Former Solomon Islands provincial leader and China critic arrested and charged

Outspoken former Malaita province premier Daniel Suidani has been arrested and charged in relation to unlawful assemblies and protests in 2021.

In a statement on Friday, police said a Malaita provincial leader was arrested, along with his then political advisor on Thursday.

Although police did not name the men, RNZ Pacific understands they are the former Premier Suidani and his advisor Celsus Talifilu.

Both man are alleged to have masterminded a number of unlawful assemblies and protests in Auki, Malaita Provincial capital, in 2021 and have been released on bail, police said.

In late November 2021, Honiara descended into chaos, when the protesters from Malaita travelled to the capital in Guadalcanal province.

The protesters called for the then prime minister Manasseh Sogavare to step down.

When he refused what followed was three days of looting and burning of shops owned by the Chinese community in Honiara's Chinatown.

Three people died and hundreds of businesses were destroyed, putting over 1000 people out of work, with the damages estimated to be more than US$60 mllion ($SBD500m).

Assistant Commissioner Crime and Intelligence, Patricia Leta, said the duo face three counts of unlawful assembly, contrary to section 74 and section 21 of the Solomon Islands Penal Code.

From 2019 until his removal as premier in a motion of no confidence in 2023, Suidani openly criticised the national government for cutting ties with Taiwan and establishing bilateral relations with China.

His unprecedented rebellion against Honiara had a groundswell of public support that made it difficult for the national government to discipline him.

Suidani supporters have accused the national government of bankrolling the motion of no confidence that eventually removed him. An allegation that Honiara has denied.

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