World Youth Alliance celebrates the recent ruling of the Magistrate’s Court of the Solomon Islands in Honiara that fully clears Mr. Celsus Irokwato Talifilu of all charges brought against him, together with the late Hon. Daniel Suidani. These charges alleged that they had participated in an unlawful gathering connected to political unrest in Malaita, false accusations that both men had always rejected. As Mr. Talifilu noted, “there was never any evidence against me.”
In a public statement this week, Mr. Talifilu shared that after the prosecution closed its case, his lawyer filed a no case to answer submission. The Court upheld it, confirming that the prosecution’s circumstantial claims failed to show any lawful link to him. As he stated, “[his] police interview, the factual record, and the strong submissions put forward by Ms. Ramo demonstrated the complete lack of foundation for the charges.” The Magistrate found that the circumstances relied on by the prosecution “could not be connected to [him] in any fair or lawful way.”
This outcome is especially significant because both Mr. Talifilu and the late Premier Suidani had been targeted with legal harassment for their principled stance on national sovereignty and their criticism of growing political pressure from the Chinese Communist Party. Their refusal to compromise democratic values made them targets of malicious lawfare. As Mr. Talifilu put it, “today’s decision reaffirms the power of truth and the strength of the rule of law in our nation.”
World Youth Alliance joins Celsus Talifilu in honoring the legacy of Daniel Suidani: “Though he is no longer with us, today’s ruling echoes the principles he stood for: truth, justice, and the protection of our democratic freedoms.” We continue to express our support to Celsus Talifilu in his commitment to democracy, transparency, and human dignity that continues to inspire young people in the Solomon Islands and around the world. We join the people of Malaita in celebrating this important victory for justice, truth, and the rule of law.
