26 Nov 2002

Some Vanuatu MPs make brief protest against presidential pardon

11:12 am on 26 November 2002

17 government backbenchers in Vanuatu have staged a brief protest over the presidential pardon given to former prime minister, Barak Sope.

Mr Sope, who in July was jailed for three years for fraud, was this month pardoned on medical grounds by the President, Father John Bani.

The government's spokesman, Daniel Bangtor, says the MPs left for a short time as the President prepared to read his official speech opening a new session of parliament.

"It was a decision that was made solely by the backbenchers, I think they are fully aware of the government's position on the issue of the presidential pardon, and they have also been bothered by opinions coming from the voters and so they decided to walk out of parliament in protest towards what the president did."

Daniel Bangtor.

The Government is planning a commission of inquiry into the pardon.

It is also considering re-writing the constitution to trim the president's power to pardon.