28 Jan 2003

RAONK says Solomons government to get huge grant by February 10th

11:38 am on 28 January 2003

The head of the Bougainville-based group, the Royal Assembly of Nations and Kingdoms, says he cannot be extradited from Solomon Islands to Papua New Guinea because he is from the Solomons.

Mr Musingku is wanted in Papua New Guinea for his role in the failed U-Vistract pyramid scheme.

PNG authorities have said his PNG passport has been seized and he should be deported for entering Solomon Islands illegally.

But he told a Honiara newspaper that he entered Solomon Islands under a diplomatic arrangement intitiated by the Solomons government, led by Sir Allan Kemkeza.

And Mr Musingku says he is a native.

"This is my country. I am not from Papua New Guinea. I am living in my country. I don't need a passport to be here because I'm an indigenous Solomon Islander."

Mr Musingku says by February 10th, the Royal Assembly will clear the 350 million US dollar grant it has promised to give to the Solomon Islands government.

Solomon Islands government has instructed its officials not to release any information about the deal with the Royal Assembly.