6 Apr 2009

Solomons government won't release names in report into riots as no proof

6:26 am on 6 April 2009

The Solomon Islands Government says it could not release the full Commission of Inquiry report into the riots in Honiara in 2006.

The report casts suspicion on politicians, NGOs and criminals, but doesn't identify specific individuals.

The Prime Minister's special secretary, John Keniapisia, says the Cabinet decided to omit names from the report because the Commission of Inquiry only suspected people of involvement, but could not prove they were to blame.

"No one was seen as directly involved and therefore responsible. There was suspiciousness and therefore those suspicious informations if got into the wrong mind will be calculated wrongly and therefore acted upon wrongly. That's why the government is concerned about this and therefore withholding it from the public."

John Keniapisia says how the government responds to the report's recommendations is more important than finding out who was to blame for the riots.