Fire suspect killed; civil servants return to work
Honiara (Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation/PINA Nius Online) – A compensation ceremony between parties involved in the death of a suspect in the burning of a Honiara building was held here.
A man suspected to be involved in the burning down of the three-story Place makers Hardware building in Honiara last Friday was killed while in detention at the Rove prison in the capital.
The burning came amidst tensions between some of the Malaita Eagle Force members disbanding under the Townsville Peace Agreement and their commanders over payments the men say they are owed. The building burnt down housed the law offices of Malaita Eagle Force spokesperson Andrew Nori, Radio Australia reported.
Assistant Police Commissioner Wilfred Akao told SIBC the deceased was one of several men brought in from Auki by some commanders of the joint paramilitary Malaita Eagle Force operation.
While at the Rove Prison a group of men came in and shot the deceased in both legs and hands.
Mr. Akao said the deceased died on the way to the Central Hospital.
Mr. Akao was quoted by Radio Australia as saying the man had already been badly beaten when he was brought in and was subsequently shot in his cell by what are alleged to be members of the Malaita Eagle Force.
The killing comes amid an alleged split in the militia force over the past two weeks, Radio Australia said.
Mr. Akao told SIBC News the police force had been continuing investigations into the fire when members of the joint paramilitary/Malaita Eagle Force operation brought in the suspects.
Mr. Akao said because of the sensitivity of the incident he could not say what has happened to the rest of the men who were brought from Auki.
The body of the deceased has been flown to his home village south of Auki.
In other developments:
• Public servants in Honiara agreed to return to work today during a meeting in Honiara yesterday.
Solomon Islands Public Employees Union General Secretary Clement Waiwori said while the workers return to work he has been mandated to negotiate their grievances with the government.
He says the union meeting resolved that the danger allowance issue must be resolved within the next three days.
Waiwori says failing that will result in public servants walking off their jobs again on Friday.
• The Government will announce a date for the proposed offshore peace talks between the Marau Eagle Force and the joint Isatabu Freedom Movement-Guadalcanal province delegation after both factions present their draft peace agreements to the government.
The Prime Minister’s Press Secretary, John Asipara, clarified this yesterday after the offshore talks were postponed last week.
The peace talks between the Guadalcanal province, Isatabu Freedom Movement, Marau Eagle Force and the national government have had to go through another round after the parties failed to agree.
