PAPUA New Guinea has responded to Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare’s request for assistance and is now sending its security personnel to support the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force in managing the current unrest in Honiara.
They will be arriving late this afternoon.
Mr Sogavare in his nationwide address last night confirmed that he had been in contact with the governments of Australia and Papua New Guinea seeking their assistance to assist our country.
In his request letter to Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape, Mr Sogavare said he is seeking the assistance provided for three to four weeks to support the RSIPF in managing the crisis.
He also highlighted that COVID-19 remains a risk for both countries and therefore requested that travelling personnel are fully vaccinated and to each undergo one PCR test within 24 hours of deployment.
“We request that any personnel that test positive is not deployed.
“…we will redo PCR testing of your personnel within 48 hours of arrival, however, they will be deployed immediately on arrival,” Mr Sogavare said.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister in response to calls for him to step down said while he acknowledged calls for him to step down, he must also respect our democracy.
“If I am removed as Prime Minister it will be on the floor of parliament.
“I’m elected as the prime minister of our beloved country by 35 members of parliament who represent their people.
“The call for me to step down is on the hunger for power by certain politicians who do not have any respect for the principles of democracy in due processes,” he said.
He added that he had faith and respect in our democratic process and he will defend it with his life.
“I say this with deepest conviction.
“Our people need to and must understand that our actions in defending democracy is not merely a lip service it is conviction in the principles and values that underpins our democracy and all democracies around the world,” Mr Sogavare said.
He said in 2006 a precedence was set when the prime minister back then was asked to resign after a riot in Honiara.
“That event is the precedence to our current situation. If I am to step down what message will that send to our people, children and generations to come.
“Some of us are of the opinion that if I step down the protests and riots will stop.
“This is the easiest decision to make. However, the effects of this decision is what weighs heavy in my heart.
“Are we saying to our young children and youths that whenever we not happy with those in authority we take the laws into our own hands?
“If we do this it is a very dangerous message to our people and future generations.
“We are effectively saying to our children, take the law into your own hands whenever you are not happy.
“This must never be the message we send nor the conviction we instil in our citizens if we are to progress as a peaceful democracy,” he said.
Therefore, he called on all people to return to your homes.
“I call on all our people to please return to your homes our city has already been ransacked with properties burnt to the ground.
“It would take a lot of effort and money to rebuild it.
“I appeal to you all to respect our city, public and private properties and the safety of innocent civilians.
“Destructions, looting and violence is not how we address our grievances but instead through dialogue and consultation which the government has been advancing despite misinformation being circulated by certain individuals and leaders who have no regard for the collateral and irreversible damage caused by such unwarranted actions,” the prime minister said.
He also ask churches to pray for our country and people and urge all ministers and members of parliament to defend our democracy.
