There was no evidence of politically motivated arrests. Exile is not practiced. The judicial system is a blend of British and traditional systems. There is a high court, plus magistrates' courts. Accused persons are entitled to counsel.
Provision is made for writs of habeas corpus under the law.
It is illegal to coerce statements. Violations of civil liberties are punishable by fines and jail sentences. In addition to legal provisions, the traditional culture provides strong protection against these types of abuses. Although freedom of the press is provided for in the Constitution, the Government placed severe restrictions on the media's news coverage on several occasions in 1993. The former government banned all coverage by local media of the border tensions between Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea from May, when clashes were first reported, until the election of the new Government in June.