The chief executive of Forum Solomon Islands International (FSII) is asking who will be liable for the consequences of the leaking of a report into ethnic tensions quelled by international military intervention a decade ago.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report - the product of extensive consultations with those on all sides of a conflict thought to have killed about 200 people - was presented to the prime minister well over a year ago.

It was widely expected to be made public within a few months, but after more than a year of waiting, Dr Terry Brown, the report’s final editor, has released digital copies of it.

In an interview with Radio New Zealand, Benjamin Afuga, says the forum doesn’t believe Dr Brown will be liable for whatever happens next.

“We are very mindful of whatever might happen here after what is released. We don’t think that Reverend Brown will be liable for certain things that will happen, for example, people might react to certain contents of the report. And if certain people went round asking for compensation, who is liable for that, who is responsible for that? These are the sensitive parts of the leakage that we are fearful of and we are very mindful of,” said Mr Afuga.

Mr Afuga said that while FSII made calls for the release of the report, it was also mindful of the due process set out in the TRC Act, and it also considered the explanation given by government.

“Now that it is out, we are just fearful, we don’t want to be part of any blame or any reactionary actions that might arise from certain contents of the report, there are probably things in the report that we shouldn’t have seen, something like that.”


With Radio New Zealand International