The Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands said on Sunday that he intended to stay in power after riots in the capital which were "
orchestrated
" by people seeking his dismissal.
"
It is very clear that recent events have been planned and orchestrated to remove me from my post as prime minister for unfounded reasons
," Manasseh Sogavare, the head of government of this Pacific archipelago, said in a televised address.
Read also Riots in Solomon Islands killed three people
“
I want to show the nation that the government is fully committed and that nothing will make us move.
We must not and we will never bow to the bad intentions of a few people
”, launched Mr. Sogavare.
Many residents of this Pacific island nation believe their government is corrupt and beholden to Beijing and other foreign interests.
The protesters directly directed their anger at Manasseh Sogavare and his government.
Crowds attempted to burn down Parliament and the Prime Minister's private residence on Wednesday.
The latter previously blamed these three days of violence - during which rioters set fire to many buildings in the capital before a return to calm this weekend - to a few unscrupulous people who induced others to be dragged along with fake news.
“
We must not and never will bow to the bad intentions of a few people.
We must stand up to intimidation, harassment and violence.
We owe it to our children and to the majority of our people who cannot defend themselves,
”said the leader of the Solomon Islands.
He said the violence, which mainly targeted the capital's Chinatown, caused $ 25 million (22 million) in damage and destroyed a thousand jobs in an economy already in dire straits.
