragic death of a security, guard on Tambea, in northwest Guadalcanal, in January.

Ulufa’alu admitted there has been an increase in crim inal activities in northwest Guadalcanal since the inci dent.

Short is optimistic that the people in Guadalcanal and neighbouring Malaita will come forward with information on the activities

of militant groups in their areas, now that their leaders have pledged their support to the national government in trying to resolve the ethnic tension in the two provinces.

Guadalcanal Premier Ezekiel Alebua, who has been demanding greater recognition for the rights of Guadalcanal people, finally met with the Prime Minister to discuss the ethnic problems in the country.

However, riot police had to use tear gas to disperse a stone throwing crowd outside the Guadalcanal provincial headquarters in

the Solomon’s capital, Honiara, after the meeting. The crowd was not pleased with the outcome of the meeting between

Ulufa'alu and the Premiers o f Guadalcanal and Malaita provinces over recent ethnic tension.

The provincial leaders agreed to support the

national government in its efforts to resolve the matter involving the two provinces.

Malaita people are demanding action against the militant Guadalcanal Liberation Army for terrorising Malaitans and attempt ing to dominate the country.

Meanwhile, the Solomon Islands gov ernment has promised an undisclosed

amount of reward money for the capture of those responsible for the recent terrorism,

(Pacnews/Sibc) ■

Solomon Islands prime minister Bartholomew Uluta'alu