The head of the military wing of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands has rejected claims that the soldiers involved in an altercation with drunken youths on Malaita late last month had themselves been drinking.
Lieutenant Colonel Ian Upjohn says investigations into the altercation and other incidents involving a group of Tongan soldiers with RAMSI are continuing.
The police commissioner Jahir Khan says there are accusations the Tongans were under the influence of kwaso or homebrew at the time.
Lt Col Upjohn says that's not the case but that a second group of Tongan soldiers on Malaita, four days after the alleged brawl incident, had gone drinking with local youths.
"Some soldiers went out into town, in their civilian clothing and without their weapons, and socialised with some local youths. Regrettably some of them drank kwaso with the local youths. There was no altercation or anything but that is against my standing orders and it's against military discipline."
Lt Col Ian Upjohn says the Tongans are being disciplined now for this incident.
