Police clarify article with the title “Security Pact allows China to Monitor Electronic Devices”

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) has described Solomon Star’s front page article on 9th May titled “Security Pact allows China to Monitor Electronic Devices” as a blunt lie.

Responding to the article, RSIPF categorically rejected the report.

RSIPF’s Deputy Commissioner, Ian Vaevaso, confirmed there are no discussions in the RSIPF around any electronic system that China will provide to track electronic communications.

“The article is a blunt lie,” the Deputy Commissioner boldly stated.

He again calls on the board of the Media Association of Solomon Islands to ensure its members verify such information with the Police Media Unit instead of using unnamed sources, a display of very unprofessional media ethics.

“The article pointed out that the China-Solomon Islands security pact remains a secret and why a source in the story made reference to parts of the pact only raised questions,” the Deputy Commissioner said.

The RSIPF is not aware of any arrangement to bring an electronic system to track communications.

“Clearly, the story used unnamed officers or people to cover the RSIPF in order to exert weight on unknown interests,” the Deputy Commissioner concluded.

He calls on Media Association of Solomon Island (MASI) to always exercise ethical Journalism and strive to ensure free exchange of information that is accurate, fair and thorough where journalists act with integrity.