Transcript
RUTH LILOQULA: Transparency Solomon Islands as well as the general public have no doubt that this is over the Anti Corruption Bill. Because when they actually tabled the motion of no confidence and all the justification for that, it does not ring true for anybody. It is both shallow and they are counting on numbers to pass the motion of no confidence. I don't think we are impressed with what's going on at all.
DON WISEMAN: Do you believe that Manasseh Sogavare was committed to the Anti Corruption Bill? He's been in power all this time and it hasn't gone through.
RL: Yes we do believe that he is for this Anti Corruption Bill because he's being saying that since 2015 when he came in. And everyone of us, it was a participatory process, the Law Reform Commission did their work, consultation throughout the country, and others did their work, and this Bill came before the parliament. Although it was not what we expected it to be - it was really a watered down Bill and all of that - we still supported it as Transparency Solomon Islands with the view that it is better to have something than to have nothing. And maybe when we have new leaders they may then go and amend it and make it a legislation that would actually address the nature of corruption in this country.
DW: Do you see all of these MPs who've gone against the government's position, who have toppled the government, it seems like some sort of an admission of guilt on this matter of corruption, doesn't it?
RL: Most recently we have asked the civil society organisations, concerned citizens and individuals, to work together to campaign for bring back the Anti Corruption Bill to the parliament. And they have tabled it before the parliament. And we've seen the new Bill, they've sent it to us to have a look at it. And although watered down we are okay with it, until we got the version that is tabled before parliament that says that any corrupt conduct done before the passing of this Bill is not going to be covered. And then they've gone ahead and also making proposals to amend or repeal certain parts of the Penal Code that deals with corruption. I mean it explains why everyone of them is supporting it. Because they've made sure that it will not apply to them and their cronies or any corrupt people before the passing of this Bill.
DW: Do you hold out any hope that it is going to be passed in the near future?
RL: Well I think it is a concern. In its current form it is a concern to us, the civil society groups and also certainly Transparency Solomon Islands with the proposed amendments to the Penal Code, and also the insertion of the Section 6 - new Section 6 that they put in - we are concerned about it. But we'll see what goes on. We are still negotiating for the inclusion of the unexplained wealth, not negotiating, but we are still lobbying for that. And at the same time we are also lobbying and calling for the removal of that Section 6 and a proper look at the provisions in the Penal Code that they propose to amend.
