AN armed group is reportedly “plotting’ to take down the Democratic Coalition Government for Advancement (DCGA) led by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, it was revealed Thursday.
The group consists of individuals largely from Malaita and Guadalcanal and are fully armed, sources within told Solomon Star on Thursday.
“You should see what they have. You will be amazed,” one source said.
“They are moving around in vehicles in town and are carrying their guns and ammunitions with them. It is led by ex-militants from Malaita Province with sympathisers from Guadalcanal and other provinces, including Choiseul, where Mr. Sogavare comes from,” one insider familiar with the group, said.
“Their purpose is to force Prime Minister Sogavare to step down because he had reneged on his many promises to deliver development projects on Malaita. The fact that he has not delivered even one single project on his promises in the four tenures he served as Prime Minister has become an irritant.
“Malaita has lost faith in the man. The loss of the Fiu Bridge project near Auki in recent weeks simply rubs salt on the wound,” the insider said.
But just how the group would execute its takeover plan and when remains a secret.
However, the news of the presence of the underground armed group seems to have quietly spread right across communities in and around Honiara.
Sources said police are aware of what is going on and are reportedly prepared to counter any move to oust the DCGA leadership.
The government too is aware of the undercurrents and the implications for the coalition government.
In recent days police have stepped up checking vehicles in and around the Lungga area under the pretext of checking for vehicle’s road worthiness. Whether the checks, which sometimes lasts a day, are linked in any way with reports of the armed group is unclear.
It is also unclear whether the plot to bring down the government is linked to Premier Daniel Suidani’s anti-Sogavare stance.
Solomon Star was warned a month ago that “something big” would happen when Premier Suidani returns from overseas.
“Don’t report anything on this. Just wait and see,” an informer told Solomon Star then.
Premier Suidani is due to arrive back in Solomon Islands by the end of the month.
Asked who the group has in mind to take over the leadership, should the plot is successively executed the source said three MPs from the Opposition side have been identified.
“This does not mean the Opposition is supportive of the plan to put down the government. It does not. It simply means there are three potential leadership contestants in the Opposition. The leadership is something Members of the Opposition will have to work out amongst themselves after the event,” the source said.
By Alfred Sasako
Newsroom, Honiara
