New video footage showing the bloody aftermath of the Paniai massacre in West Papua highlights the urgent need for Indonesia to hold an independent and transparent investigation into the tragedy, says Minority Rights Group International (MRG). In December 2014, four unarmed Papuan teenagers were killed and 17 more Papuans were injured when the Indonesian army…
Water woes for Kobito residents Residents of Kobito 1, 2, and 3 and Gilbert Camp on the outskirts of east Honiara have almost everything basic things they need in life. Except for one important commodity – clean piped water in their homes. This is not a new problem though. Handy Saelea, 27, a resident…
Public urged to be sincere when reporting rape cases THE public is urged to respect the work of police and stop abusing the services of the law enforcement institution. Director of Public Prosecutor Ronald Bei Talasasa issued the warning yesterday in light of the latest acquittal of a rape accused after the alleged victim decided…
A HIGH Court judge, court officials, prosecutors, defence lawyers, and the accused visited a murder crime scene outside of the Honiara Central Market in the early hours of Friday. The visit, taken under tight security, was made between 2am and 3.30am. It was part of the proceedings of a murder trial in which four men…
A JUVENILE who burnt down the house of an elderly man over the issue of sorcery in Guadalcanal in 2013 has been sentenced on Friday to six months imprisonment. The 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged with two counts, one of his is wilful and unlawful destruction and another is…
RESIDENTS of Manaoba island in north Malaita are reportedly face acute water shortage. A villager Basil Mouraiasi told the Solomon Star the long dry spell for the last two months resulted in the situation. “At the moment, the wells and water tanks have dried up,” Mr Mouraiasi said. “People now have to paddle to the…
THE government intends to get the proposed Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) functional by 2016. This was revealed when a delegation from the Prime Minister’s Office appeared recently before the Pacific Accounts Committee. PAC members grilled the delegation about the proposal. The Government recently announced the intention as part of its efforts to fight corruption…
EFFORTS to conserve seagrass and dugong in the country received a funding boost of US$5.88 million (more $40 million) from the Global Environmental Facility (GEF). The four-year project (2015 – 2018) is the first of its kind here, under GEF’s Dugong and Seagrass Conservation Project. The project was titled “Enhancing the Conservation Effectiveness of Seagrass…
A MAN who pleaded guilty to indecently violating the modesty of a 13-year-old girl at a settlement in West Honiara has been fined $400 yesterday in the High Court. The accused, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim because they are related, earlier stood trial for a rape charge before Justice…
POLICE will continue to monitor the industrial dispute at Solomon Islands Ports Authority (SIPA), police chief Frank Prendergast says. A 28-day strike notice the workers issued lapsed on Tuesday, but it’s understood the workers have decided not to go on strike. Mr Prendergast said police are very grateful for the support they received from the…