Writing an opinion piece and published in the Solomon Star Newspaper today, Mr Gordon Mae, and the Taki House chief representative alleged the firing of tear gas last week by the RSIPF at peaceful protestors, who were at the time calm despite calling on the prime minister to resign, inflamed the situation which resulted in the unrest.
I am not able to comment of Mr Mae’s allegations but as the former police commissioner in the Solomon Islands I am able to confirm that I was always very cautious in allowing tear gas to be fired knowing how its use on non violent marchers or protestors, even some who turned angry at football events, had the undesirable consequences of rioting and an invasion of Chinatown resulting in property damage and looting.
By proper preventative measures and instructions in writing by way of Standing Orders there was no intrusion by angry football attendees, or any others intent on harm, into Chinatown during my term in office from 1997 till after my departure in mid-1999.
There was rioting in 2006 and the use of tear gas, fired without warning at the National Parliament by then members of the AFP, as confirmed in the subsequent findings of the official Commission of Inquiry, instituted by the Solomon Islands Government.
Handling public order disturbances is always something of a balancing act for the police, but firing tear gas prematurely on people gathered in peaceful but sometimes noisy protest is not an action I ever condoned and acted against.
In the coming weeks, there might come more clarity on the manner tear gas was fired recently in Honiara and until then one should not jump to conclusions, such as seems hinted at by Mr. Mae today.
WHAT IS EVIDENT, HOWEVER, AND SAD IS WHAT DID ENSUE FROM THE CIVIL DISORDER, PROPERTY DAMAGE AND LOOTING, NOT EVEN MENTIONING THE DAMAGE TO THE COUNTRIES ECONOMY, STANDING IN THE WORLD AND THE PERSONAL LOSS OF INCOME AND HOMES OF THE CHINESE RESIDENTS OF HONIARA THAT HAD MADE THE CITY HOME AND SERVED THE COMMUNITY FOR MANY YEARS.
Very sad indeed.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short.
