OMEN
08-29-2006, 01:46 PM
FOUR men accused of planning riots in the Solomon Islands were also involved in a plot to kill the country's former prime minister and three senior ministers, a court has been told.
Alex Bartlett, a former leader of the militant group Malaita Eagle Force, has faced a Honiara court, charged with arson and helping to plan the riots that destroyed parts of the Solomon Islands capital on April 18 and 19.
Public prosecutor Mark Hobart told the Honiara Magistrates Court that five days before the riots, Bartlett met with MPs Nelson Ne'e and Charles Dausabea, and his brother, former Honiara mayor David Dausabea.
Ne'e and the Dausabea brothers are also facing riot-related charges.
Mr Hobart said that at the meeting, Charles Dausabea allegedly spoke about killing then acting prime minister Allan Kemakeza and three ministers in his government, if the Kemakeza administration remained in power.
The three ministers were named as Peter Boyers, Laurie Chan and Snyder Rini.
It is also alleged Charles Dausabea talked about wiping out Chinese businesses by burning and looting shops because Chinese businessmen supported Kemakeza's government.
Mr Hobart told the court that Mr Bartlett, Mr Ne'e and David Dausabea supported Charles Dausabea's comments, the Solomon Star newspaper reported today.
The prosecutor said Charles Dausabea told the group of his desire to control a new Solomon Islands government.
Charles Dausabea also told Mr Ne'e to prepare his people for rioting and said that if he came to power, he would ensure criminal charges against Mr Bartlett were dropped, the court was told.
Mr Hobart said that on April 18, the day Honiara's Chinatown was looted and torched, a witness saw Bartlett walking along the street encouraging rioters.
“Their plan was political. If the prime minister of their choice was not elected, their comrades would start the riot. There's a clear connection between the meeting and the riot,” Mr Hobart told the court.
The prosecution relied on the testimony of a witness, named by local media as Charles Titia, who claimed to have attended the meeting where the alleged assassination plot was discussed.
Details of the alleged plan emerged as Mr Hobart argued Mr Bartlett should be remanded in custody. Magistrate Stephen Wilson agreed, saying the charges against him were serious.
Mr Bartlett will be back in court tomorrow for a fresh bail application.
The April riots broke out over the election of Snyder Rini as prime minister.
Mr Rini was forced to resign after five of his coalition MPs crossed the floor to join the Opposition, one of them, Manasseh Sogavare going on to be voted in as the new prime minister.
Mr Sogavare controversially appointed jailed MPs Charles Dausabea and Mr Ne'e as police and tourism ministers, but stripped them of the roles following widespread criticism including rebukes from the Australian and New Zealand Governments.
Reuters
Alex Bartlett, a former leader of the militant group Malaita Eagle Force, has faced a Honiara court, charged with arson and helping to plan the riots that destroyed parts of the Solomon Islands capital on April 18 and 19.
Public prosecutor Mark Hobart told the Honiara Magistrates Court that five days before the riots, Bartlett met with MPs Nelson Ne'e and Charles Dausabea, and his brother, former Honiara mayor David Dausabea.
Ne'e and the Dausabea brothers are also facing riot-related charges.
Mr Hobart said that at the meeting, Charles Dausabea allegedly spoke about killing then acting prime minister Allan Kemakeza and three ministers in his government, if the Kemakeza administration remained in power.
The three ministers were named as Peter Boyers, Laurie Chan and Snyder Rini.
It is also alleged Charles Dausabea talked about wiping out Chinese businesses by burning and looting shops because Chinese businessmen supported Kemakeza's government.
Mr Hobart told the court that Mr Bartlett, Mr Ne'e and David Dausabea supported Charles Dausabea's comments, the Solomon Star newspaper reported today.
The prosecutor said Charles Dausabea told the group of his desire to control a new Solomon Islands government.
Charles Dausabea also told Mr Ne'e to prepare his people for rioting and said that if he came to power, he would ensure criminal charges against Mr Bartlett were dropped, the court was told.
Mr Hobart said that on April 18, the day Honiara's Chinatown was looted and torched, a witness saw Bartlett walking along the street encouraging rioters.
“Their plan was political. If the prime minister of their choice was not elected, their comrades would start the riot. There's a clear connection between the meeting and the riot,” Mr Hobart told the court.
The prosecution relied on the testimony of a witness, named by local media as Charles Titia, who claimed to have attended the meeting where the alleged assassination plot was discussed.
Details of the alleged plan emerged as Mr Hobart argued Mr Bartlett should be remanded in custody. Magistrate Stephen Wilson agreed, saying the charges against him were serious.
Mr Bartlett will be back in court tomorrow for a fresh bail application.
The April riots broke out over the election of Snyder Rini as prime minister.
Mr Rini was forced to resign after five of his coalition MPs crossed the floor to join the Opposition, one of them, Manasseh Sogavare going on to be voted in as the new prime minister.
Mr Sogavare controversially appointed jailed MPs Charles Dausabea and Mr Ne'e as police and tourism ministers, but stripped them of the roles following widespread criticism including rebukes from the Australian and New Zealand Governments.
Reuters