Don’t panic over unrest, families of workers in Solomon Islands told
SIBU: Local businessman Datuk Seri Lau Kueng Chai has advised family members of those who are working in Solomon Islands to stay calm and not to panic following the riots that had gripped its capital Honiara over the past few days.
Lau, who has been involved in businesses in Solomon Islands since the 1990s, said he was in constant contact with Solomon Islands officials and had firsthand information on the situation there.
“I will continue to update the family members on the latest development in Solomon Islands. Rest assured that all the workers from Sarawak, especially Sibu, are safe and sound,” he added.
Unrest gripped the Solomon Islands capital of Honiara last Friday when protesters from the neighbouring island of Malaita descended on Honiara, creating disturbances and widespread rioting.
Lau said a school, a Chinese shop in Chinatown, two police stations and a bank there were all burned down during the riots.
“The was looting and burning,” he added.
He was grateful to the governments of Australia and Papua New Guinea for sending peacekeepers to control the situation, adding that a local security company had also assisted in controlling the mobs and helping to maintain peace.
Lau recalled a similar riot also occurred in Honiara in 1999.
“However, it was not as serious. The riots this time are the most serious in more than 20 years since my business establishment in Solomon Islands,” he said.
Meanwhile, AFP reported that calm had returned to the Honiara after three days of rioting that left at least three dead and reduced sections of the city to smoldering ruins.