21 Sep 2006

Solomon Islands police commissioner says monitoring continuing but no unease

1:05 pm on 21 September 2006

The Solomon Islands Police Commissioner, Shane Castles, says monitoring of the security situation is continuing in Honiara but there is no sign of any unease on the streets.

This follows comments by a former Finance Minister, Peter Boyers, that he believed an attack on his office by a group of balaclava-clad men, was politically motivated.

Mr Castles says police believe the break-in at Mr Boyer's office, which was one of a number targetted, was down to burglary and the theft of property, and some arrests have been made in connection with that.

There is also a motion of no confidence planned in the prime minister, Manasseh Sogavare, when parliament meets on October 2nd, after he expelled Australia's High Commissioner.

Mr Castles says he won't comment on the political instability but there are no signs of unrest.

"There's no reason to believe, at this stage, that there's going to be anything untoward. The police are simply monitoring and having our intelligence officers out there, as well as our police officers on the street, monitoring, listening, talking to the community, trying to ascertain if anything may be planned or going on."

Mr Castles says appropriate level of resources will be in place when parliament meets so that it can conduct its business but he wouldn't say whether this will mean putting additional police in place.