11 May 2013

Solomons watchdog calls for release of leaked report

8:01 am on 11 May 2013

The anti-corruption organisation Transparency Solomon Islands is calling for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's report on the ethnic tensions to be made public as soon as possible.

The report, the product of extensive consultations with those on all sides of a bloody conflict subdued by international military intervention a decade ago, was presented to the prime minister Gordon Darcy Lilo early last year.

The report's final editor, the former Anglican bishop Terry Brown, released digital copies recently saying he was concerned the government would contravene the Truth and Reconciliation Act and withhold the report.

Transparency says debate over Dr Brown's action should not be allowed to mask the fact that Mr Lilo had failed in his legal duty to table the final report in parliament on receiving it last year.

It says the government must make the report the first order of business in its next sitting in July so the community can begin to absorb it and continue the process of national healing.

Mr Lilo has said Dr Brown acted unlawfully in releasing the report but Transparency points out that the act is silent on the premature release of the report and creates no offence for such an action.