Guadacanal MPs oppose gun but not appointment of Khan and Moti.

Guadalcanal Members of Parliament last night confirmed they will quit Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare’s Government if it gives local Police officers guns. But they also revealed they do not oppose the appointments of Attorney-General Julian Moti and Police Commissioner Jahir Khan.

A meeting of Guadalcanal leaders had called for the Government to drop the controversial Police rearmament, along with the appointments of Mr Moti and Mr Khan.
But Central Guadalcanal MP and spokesman for the MPs, Peter Shanel, told the Solomon Star the MPs believe Mr Moti and Mr Khan were properly appointed. “We believe that the appointments were done in line with our constitution and they were Cabinet decisions so we support it,” the Minister for Commerce said.

However, Mr Shanel said they don’t support plans to give guns back to some sections of the Police force. “If that policy goes ahead then we will leave the Government,” Mr Shanel said.

Guadalcanal MPs in the Government are: Dr Derek Sikua (Minister of Education), Siriako Usa (Minister of Mines), Mr Shanel, Nollan Leni (Minister of Fisheries) and Martin Sopage.

The Guadalcanal leaders on Friday last week delivered a 14-day notice to the Government for it to respond to a series of resolutions. These included for the Government not to rearm Police, and for the appointments of Mr Moti and Mr Khan to be dropped. The resolutions were reached during a Guadalcanal leaders’ meeting held at Gorou.

Source: Solomon star.