MALAITA Provincial Premier Daniel Suidani has strongly condemned the actions of Police Response Team (PRT) at Bethel community in East Fataleka in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Speaking to Solomon Star Auki yesterday, Premier Suidani said what has happened at Bethel community does not speak well of police as a body that citizens can trust when it comes to law and order, and safety of citizens.
He said he regretted the PRT action at Bethel community and said of all peaceful approaches under the sun available to get what police want, police choose to use arms on an innocent community just because they want to interview one person.
The Premier is of the view that Police operation under the current DCGA government is very suspicious and not trustworthy.
He said Police treated the M4D President Knoxly Atu as someone who escaped from prison, or a criminal who is on the run, or someone who holds on to a firearm, when actually, he is a concerned Malaitan who continues to stand for Malaita and a committed family man.
The Premier said no amount of apology will ease the trauma that PRT operation at Bethel community has put the innocent people through.
With that, he said the Bethel community should be compensated for what he described as sensitive, disrespectful, and culturally wrong actions taken by the Police.
He said police should explore peaceful and manful avenues to sort the issue out rather than causing more damage which causes more friction between communities and police.
Suidani said if this is the new approach approved by police to use teargas and guns on communities, then the police are simply pouring fuel on a burning fire which is not safe for communities not only in Malaita but the whole country.
By WILSON SAENI
Auki News Bureau