Solomon Islands' acting prime minister Manasseh Maelanga has promised protesters the government will bring back its anti-corruption bill when parliament resumes next month.
Protestors in Solomon Islands hold up placards during a march to petition government to bring back its proposed anti-corruption laws. September 2017 Photo: RNZI/Garedd Porowai
More than 4000 people signed a petition calling for the bill's return which was delivered to Mr Maelanga in Honiara this morning during a rally outside the prime minister's office.
The prime minister Manasseh Sogavare had been widely criticised for withdrawing the bill from parliament in August despite his reassurances it was for the proposed legislation to be reviewed and made stronger.
The opposition group, however, accused Mr Sogavare of not having the support of his own MPs to pass the bill which would provide the framework for the
establishment of an independent commission against corruption.
[The http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/339683/march-in-solomons-to-petition-pm-on-anti-corruption rally was organised by] civil society's anti-corruption committee.
The committee's Lawrence Makili said the petition also called for civil society to be consulted on the review of the bill and for all 50 MPs to vote in support of it, when parliament resumes on the 9th of October.
"And if the government is not coming back to consultation during the process and it comes to the time of the parliament sitting they don't table the bill we have plan B to carry out," Mr Makili said.
"We will be launching another protest but this is going to be mass [protest]."