SOLOMON ISLANDS: Government angry over internet release of 'truth' report

Sean Dorney

BRISBANE (Radio Australia / Pacific Media Watch): The Solomon Islands government has reacted angrily to the unauthorised release of a report over the internet.

Former Anglican Bishop of Malaita, Terry Brown, released a digital version of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's (TRC) report into the country's ethnic war earlier this week over the internet.

Brown - the editor of the report - says it was presented to the government 14 months ago and he believes the public has a right to know what it contains.

Solomon Islands Attorney-General, Billy Titiulu, has accused Brown of being "irresponsible".

Local media reported the chairman of the TRC, Father Sam Ata, saying the release of the report is illegal.

He says any decision regarding the release rests with Parliament.

The report recommends local courts be re-established throughout the Solomons to give people access to justice, and says community policing needs to be re-introduced.

It also says government lawyers should be given better training and conditions, and police recruitment should follow a provincial quota system to ensure ethnic balance.

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