Commission of Inquiry releases report on Honiara 2006 civil unrest this morning

by Deli Oso, Press Secretary to the Prime Minister

The Commission of Inquiry into the 2006 April civil unrest in Honiara has released its first interim report to the public.

The Chair to the Commission, Brian Brunton announced the release of the document to the media this morning. This followed the commission’s submission of the interim report to Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare last Friday.

Mr Brunton said the Prime Minister had informed the commission yesterday to release the document to the public and also indicated that Government Communication Unit would assist in its dissemination.

The report will be posted on the Government Communication website: www.pmc.gov.sb later today.

The chairman said the document and part of the transcripts held in public would be published on the website of the Commission of Inquiry into the 2006 civil unrest.

He said the body of the interim report is 21 pages accompanied by another 31 pages of appendices.

Mr Brunton, a former PNG National Court judge said there were four compact disks CDs complementing the hard copy of the report.

He said the CDs contained the full video material provided by the Solomon Islands Police Force, copies of important affidavits and the transcript of evidence.

The video material carries scenes of the civil unrest.

Prime Minister Sogavare ordered the establishment of the commission of inquiry to establish the truth surrounding the unrest.

The other members of the commission are Noel Levi of Papua New Guinea and Waeta Ben Tabusasi and Charles Levo of Solomon Islands.