2 Apr 2009

Final report of 2006 riots in Solomon Islands leaves many unanswered questions

11:43 am on 2 April 2009

The final report on the Commission of Inquiry into the 2006 riots in Solomon Islands has left many unanswered questions.

The document which has taken two years to complete was tabled in the National Parliament yesterday.

The Commission said that in its view the riots had been organised by criminals.

The report said that the issue of compensation and government liability must be resolved by the courts.

But with the damage at more than 21 million US dollars the commission warned that a payment would trigger more anger against the Chinese community.

The one issue the commission report was clear about was the failure of duty by the Royal Solomon Islands Police on April the 18th.

The report said the RSIP failed to do its duty and could not do its job.

The report said matters were made worse by the confusion between RAMSI police and Solomon Islands Police as to who was in charge to contain the violence which both forces failed to do that day.