Muaki rejects apology call
THE Parliamentary Opposition Group has described a statement made by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in the Island Sun newspaper this week as “insensitive and a mockery to citizens of the country”.
The Parliamentary Opposition was referring to a statement made by Mr Sogavare, which quoted him stating that “people who do not share the same view as his government on the payment of former militants are ones who coiled their tails between their legs and fled Honiara for safety during the ethnic crisis”.
The article headlined ‘Sogavare: They got it all wrong’ appeared in page 3 of the Island Sun on Thursday 7th January 2016.
The Opposition Group said the Prime Minister’s comment is a slap on the face of citizens of this country especially those who suffered, feared and fled for their lives during the ethnic crisis.
“The Prime Minister does not have the right to ridicule those who made the decision to flee Honiara for safety,” the Opposition said.
“The choice to flee during the crisis was a personal choice and was made voluntarily by individuals and families for safety,” it added.
“It is absolutely outrageous for the Prime Minister to point fingers at those who decided to flee and praised those who engaged in the crisis.
“How can the Prime Minister say such thing to people of this country?” it asked.
The statement said it was even more shocking that the Prime Minister sees fit to use a senseless illustration ‘coiled their tails between their legs’ that seemingly illustrated the behavior of a dog to try and clarify his statement.
“How senseless can this comment be?
“The Prime Minister should be sensitive in making such statements especially when commenting on this very delicate issue; an issue that has brought our country to its knees not so long ago,” it said.
The Parliamentary Opposition said it would also like to clarify that in their previous statement this week, the Opposition at no time raise any allegation to say that the Prime Minister promised ex-combatants the package when he took office from Ulufa’alu as suggested by the Prime Minister.
“The Prime Minister needs to go back and read our previous statement before making fallacious claims as such,” it said.
Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Opposition Group called on the Prime Minister to must make a public apology for his comments because many citizens who fled during the crisis have suffered and they do not deserve to be ridiculed as dogs.
But Special Secretary to the Prime Minister Andrew Muaki said Mr Sogavare’s statement does not warrant an apology.
“The comments alluded to were taken out of context,” Mr Muaki stated.
“The PM was making reference to national leaders who left Honiara at the relevant period in our dark history and who were in a position to address these issues subsequently, but shy away from doing so. They are now politicking the issue for their own interests,” he added.
Mr Muaki further said the comments were not in any way was in reference to ordinary Solomon Islanders and foreigners who left Honiara during the darkest periods in our national history.
“The current DCC Government acknowledges the personal difficulties and hardship individuals, families, communities and businesses faced during those difficult times in our history.
“Given the above explanation an apology is irrelevant.”