Police assessment indicates presence of arms in Auki
AN on the ground assessment by police in Auki, Malaita Province indicated some of the protesters were armed, Police Commissioner Mostyn Mangau told a news conference in Honiara, Thursday.
Commissioner Mangau also confirmed activities undertaken by the protestors, including the march and sit-in by women in-front of the Provincial Assembly were unlawful.
“Even just the march itself, the law requires that a permit was required. That was not done,” confirming that despite the unlawful assembly, not arrests were made.
Police deployed an additional 20 officers, including members of the Police Response Team, who flew in the day before.
Despite these shortcomings, the Police Commissioner said police were happy with the outcome of yesterday’s political event in Auki.
“It’s a good outcome – a peaceful outcome for everyone,” he said.
Commissioner Mangau said police had to do everything as they knew how to defuse the tense situation, which he added could have gone out of hand.
“We had all the options there, including operational plans to deal with the situation, but our priority is to ensure a peaceful outcome.”
The Commissioner avoided directly answering a question that should police do their work, the outcome could have been different.
Asked whether the security assessment by his men on the ground suspected arms in the crowd, the Commissioner said police could not rule out people being armed.
By Alfred Sasako
Newsroom, Honiara
