Police action comes under fire

BY NIGEL SANDY

THE RECENT police intervention into the Truth and Reconciliation hearing in Taro, Choiseul province which led to the arrest of a wanted man has come under fire from TRC’s chairman Fr Sam Ata.

The criticisms come after a closed TRC hearing in Taro for members of the defunct black shark group was abruptly disturbed by RAMSI personals and local police.


According to a TRC press release, six participants were invited for the hearings.

Four people had testified before the Truth Commission when Police disturbed the hearing and arrested the wanted man.

The wanted man whom police arrested has been identified as Samson leketo.

Samson leketo is wanted by police in relation to serious offences which includes attempted murder and intimidation.

He was issued a bench warrant for his arrest by the high Court of the Solomon Islands but has been evading police for a long time.

In criticizing the action by the police, Fr. Ata said that the action taken by RAMSI and police in Taro was disrespectful to the national process.

“What RAMSI and police have done undermines the confidence TRC has with the society and seriously called into question its independence.

“The incident has also raised further concerns whether to request police participation in terms of providing security for future events,” the chairman said.

He said that the arrest of Mr. Lekoto has in fact led to TRC having to abort the closed hearings as the remaining former combatants have now refused to appear before the committee.

Fr.Sam described the intervention by RAMSI and local police as, ‘heavy handed and inappropriate’, as the authorities took advantage of TRC’s processes to achieve their own objectives.

While criticizing the actions by the police, the chairman also took the chance to apologize to the premier, people and participants of Western and Choiseul Provinces for the actions of the police.