Sogavare Warns Against Uninformed Criticisms

PRESS RELEASE 09/05/07GH

Sogavare Warns Against Uninformed Criticisms

By Deli Oso
Press Secretary to the Prime Minister

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has warned critics against making uninformed criticisms on issues including the Julian Moti saga as they can be sued for defamation.

Mr Sogavare issued the warning at his first weekly Press Conference in Honiara yesterday.

The Prime Minister expressed great disappointment over the condemnation by the National Parliamentary Opposition Group, Transparency Solomon Islands and the National Council of Women of the government’s move to lift the suspension of Mr Moti’s appointment as Solomon Islands Attorney General.

Mr Sogavare said the criticisms by the National Parliamentary Opposition Group, Transparency Solomon Islands and the National Council of Women amounted to defamation.

He said Solomon Islands uphold the freedom of expression but people had to express their views responsibly and within the bounds of law.

“The expressions that have come amount to criminal defamation and that is quite serious and I hope that people who have made the comments were actually aware of the extent they were taking the issue.”

“What they have said was out of context and the way I see it they really do not know the issue. What they have expressed was really said in a vacuum.

“There’s a danger here in joining a public debate on issues where one has very little knowledge or no knowledge of the underlying facts,” the Prime Minister said.

Mr Sogavare said the government maintained its stand that Australia’s extradition attempt against Mr Moti was politically motivated as the Vanuatu Court had cleared the case against Moti and therefore he had no case to answer for in Australia.

He said the government was now working to lift the suspension imposed on Moti’s appointment for the Attorney General post by the Public Service Commission.

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