EASTERN REGION- PUBLIC HEARING

CHAIRPERSON:Peter Maru, do you promise you’re solemnly telling the truth about the event of the basis of the principle of honesty and good faith?

VICTIM:I promise. Be sited,

CHAIRPERSON:Peter Maru in giving your statement you cannot be compelled to incriminate yourself which means that you can be forced to say anything which might be held against you in any legal proceedings.

DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON: Good morning Peter Maru you can now start to tell your story of what had happen to you during the ethnic tension.

VICTIM:On the 10th Dec 1998, 2:30 am in the morning I was on duty at the Yandina Police Station not knowing that the Guadalcanal Revolutionary Army (GRA) were around the Yandina area. Whilst there a group of people that led by the so-called Harold Keke and I recognised him as he got a tattoo on his left arm, and I knew him and he was the person who led this group of p people consist of 14 in a high powered out board motor engine. One is 30 hp and the other one a 40 hp engine and they came ashore in front of the Police station at the Yandina right at the canoe shade and Petrol shed of the Police.

I was on duty by myself as we had a shortage of man power and I do not know now. I went outside and I saw many people there and I thought what these people are doing; I went to them and said “this place is not a place to throw rubbish” and none of them responded. I came back and just right at the incharge office where the flag pole is I was shocked they pointed me with a .22 gun on my head, one here and two here and the other here.

There were four (4) of it, I don’t know whether its has a life ammunition or just to threaten the people. They pointed me with the guns and they ordered me to shut my mouth, and in return I asked them “what I had wrong you” as I could see them as the moon started to get bright a little bit and I the sight another person and that rise the number to 8 people. The two (2) boats consist of 15 people the other boat had 7 and the other had 8 people. I continued to insist “What did I wrong you?” and the spokes person ordered me to shut up.

They led to the Police Baric and that where the kitchen is, I insisted got to the Police Incharge Office and then we went and the two (2) people were already hiding in the Police station jail. I was then got afraid if they got my hands smashed as I was holding on to the corner of the counter. I asked them “what do you think of doing this?” and the spoke person who is now serving his sentence in Rove asked me for the keys. They were now asking for the keys and I told the keys no one is allowed to get hold of it according to the Police Force orders. Stations like this in the Provinces only Officer In charging station (OCS) is the one that should hold on to the keys and other station like Kirakira, only Provincial Police Commander (PPC).

I then went on to pursue them by questioning what are they going to do, and the person responded by saying “we will fight for our freedom and Land. At the same time I asked them what actually interested you to break in to the Police Amoury, I can see it is not proper and there are ways in Melanesian to solve the problem and he ordered me to shut up. I turned to him and said “if you want to get your hands on those weapons to use against people at the end of day you would spend fifty five (55) years imprisonment.” At that time I was just like a child they gun pointed along a long, I later realize I had a cross around my neck and I pray“Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing”. We came to the Barrack at the end of the corner and there was a visitor inside and his name is Albert with two (2) expatriate, they are from Australia and with the Police officer and he is fully aware of what was going to happen, he even didn’t tell me us. This officer got married to Harold Keke’s sister and he is from Visale and part Savo.

They pushed me down to sit on the bed a friend of main Michael Hamon from Australia and still gun pointing me. Michael Hamon he is a millionaire and came to an Island called Karimalan a beautiful Island; he first came to build a resort at on that Island. He bought it from my wantok he was a General Manger of the RIPEL Plantation and his name is Davidson Fekau.

He woke and saw me sitting and the Militia pointing guns at me, he then gave me Cigarette and the spokes person swear at then and he told them that him that he fought in the Gulf War between the Saddam Husain and the Americans and the gun you are holding is a toy one. He is ready at that time and could help if they fired me, they continue to struggle to open the Police Amoury, there is no key and they use a huge Log VASA and they used to smashed it against the Amoury door, they went inside.

Prior to the raid my officer in charge station (OCS) asked on the day before to go and clean the Amoury in preparation for the Police Commissioner Mr. Frank Short visit to Yandina Police s Station and when I cleaned it I found a box; this box contain of three hundred (300) of ammunitions and it’s a 303 ammunition of World War 2. And luckily this people didn’t see and they overlooked, they only picked 303 and other .22 riffles of the people those with expire licenses.

At that time it’s going past three O’clock in the morning. They carried it and one of them came and spoke with the others and I could hear Harold Keke replying by saying “Dou and Eo”. They got up and still gun pointing me and they went on to the boats and left. Michael a friend of mine from Australia then told me to go after them but I refused as they were armed and they have fire back at us. I came back and got my torch and torched around I then found eight (8) live .22 riffle bullets and then moved a little bit I found a green shirt written on the front shirt GRA and at the back of the shirt along I found an Axe those were the items I did find when they and the only room that had light on was the radio room otherwise all the places were power off.

Fortunate they did not get the radio so I turn it on and start calling to the main radio call sign “COMPOL” I tried my best to get through COMPOL and it did not manage radio stations like the Shortlands and the Choiseul did hear my voice as I was calling. It was somewhere around five O’clock (5:00 am) and I got through and at that time the radio operator was a woman, he then answered me and I asked her where she is being and I told her that the Yandina Police Station was raided and the people had left;

I went on to ask if she could contact the Police Commissioner and the Director of the Police Field Force (PFF). At that time five (5) of the speed craft had already arrived and if they left at that time, the Police; the Guadalcanal Revolutionary Army (GRA) had not yet passed, actually they just hiding at a point at Louna in the Russell Islands. It was believed they had cast the spell that could be made of human heart and whatever action you make at that moment it can’t be moved, it was 10:00 am and everybody witnesses it.

I handed over to the next shift and went to my house and had a sleep, whilst still on bed they came and knock on my door, I got up and saw the responsible people I did request them were outside. I told them that it was not the right time to come and I now it was about in the afternoon. I was so thankful I did identify three (3) of them right on the spot, we used to school at Nanselagu a junior primary school of the mission school and we had been together and ended up in Maravovo, and that was the time the investigation was so quick after they came to me.

A speed craft came to pick me up as I decide not to come in a plane as arranged. In the same months, I decide to come to Honiara and this is for safety reason, they went to Tambea and got a speed craft which belongs to Tommy Chan. On the second attempt was to raid the Tulagi Police Station and this group was fully armed as a matter of fact the Warlord Mr. Harold Keke was the one who used to do maintenance in all the Police station’s Amoury and he knew it very well.

They went to raid the Tulagi Police Station Amoury but were unsuccessful and they came to a nearby Island called Bungana and they one of the Policemen shot one of the men who is a Form 6 student at King George Sixth School. Sorry I forgot the name of the Director of the school.

When the raid at Tulagi Police Station I insist to get off from Yandina Police Station and the Bosses I did not manage to get me through but somehow I did come to Honiara. When due to arrive in Honiara my Officer In charge in Yandina did call the Police Head Quarter and told them that I am coming to Honiara. I came and work with the Guadalcanal Police where we often argue. The Eagle Force came burned the Guadalcanal Province Head Quarter, and those of us who are loyal to our work none of us can’t do anything when they militants had all the weapons.

While in Honiara the situation happened when they raided the Police Amoury and I must reiterate here the Police Amoury is the safety of our country Solomon Islands. A question I really like to ask; how come the Amoury was open and who did give the keys; I believe it involves the Police themselves. It’s about two thousand (2000) fire arms were being taken away from the Amoury at Rove.

Later thirty four (34) 303 riffles were being taken off from there, I went to see the Director of the Very Important People (VIP) as I’d like to attached with them at that the Governor General is Fr. John Ini Lapli. (NOTED: THIS PART IS NOT BEING CLEARLY SAID). The Amoury was raided on the 5th June 2000. Everything I told you about till the time I worked with the VIP (Very Important People), a Lawyer threw me a can beer from his car and he said “Open the Gate, don’t you know me”, he said and replied him no I knew not of you but the rules of the gate. Before the independence we used to look after the gate and the law does not change since then.

He then raised his gun an SLAR and I had main as well, if only he fired me shot I could have fired him and his family, told him. A Special Constable (SC) then went on and opens the gate and the Lawyer is his wantok and he went to the Prime Minister’s residence. I called the Prime Minister Mr. Allan Kemakeza now the current speaker of the Parliament, I told him the gate had no rules and people can go in and out, and all the VIP guarding officers had to transfer to guard the Governor General Sir Father John Ini Lapli at the Coleridge. The prime minister got angry just force the sack of what he might think off we continued to guard the Governor General til the arrival of the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands’ (RAMSI).

In the beginning of 2004 we all got redundant just like sacking us from work with no proper document and package. Each one of us, 119 Police officers we did not receive long dedicated benefit and other public service entitlements and all of us are family ones and some of us died waiting and some of us are still waiting for all the entitlement.

Is the Government going to pay the wives of our colleagues that had died already and some of us have been working for 33, 34, 35, 37 years in service. We got bold headed, fallen tooth and then we finish from our work it was really sad moments for us and if only the 11 rounds of the 303 riffle was with me I could have resisted these culprit militia men. I was trained and could handle the weapon very well and during colonial times we used to go around the country.

The involvement of the officers in the ethnic tension and the Government did not screen the officers well who to leave the Police Force and who suppose not to leave. We were just asked to leave the Force and those of us do not have houses in Honiara had to leave as well, for those of us who were send home we had to struggle as there was no LPO and nothing else as well. At that we had to wait and after one month before we got paid, at that time the Government was only paying Militia group and now they denied everything on the of man but in the eyes of God no. Til then the government did not do us any good til now 2010 I came to attend the Public hearing here in Kirakira, which combines with Temotu Province of which all the victims came.

Even the time where I was almost being killed while finishing work, I had my bag and my Uniform was inside I was going to Burns creek and at that time two (2) Special Constable were being attacked and badly hurt; one of the special constable worked in the early hours and I did came in the afternoon shift at the Governor Generals residence. He finished worked he came to the Hatsoa bottle shop at King George Sixth School and there they bashed him up and I came by and they shouted at me and pointed at me and mentioned something about coming after me. I had nothing with me; a friend of mine came in his car and gave me a lift to Burns Creek.

The next day I did not go to work and after the next day I went to see the Director about it. My life during those days was so bad, if I were to go to work I had to walk through Tanuli area on any shift night, afternoon or morning, I just walk all the vehicle were being used by the Militants, even the motor bike and who authorize it was not to mu knowledge. No one talks if you talk out on this you could or may be bashed up later. It even we got argued at the Rove Police Club and here I am and people who actually involve are still in the Police Force and that’s one thing I felt so hurt about it. These people are still wearing Royal Solomon Islands Police Force Uniform, belt and they walked along side and yet they are the ones involved. Are we going to ignore the fact uncover and just let them work like that, and how many Prime Minister and Government would surpassed it?

Now it’s Danny Philips turns and what the causes are, and who initiate it it’s there and how many involve the actual number is there. The situation is like the National Leader of Malaita pushed it to the National Leader of Guadalcanal. They went on back to back just to make it hard to uncover the truth.

The root of the ethnic tension are still out there and I as an individual believe and this is St Peter Cathedral another tension may raise and it may be bigger than the one in 1998. And in 1998 people start killing each other I know, this came about; it just a small demand of the Guadalcanal people 2.5 million and the Prime Minister at that time did not properly address it and til then the spilled of the ethnic tension came about and it covers our citizens. It is bad and if they address this issue it probably won’t go this bad as experience.

I was one of the men who lifted a man who was killed at St Joseph Tenaru School of the Roman Catholic, I was the one who drove that Land Drover it smells bad but I had to do it as its part of my work. They just put it inside a copra sack and place it as a dead cat plus there was also a killing in 1985 at Mount Austen and in 1978 killing of Mr. Ben Diga and I was the one who picked him up.

This entire thing must be address, whether I am dead at that time but for the sake of our children and grand children. Despite other provinces might have asked pay them if money is available, no money ask the donor. As I mentioned it yesterday I could have told you everything but restricted I won’t be able to tell you.

COMMISSIONER:Thank you for sharing your stories and experiences with us, thank Peter Maru.

CHAIRPERSON:George, do you promise you’re solemnly telling the truth about the event of the basis of the principle of honesty and good faith?

VICTIM:I promise. Be sited,

CHAIRPERSON:George in giving your statement you cannot be compelled to incriminate yourself which means that you can be forced to say anything which might be held against you in any legal proceedings.

DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON: Good morning George you can now start to tell your story of what had happen to you during the ethnic tension.

VICTIM:Thank you Chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission; 1998 to 2003 I was in Honiara I was not involve in the ethnic tension. I could see during the ethnic tension when the civilians were being armed and called Malaitan Eagle Force (MEF) the situation in Honiara city was not good at that time. When I saw shootout at White river, I could have seen women and children crying as it was their first time to see such happening I found it to be a sad experience.

At one time I was staying with my uncle, my uncle returned from Work with another person and he told me to get out of the Hilux where the man was driving. The man was member of the member of the Malaitan Eagle Force (MEF). During those days I was afraid and my heartfelt not safe. I had bad feelings towards the people who had done that to y Uncle.

One incident that happens I had an affair with a girl I was also afraid and people were armed and they came and asked compensation which my Uncle did settle it with them. I was so please with my uncle for what he did to me and without him I might have been killed already. And God bless me.

I was proud to be here as a victim from Temotu and been through cancelling I felt much better that ever. I want to talk to my people in Temotu especially my uncle if you are listening out and I want to thank you for saving my life. To my people in Temotu as a Province. According to my observation the Truth and Reconciliation Commission should be extended to people in the rural area as there are many victims in the rural areas so that healing process can take place in their lives. Here only few of us and throughout Temotu there are a lot of us. I appeal to donors to try making work of the Truth and Reconciliation to progress in remote parts in our Province. Temotu province is a peaceful place, I think the Truth and Reconciliation must be extended to outer parts of Temotu and only peace and be prevailing in our people’s mind.

As someone from Temotu, I want to tell you as I have heard the National Truth and Reconciliation has a time span is limited to one and urged you to consider extend the program and in Temotu; we do not want the program to stop as understood Temotu is a peaceful province. This might as well make us feel free and also the Government the funding has to go down to the provinces and not only to Honiara and this the reason the cause of the ethnic tension so that people in respective areas can remain in their provinces and work instead of going to Honiara to find employment.

DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON: Thank you George for telling us your stories and experience you have experienced during the ethnic tension.

CHAIRPERSON:Polycarp do you promise you’re solemnly telling the truth about the event of the basis of the principle of honesty and good faith?

VICTIM:I promise. Be sited,

CHAIRPERSON:Polycarp in giving your statement you cannot be compelled to incriminate yourself which means that you can be forced to say anything which might be held against you in any legal proceedings.

COMMISSIONER:Good morning Polycarp you can now start to tell your story of what had happen to you during the ethnic tension.

VICTIM:Thank you very much I will tell you my story of what actually happen to me during the ethnic tension. I am a Police Officer and an intelligent officer and during those days a lot of people and incidences had happen to me, I walked in front of armed people and it could be back dated to 1998 to 2003.

On the course of my work I was fully dedicated to my work as a Police officer and I work for the people of Solomon Islands. Makira was not part of the ethnic tension, one morning the militant came into my home and ordered me to evacuate my home and I was at Kakabona.

People taking it so lightly at last they came and chased us out from our house, I had three (3) kids with me, we walked down the ladder and just about 15 meters away from our house and it burns, I walked out with one (1) trousers and a shirt and the same for my families. We were not allowed to anything with us However we moved and relocated to Naha and my commitment with the Police Force is not much interested and orders were given to me to return to work I did take it lightly. One it was about 1:00am a Police Hilux came purposely to get me back to work. I had advice my boys at home not to open the door to anybody and he one comes to wake me as the security situation is not safe.

The Police officers came in with guns and I was shocked and when I realized there were arm men in the house and they are my work mates who came to pick me up, but the actions they took was not good and professional and I am not happy.

However made up my mind to move my family to Ulawa in Makira Province and when the situation came worse I took my family and sent to Ulawa where I believe it will be much safer than Honiara. I then worked at the Kirakira Police Station and when i worked here in Kirakira, one incident occurred in Ulawa and then was reported to the Police that arm people are now in Ulawa and they were causing disturbance and these arms are high powered ones.

As a person who came from Ulawa I felt so sympathetic about my people I had to go and there were armed people with camouflaged uniform disturbing the communities at home. I begged them to understand my coming is to make the situation better and asked them not to disturbed the communities. I asked them to put the guns away, they fired gunshots and that caused fear amongst people within and surrounding communities. This man with the riffle put the two (2) high powered weapons and cried in front of me; one (1) SLAR and the other one (1) is a SR88 weapon.

I told him that I am here to solve the problem, I did settled this person down and proceed to liaise with the other party which they were also armed and waiting for the Police to arrive and also took my uncle with me so that what happens to me he might live to tell.. I moved to them and moved them to Kirakira and then let the peace prevail in the Island. No disturbances in the communities and that’s what I want to see.

I have recommendation to make, which I want the Government and relevant stakeholders to know; the first one is my properties were being lost and damage. I had a big loan on the Solomon Islands National Provident Fund (SINPF). For the six (6) years in Honiara I had nothing and my coming here as a victim is also to make recommendation to the Government. At that time there were certain things available to the Government. People claimed for compensation and I also put forward my side of stories to be heard and take on board my recommendations.

Those victims who are here and in support of the Government to the progress of the Truth and Reconciliation progress. Like we had been through stages and procedures of trauma cancelling and reconciliation as highlighted by my Premier the lost property claims must be met and do not leave him after you have cancelling he needs to be provided with something to get busy and start of a new beginning. I also would like to tell the commissioners that I want a Minister for Central Makira and also to show his support to the people and the program.

COMMISSIONER:Thank you very much for telling us your story and experiences during the ethnic tension.

CHAIRPERSON:Enly Lifu, do you promise you’re solemnly telling the truth about the event of the basis of the principle of honesty and good faith? VICTIM:I promise. Be sited,

CHAIRPERSON: Enly Lifu, in giving your statement you cannot be compelled to incriminate yourself which means that you can be forced to say anything which might be held against you in any legal proceedings.

COMMISSIONER:Good morning you can now start to tell your story of what had happen to you during the ethnic tension.

VICTIM:Thank you chairperson and the commissioners for this opportunity and I am very grateful to come before the public and the commissioners to share my stories and experiences during the ethnic tension. I worked as a court driver and I drive for Justice Palmer at that time he is our chief justice. It was in May and we are settled at Tenaru and I used to go for work during working days.

I had witnessed a lot the situation of panic and fear as I could see in the people’s eyes. At the time the Solomon Islands Plantation Limited (SIPL) huge and long trailers were used to load with people fleeing from the Guadalcanal Plain. I then asked myself about the ethnic tension is now just right before us.

So during that time I did not work with a free mind but a mind that worries a lot about my families at Tenaru –Mala. That place is our place as a family and its about 171 hectares of land and it fills with coconut and cocoa.

It happens on the 11th May 1999, we heard stories but at that time it is the actual situation we are in, we had just finished our dinner and were just sitting down and chat with each. We suddenly heard gun shots and we knew they were just near us, Mr. Chairperson the situation is as painful as we watched our families cried, panic and fear raged across our community; it was really a painful experience.

Now we had tried our best to get ourselves organized and get prepare to move our families, during discussion we had a planned to move to Honiara and we only got one truck and it had to be many load of people as we were comprised of 30 to 40 families. We did manage to get on with our planning and the problems is with our wives, we continued for another morning and we were being sent a vehicles and then we move our families together and get them together at one spot. We were planning should the Guadalcanal Revolutionary Army came (GRA) if they intended to kill us let them do it. We talked to our wives not to cause us panic.

I can tell you the stories but it was so painful, we left the place on the 12th in the early morning of Oct 1999 to Lungga and that was the place where we used to pack our ready copra and cocoa and we only had our children at that shed. During those times we then men and our sons had to sleep outside on the grasses for six (6) months and luckily we it did not rain. When there was a little shower some had to go under the tents and other had to get underneath the truck and make it worse there were old people as well.

In the first week we had settled we lost one of our relatives an Aunty of main, she was so sick not because natural sick but got hurt so much as it was the first time she came experience such situation where fear, panic came into our lives. We rushed her to the hospital but died on the way and the was right at the Solomon Island Tobacco Company and then I realized that she was dead and I told the driver that we had lost her already and then we turned back, and it was about 9 o’clock to 10 o’clock in the evening. We had a problem where to bury her and later got a space and we did bury her.

Food was also our problem we had tried to go back to our gardens at Tenaru Mala, but there was no way as the Guadalcanal Revolutionary Army (GRA) was on the other side of the Alligator Bridge. We pray for God’s grace as came to face the situation.

To make the situation worse I had kids and I don’t have a job at that time and the survival of my children and their school fees are of paramount importance to me. And they are all in secondary education, one at Pawa, one at Pamua and the other one is with me here and I had a big problem with these things. Instead of me getting a problem we did almost loss my wife; the situation like we were chased and I lost my job and our kids are in high school and we had a really big problem. Even our children we had to pay only half of their school fees.

They did manage to get down with their studies as I had a discussion with the school principals. Some of us did return to Malaita on the scheme the government did and some of us who not have land on Malaita remain. I was born in Guadalcanal and grew up in Guadalcanal til I flee to Makira and start a new beginning. So in our life we called ourselves people of the Guadalcanal; after some time I told my father that I had to go to Makira my wife’s home where my brother in laws and my wife people might have something to feed my family, instead of going to Malaita where we do not own anything.

One thing I had to say concerning the place where we lived at Tenaru –Mala it is not a place we decide to live as other did, we bought it from Leavers and they gave us that piece of land. We had contributed to the economy of this country and people who might be doing this had to see what the areas we did are and we contribute a lot to our economy.

What are some forms of development we had done, even the best we could do is to export Cocoa and copra. Our properties were being lost and we never got anything, when the Fund is available the Government I do not want to comment where it was being used and for what purpose. I am so thankful for the Government of the Day despite what I did my very best to try and help my family after these long years and trying to forget all the happen to me and move on in life. The National Truth and Reconciliation Commission I am so thankful on behalf of my people.

I also wish to extend my sincere appreciation to some tribes we had been through, the Malango and pelaha, during our time we had all witnessed the cordial relationship we had; how we used to look after ourselves during those times nothing of such reckless actions had occurred. Only the ethnic tension divides us apart, I was so thankful for your kindness, thank you chiefs and elders for the understanding we had once shared and good relationship we also had shared since we’d been there for almost thirty years (30 years).

However on behalf of my relatives I would like to thank the chiefs of Malango and Belaha for your hospitality and kindness throughout our time there. I also would like to say my few words for our national leaders. It was a very sad time, those initiators of the ethnic tension what is in your mind, I do not blame the Guadalcanal and Malaitan I blamed the Government of that day had have been doing all this time, things had happen this far, the Bellona and Malaitan, Temotu and Malaitans leaders of those times time could have done something in time to try and bring peace and quickly settle all the mess. The National leaders of that time did manage to settle or calm the situation. Why not you doing something to ease the situation you suppose to protect us like our fathers whilst you are in the Parliament. Are going to look after us properly, and if anything happen in the nearby future are you ready to overcome it or just let it happen. I had just put this across in the minds of our national leaders.

We are people of this nation and we are subjected to be led by your leadership, and let’s not forgot I have lost all properties and I am here in Makira and was advice by someone to fill up the form and send it for compensation claim, there are a lot of us and I own a permanent house and more than 13 houses in all and one church big as this church size. The only building remain was the church is still intact, please the government look on us we contribute towards the national economy.

I also want to commend on the so called ; Forgiveness Bill, I do not like it and it is not good , how can you forgive someone on behalf of us who were being victimized, this is not right and I do not like it to be tabled in the Parliament. What levels are you going to perform that forgiveness bill or action; we are the ones that are hurt what are going to do with us and this forgiveness bill does not make any change. I am so emotional and do not have guts to stand before you like this. This afternoon I came before the commission as brave and free person after being properly going through trauma cancelling. And I thank God for this chance, please national leaders listen to us.

Once again thank you commission to allow me to share my stories on events and bad experience I had been through. I thank God as well for this chance, I may now ask the chairperson for the permission for me to speak to my families and relatives on my own language. Thank you chairman ; ______

(Note: need translator to translate it form Malaitan Language to English)

COMMISSIONER: Thank you Enly for your time and to before the commission to share your experiences during the ethnic tension, thank you very much.

CHAIRPERSON:Johnson Teava, do you promise you’re solemnly telling the truth about the event of the basis of the principle of honesty and good faith?

VICTIM:I promise. Be sited,

CHAIRPERSON:Johnson Teava, in giving your statement you cannot be compelled to incriminate yourself which means that you can be forced to say anything which might be held against you in any legal proceedings. COMMISSIONER:Good morning you can now start to tell your story of what had happen to you during the ethnic tension.

VICTIM:Thank you commissioners for availing this opportunity for me to share my story and experiences on the course of the ethnic tension. In 1998 I was employed as a incharge security for Solomon Islands Tobacco Company where I look after the night shift. In that company we had a rule that all the employee’s bag/ basket has to be checked after working hours and we are looking and making sure no one has tobaccos hid in side his or her bag.

I was one of the officers who is so concern and so strictly observe the rules and I used to do this and I do not favor anybody and it was going towards the ethnic tension as it reached the end of the year; I use to report it after finding someone who is in possession of the tobaccos in their bags. Some of the employees I had found them hiding tobaccos in their bags took advantages on the situation and made retaliation.

They threatened me and even came into the compound of the company with knives with intention to kill me. I started to have fear all those days.

I was married to a Malaitan woman and we had two (2) kids and most of the time particularly on our pay days these people came in and threatened me and I know they knew it was my pay day and I remember some of my pay days I had to go behind the company fence and climbed the fence and jumped outside of the fence and got a cab and went home.

At that time the ethnic tension grew higher and we lost one of our employees and he was beheaded and was thrown at the market area (Central Market). I was so fearful at that time and I went to Malaita to my wife’s home.

One night I was sleeping and it was somewhere around three (3) O’clock in the morning my mother in law called me and let me know that there is somebody outside and my wife woke up and he told me some people are outside.

The moon was shining and I could possibly see there were people outside and these people were armed, I thought they were thinking I am going to escape. Before I went to Malaita, there was an incidence that had happened when we were being harassed by a man at the China Town area when I was with the Christmas Carol group and this group consists of my family relatives. We went to Koloale area for singing purposes and when we return we walked through China Town area and suddenly a car pulled over next before us. This Police officer came and got out his gun and told us to be quite and not to talk back.

At that time there was a Police truck going past us and I stopped it and when the Police Officer on the truck came off the truck the person on the car gave him a cigarette and I was trying to explain to him what the other person was doing and he told me nothing.

The officers did not want to do anything about it and they went in the truck and took off and the person in the car came and told us he was not afraid to shoot all of us. I went through the Solomon Star and the Solomon Star did not mention on the paper the name of the officers and some of the words the officer was saying to us when he approached us.

Now back to Auki- I saw three (3) vehicles and as I have said I know these are Police Officers and I recognize the voice of one of them when he called me. I came out and he told me that we had to go the Police Station. I then asked him what is going on and re replied that he was just following orders and this is the other Police Officers operation and we have to go the Police Station in Auki.

When in Auki I had tried to asked them what was going on and they did not reply me and on that day MV Ramos is schedule for Honiara and they told me that I was to be transferred Honiara. I then asked them I want to see my wife and children. At that time the Provincial Police Commander was a Wantok and he was the one who got the vehicle and went to get my family.

After talking to my family I was then taken to MV Ramos and was escorted by Two (2) Militants and when we arrived in Honiara I was then taken to one of their Bases called Guadalcanal Province (GP). After they moved me to the Central Police Station and they told the Police officers there I get me inside the Police Custody.

I was placed inside the jail I even asked the officer incharge for medicine I was thinking of committing suicide, I really could not think of anything. When they gave me food I did not eat it I even told the officers there it is better they put a bullet into my head, and I do not want to remain in the jail without an explanation.

I was in the custody the next day and I heard that someone had killed the one of the militant and the person is being kept at the Central Police Station, the person who did the killing and this was the information they got. So the militant came to the Central Police Station Custody instead I was the one inside the Police Custody, they were very harass and they insulted and using a lot of swearing words.

I was fortunate one of the people who came and his name is Sina and we used to play on the same club and he knew me very well. He asked them about the situation they got me in the jail and the other militants responded in the local language and he then asked me “did you kill anyone to day”. No I replied I was taken from Auki and transferred to Honiara and do not know what actually the reason behind it and I came from Auki yesterday. He told them I am not the man they were looking for and I told them to ask the front desk officer and he can tell about the truth of I am being here.

Sina took me with him and that was the time I was being discharged and it was really a bad feelings within me, no clothing, no food as I understand the officers can get the prisoners in custody food and the relatives and families can also bring food and at that time the ethnic tension had started.

Make it worse the officers in the Central Police Station were Militants as well. I went out at that time I went to a friend who worked as a security at the Sol brew Company and he married to a woman from Temotu. At that I walked on the street there were people asking about me and they mentioned something about a person who once worked at the Tobacco Company and there a lot of people looking for me and even the mentioned the car the people were looking for me.

I stayed with a friend at the King George Sixth Farm but on the other side of the farm was a Malaitan settlement and a man from Tikopia had married to Malaita and they were also staying next to the house that I am staying. One evening I came home late and it was somewhere around eight (8) o’clock, a man from Tikopia told me that there Vehicles looking for me and he was thinking my friend did not know that people were looking for me and he might have told them that you are residing here with him.

I told him to go and get my bag and I would get it later from him at his home and I left him and went to the office of the Ready Mix Concrete Company one of the Securities there is my best friend and I told him to come with me so that we could go and get my bag. On our way we hided when a vehicle came and when it went passed us we came off from the bush and walked again on the main road.

We went and got my bag and I told my wantok from Tikopia that I am going with a friend of mine from Reef Islands, this is because I did not want any trouble to his family otherwise they could have bring the family trouble just to come after me.

We left him and we walked down the road, once there was a road led from Burns Creek and it leads to the Burns Creek School, we followed that road. I told my friend (Patrick Tolei) to get my bag and go the company’s area.

This is again I did not want him be in trouble, and if they came after me anything they wish to do they might have done only to me. He got my bag and left I timed him to arrive at the Ready Mix Company’s area; at that time the moon was shining, I sat down so that I could see further and I came to realize there was a car parking very close to me. I thought I had no way to escape; I then walked to the main road and before coming to the main road there is a culvert, I then went passed the culvert and then I turned down to the culvert. I had also noticed there was a car parked at the King George Sixth Market Area and there were also other cars parking by I thought these people might have me surrounded. I walked down to the culvert and there grasses everywhere.

I walked down the culvert grassy area and then I walked up again and tried to make the grasses down so that when they came they probably thought I had already went down to the Culvert. I went through the culvert and came up on the other side of the road.

I then saw a car arrived and parked on the other side where I went down and they had started to search the area. I was on the other side and I heard them speaking in the language and I was so surprise they did not find me. On the side of the culvert the side I came to, there was a tree and the tree they used to make grass skirts and tried to get hold of one of the branches but it broke and it made a little sound but they did not hear it.

I was so quiet and I thought they had notice me, I was on the other side and I watched them searching and then open fire to the other side of the bush. If only I had a gun I could have shot them all as I was on the other side and one could see them clearly as it also a moon light. I was very wet and sitting there and felt asleep and somewhere around 3 to 4 O’clock in the morning I was so cold and I woke up and went the main road and ran to the Already Mix Company where a friend of mine is working.

I told my friend Thomas to go and get a taxi and I advised him to look for a red cab, and making sure the cab must not the red one I knew the people were using the red cab, and also I advised him what to say when he came with the cab. He must say that I am a son of one of the company’s employee’s and I arrived but my father had already left and the same words I would be using when getting in the same cab and he understood it.

I was waiting for the cab the Company’s compound and Thomas came and told me that there is cab he had stopped. I got in to the cab and told the driver the same story I had advised my friend Thomas. I told the driver that want to drop off at Coleridge area, on our way up to Coleridge I told the taxi driver to stop at the St Banabas Cathedral as I do not have enough to pay him; I only have $25-00 and then we stopped and I got out with my bag.

There was a big Abalolo tree on the other side of the St Banabas Cathedral after the car drove down and when it disappeared I came after.

I went to a friend of mine and he is from Lord Howe Island and got married to a Tobaitan woman from Malaita. And this man is working at the Hospital. I told them everything and this woman was so concern and they were very sad to hear my story. The club that we were playing with a (Martial Art club) at that they would be hosting a grading in Gizo. I wanted to go to Gizo and I told them. They advised me not to go out from the house and at that time there MV Tomoko would be making a trip to Gizo and this couple told me to stay at home, so I spent the night there and on the other day somewhere around three O’clock the woman called her brother to come and pick me up and she gave me four hundred dollars ($400.00). She told me the money was for my fare and pay food whilst travelling.

She told her brother to take with to the ship and he can only leave me when the ship is ready to leave. So her brother took me and we went to the ship and he told me not to worry. I felt the situation is different I felt no hungry and it was a bad feelings.

The ship was about to leave for Gizo and the taxi driver left me and advised me not to worry. I went to the Western Province and worked at the Police Station in Gizo and at that time I worked as a Special Constable (SC).

Whilst in Gizo I played with a Martial Art club and it happen there was killing in Kolongbangara at Ringi whereby a General Manger for the Kolongbangara Forest Tree Limited was killed. And there also a new manager for the same company and his name is Simon. And the ones who were suspected of the killing were taken to Gizo for custody and later they escaped and there were seven (7) of them.

The company had some fear and someone had advised them to look for anybody with a name and that was me. And at that time the person manager came and picked me up in Gizo. I was happy and I left with them and there they also had a process whereby one had to go through it, casual for a month and then issued with an Identification Card and then becoming permanent employee of the company.

I am in Kolongbangara and I was given a task to look after the security shift, the rumors’ the escapees, the prison would be back to set fire to the company.

At that time the Government had also deployed Police Field Force (PFF) and they were assigned to look after Ringi and try to capture the escapees and also to assist the securities as well. According to the company’s rules all the vehicles are to be recorded whenever they are used to taken or assigned to go out. It happen the third 3rd reinforcement or deployment of the Police Field Force (PFF) and some of them came and took one of the company’s vehicle and the used it that night and they were very drunk.

So I came in the morning and I asked one of the security officers where was the other vehicle and what was it being used for and how come he did not record it. And he told me that some of the Police Field Force officers (PFF) had used it whilst they were drinking. I then recorded it on the security record book and mentioned something about the officers used the vehicle and they were not on duty and they were drinking at that time and then I went back to my house.

Whilst at my house I was then recalled for a telephone call and that call was from the Police Field Force (PFF) in charge officer. He accused me about the records I made about they had used the vehicle whilst they were on liquor.

I told him that everyone knew they were using that vehicle and they were drinking as well. The officer went on to say “you think that company is owned by you” and then he went on saying something bad to me, he fired a gun at that time and one of the Police officer by the name of Roko came in and stopped him. I sweared at him and I told him that he fail to accomplished his mission and I went on to challenge him.

I went out to the security gate and stood there waiting for him and this Police officer by the name of Roko came and led me back and tried to calm the tension down. The Assistant General Manger came to me and advised me and gave me a day off. At the same day all of them were drinking and they came and their intention was to shoot me.

I was with my wife at the company’s house and she was from the Western Province as well. I had no fear at that time and I had advised my wife that she must sleep at the end side of the room in case these people fired shot at us it probably landed on me and not her. My intention was that anything happens to me it must be me and not my wife.

I was waiting outside and the officers were just drinking on the other side of the building and so everything they said I could hear them saying it. I felt bad and could not sleep at that time and anything happen I could have kill one of them.

I wake up the whole night and then my wife came and went outside whilst sleeping I heard someone was knocking on the door I went outside I saw it was one of the people drinking outside and he told about the incident that had happened yesterday was my problem with their boss and not him and he went on to say “but I am not afraid of you”, and this Police Officer is from North Malaita and now he no longer work in the Police Force.

He kicked him and fell down and when he was trying to stand up I got him a punch on his back and then I tore my shirt and then I challenged them. One of the Police Officers came and tried to calm me down and he was the only one who seemed to help me. I was so sad to hear that has hit by a car in Honiara at the Tropicana Resort that same year.

He came and calmed me and led me to my house on that same day the General Manager called me and advised me that I am not going to work that day. He told me to have a rest and he was going to send the Police Field Force (PFF) back to Honiara. I went to my house and got my fishing gear and went to the wharf to fish and whilst there I could see one of the canoe and then came another truck loaded with the Police Field Force (PFF) Officers and they were to be transported to Munda to board the plane there.

That was my experiences and to some it may occurred ones and for it occurred several times and it involves Police Officers. Make it worse it happen I was called to the Police Internal Office at the Point Cruz. I went there and talked with RAMSI officer and they referred me to one of the Guadalcanal woman.

It was about six (6) times and til now nothing happened and the Police Officer is still working and he still enjoying his salaries. Nothing happen to him and some of the officers who knew this case came forward and asked me to report the case. In Lata I saw one of the Posters and he was there with other Police Officer and he was involved in the Children and Youth in conflict with the Law I landed and tore that Poster I was so angry with this Police Officer he was the one who also supposed to get out of the Police Force.

I want to tell the militant whenever they meet in and around the city they must come and apologize to me and I do not want compensation and its over from me.

Now I am heal through this process, for the government please be reminded the we are the ones who get you inside and because of your (Government) involvement it got this recent tension worse and even worser and that was the Government of that day, fail to address it and get rid of the Police Officers who were involved in the ethnic tension.

The public at large do not trust the new recruited officers and the officers involved in the ethnic tension. I want to ask the chairperson and the commissioners if there is a chance for me to see my children despite they were very far from me they are still my children.

Although I got married to another woman I am ready to support them and I could not understand how hard they went through. And I never had quarrel with the woman and we were never being argued only the ethnic tension that caused our separation.

I felt so sad and appeal to the National Truth and Reconciliation Commission if there is a chance I want to see my children they were being there like they have no father I am ready to support them.

With I am so thankful for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for facilitating this public hearing and the chance to share with you my experience. Thank you.

DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON: Thank you Johnson for your time and the stories you have shared and for sure you will have the chance to see your children.

CHAIRPERSON: Martin Meaneva, do you promise you’re solemnly telling the truth about the event of the basis of the principle of honesty and good faith?

VICTIM:I promise.

CHAIRPERSON:Be sited, CHAIRPERSON:, Martin Meaneva, in giving your statement you cannot be compelled to incriminate yourself which means that you cannot be forced to say anything which might be held against you in any legal proceedings.

COMMISSIONER:Good morning you can now start to tell your story of what had happen to you during the ethnic tension.

VICTIM:Thank Chairperson, Commissioners and media group. In year 2000 our relatives were planning to make a remembrance service and it involves erection of the tomb stones. Our relatives died on a plane crash in Guadalcanal plain and everyone in the community did help us and we had successful in our preparation it everything went smooth all right through.

It was going to the end month of November 2000 and we the relatives of the dead couple had set plans to come up with the date to set up the tomb stones two (2) officers and they claimed to be Malaitan Eagle Force (MEF) came in into our community. At that time cooperation could be seen evident in our community and the people, I am not sure if they were influence by their in laws and these two (2) people intentionally wish to threaten us.

During those times gunshot could be heard every hour. This threatened and frightened the other villages who wish to come to the preparation of the ceremony. And most of the people who came at that time returned to their respected villages as they were afraid.

My parents were very old and we had built them a house at the coast and if one walks it could take them three (3) and half Kilometers. The men gave us a dead line that we had to remove the house and my parents and if we fail they would burn it all. So I told my brothers and sisters and we went to the coast to get my parents out. We took them to another place and on that night they burnt two (2) sleeping house and a kitchen, they went along the coast and burnt our six (6) driers.

I was at home and I was thinking on how I could be able to channel the case, as I was the one responsible to solve the case and do preparation for the tomb stone ceremony. It was so good one of the elders at home work between us. When he asked the other party, he later realized that they demanded us to pay compensation for a letter an elder brother of mine had written to them, and I did accept it. My younger brother and I took two (2) shell money and we were thinking should they wish to do anything that might have hurt us they might have done to us on the land. Intentionally we went to finish or solve this matter with them, and they agreed with us and they took us with them to their house and they told us the reason why they did that and we told them that we went to them to pay compensation about the letter.

After we had settle this problem, they worked closely with us to erect the tomb stone, never the less, still we are not comfortable or satisfy with what they did to us. According to our tradition this disturbance they had caused us is one thing or problem. It is just the same of what they had done to us. And I believe things had happened for a reason and that’s why it’s brewing to the extending of burning houses. So Truth and Reconciliation Commission, I want to make recommendation, please check with your files and it’s a good program but cannot heal peoples mind only but physically if you do not look into the need of the people affected it cannot be completely heal. I believe the some victims have submitted their recommendation and as far as I am concern your program will only laps at the beginning of next year. If the program laps without doing anything, who then will do it. Another thing you have learned and things might happen again. I could see people who were ill in their mind were the ones that caused this thing and even making it worse. And another thing is the Police people; they had guns and when decision is reached amongst two (2) parties nothing could be done. Please Police Officers keep out of things like that, just keep the peace and that’s all I have to say. Thank you.

CHAIRPERSON:Luke, do you promise you’re solemnly telling the truth about the event of the basis of the principle of honesty and good faith?

VICTIM:I promise.

CHAIRPERSON: Be sited,

CHAIRPERSON:Luke, in giving your statement you cannot be compelled to incriminate yourself which means that you cannot be forced to say anything which might be held against you in any legal proceedings.

COMMISSIONER: Good afternoon Luke and welcome to this public hearing you can start to tell your story.

VICTIM:Truth and Reconciliation Commission, counselors and support staff; I will now tell you what had happened to my family. I was posted to Guadalcanal Province in 1995 I worked til the year 1998 and everything that had happened as I was with the Guadalcanal Province since then. They came and shoot at us at the old building next to the big road.

During those time people threw stones at us and my office was the room facing the main road where stones were thrown at. I had to run to the other side of the building, there were two (2) occasions they stoned our office. When they took over our office at that morning I was still at Riffle range where the staff quarter was. That morning I heard from the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Cooperation (SIBC) that our office was being taken over and occupied by the militants, I am just listening to what we were going to do. I even did not know where the executive office was moved to and later realized it was moved to Balasuna area at the east side of Guadalcanal.

There were few officers from different provinces were moved to Anthony Saru building at the fifth floor and I used to go there and listened to them and then returned home, not knowing that one day my life would be threatened. One morning at somewhere around 5:00 am there was a shootout at Riffle range and that area is now called Con Valley and that was the place the shootout was taken place.

Someone from Reef was there and he was not working and he was shot at his leg and we rushed him down to the hospital and I was thinking we were not involved. I woke my family and rushed them to the church Saint Alban. I was just trying to make sure we got our things and someone told me not to waste our time and we had to move; I then saw the man who had been shot at the leg was there.

Everyone had fled and no one wants to rescue him and luckily a wantok from Tikopia got sympathetic with me and we rushed him to the hospital. We spent time at the St Alban til we were told to return to the area again. I was then called by a sister of mine to take my family to her house at Vavaya ridge area. While we were there one of the Police officer and he is from Reef Islands as well, he told me that I supposed to move around and someone who was a commander of the militant had asked him. He told him that I was in my home but I was around and my family was already at home. So he told me not to go out of the house, suddenly things had started to come to worse. It was a servant quarter of the ports, people who captained ships, my family were accommodated there and they left and I still there. My superiors had known the situation and they had advised me not to move around while waiting for the ship to go home.

One morning I had decided to go down to the shop where they sold musical instrument thinking of getting drink. One officer of the ministry of fisheries saw me and he was sop surprise to see me there, he did not expect to go somewhere around. He came and took me and led me between smart shop and ITA shop and went up to the old clinic. He was a captain of a small ship called Daula. He then asked me whether I care about my life and I asked him why and he went on to say, “well I am from Malaita and they hanged me despite I am from Malaita,” He told me our engineer is being injured and one can hardly be recognized. The militant had been hanged and they bashed him while questioning.

The rumor my office heard was I am the person who was injured and died after being shot and that was the rumors they heard. So they had tried their based their condolence message using the two way radio and they passed it through Malatoa radio station, and they replied it was hard to get through Solomon Islands Broadcasting Cooperation (SIBC). They were talking in language and the only words were LOP HOLE and DAULA were sent to hide in Tulagi and they were stopped by the Militants speed boats and turned to Ranadi. They were questioned and the first person to get questioned was the engineer and they asked him what he knew about me, and he answered yes and he continued to ask him what was special about me as they heard my name on the two way radio. He told them that I am a fishery officer and I am not trained for weapons but fisheries. They hanged the captain and they questioned him and he told them the same word, they bashed them and were satisfied and they released him.

He then advised me to home and not to go around and if they find me I could be in great trouble. After that I went home and start to make up my mind and started to contact the ministry and the Province and finally I went home to Temotu.

Actually I never being confronted and threatened personally I decided to return to Honiara. In January 2001 my two (2) sons were being accommodated at a house at Mbokonavera. The Ministry understands that I supposed not to return to work they continue to make arrangement. Few days we spent we had seen shootouts and when they burnt the night club next to the Antony Saru Building we did saw it going up in flame and it was a spectacular show to see at night time.

After that there was another shootout and my children (two boys) used to go out and see the flames. I was advised again to return to Temotu and work there for our Fisheries Division til then. In the actual facts I was not being directly confronted.

We might have understood the government is a very important organ of the country and now I am talking about the Parliament. And I think the need to really treat the family member equally and groups are not treating each other properly and another group does the same. They still cannot satisfy each other and I think we still have the room to rethink and there are people around that could be very helpful and manage us. When things arose and they did not address it properly and that’s where the failure is. If the Government of that time could look after the matter properly nothing could come to this far. The organ has to be filled up with people who had qualities.

Again it comes to us electors we really need to make sure people we elect have the right quality and we need to learn the lessons and they had things to follow as well and the moment they start to play with the Laws we will definitely become suffer. I think this is what happened and the very people who make sure of the Law and Order.

Well this process is still continuing and there comes another idea that called “Forgiveness Bill” which it better to finish off this program and might be of very helpful to us otherwise what is the use of getting another bill and then another bill and nothing is going to work. So again it has to be good leaders and we have to elect good ones and if they were like us they might be pretending and if they were elected it would very difficult. It is a right to exercise to choice our leaders who and who is the question one could have answered it. Thank you very much for you time and opportunity.

CHAIRPERSON:Father Arthur Apuri, do you promise you’re solemnly telling the truth about the event of the basis of the principle of honesty and good faith?

VICTIM:I promise.

CHAIRPERSON:Be sited,

CHAIRPERSON: Arthur Apuri, before you speak

COMMISSIONER: Good afternoon Author Apuri and welcome to this public hearing you can start to tell your story.

VICTIM:Thank you Chairperson and your team, cancellors and support staff. I was at Bishop Patterson Theological College (BPTC) since 1998 to 2001. I had a good friend who was working for the Solomon Islands College of Higher Education and his job was to look after the farm and he could also fed students of the college. He had a good relationship with the settlers, as of that they hated him and he also fled during the height of the ethnic tension. He came to Kohimarama and my house was the house he came to. The ethnic tension continued and it ruined the farm, we at times we went and fed six hundred (600) broilers, six hundred (600) layers, and fifteen (15) Pigs, crops, vegetables we used to go and do feeding and several times while doing it they open fired at us.

We used to chat and one time I told him that was it possible we could eat some of the chickens and pigs. Well he stayed with me during the height of the tension, as I had mentioned I am just a side line victim and the perpetrators of the person came after him and not me. One time after class I went to the single quarter, telling stories, chewing Bettelnut and enjoying myself. A friend of mine came and told me five (5) gun men are looking for me and I was started to get panic, I was much trembled, I felt I am walking on the air. I was panic and not knowing what to say should the people shows up. I saw them coming towards me, my fellow colleagues were also helpless and they did not know what to do.

Well I was accompanied by a friend of mine from Vanuatu and we walked towards the Mango tree where the College Garage is and I could see them pointing their guns down wards. I felt much better; I knew they were looking for that person. They asked me “Arthur is the person staying with you”, I answered yes. Suddenly my thoughts rushed I do not want them to enter my house; I do not want my family to see gun men enter into my house. I asked them politely that I want to go and get him they replied no and they matched me to my house, my wife fled and my children had also escaped somewhere, and the only person in my house was the person they were looking for. On our way towards my house I shouted his name purposely to make them aware that we are coming. When we arrived he had prepared and ready for us, we then approached him, they gun pointed him and bashed him up. I was with them when they talked with that person, and after he gave them two hundred and fifty dollars ($250) where I gave them and I got it from the College Canteen. They left us and one thing of experience I had was when I heard they told me that five (5) gun men were looking for me I thought I was going to be killed. When I saw them I was thinking of running away, my family had fled our home and from that time after I had completed my studies, I felt bad and fear. That person was with us and my wife told me to send him away as we argued.

I told my wife if the person was to be send away where would he be going, if walk on the road the people might kill him and if he goes to Honiara there are people there as well. I asked my wife are we going to send him. The longer he stays we might have experience of threat and make matters worse they knew my house and they knew me that I am the one who accommodating him. For several months’ food become tasteless, water becomes tasteless; nights were sleepless and too short. For several moths I make myself a routine, from house to garden, church to house, house to library. I must make sure I do not see anyone outside the College Compound, I became paranoid. I felt hurt and if I go to the church I must make sure I sat at the centre of the students and if I travel to Honiara I must sat on the trailer of the truck.

My family is being living with fear til 2006 and this is evident and there are several attitudes of fear, especially when I am out on tour and that’s about the experience and this is bad as we live with fear amongst the people.

I want to make few comments on my experience, the government is not listening if it’s listening the problem might have been avoided and our leaders in the government must learn to listen to the people and the marginalize. Listen to the voiceless and this is the real problem. The government should do more and listen more and talk less. For the perpetrators we should meet to discuss so that I might have come to reconciliation with you.

COMMISSIONER: Thank you for your time and experience that you had shared amongst us. Once again thank you.

CHAIRPERSON: Henry, do you promise you’re solemnly telling the truth about the event of the basis of the principle of honesty and good faith?

VICTIM:Yes I promise.

CHAIRPERSON:Be sited,

CHAIRPERSON:Henry, before you speak I have to advice you that you have the right not to incriminate yourself or members of your immediate family in anything criminal offence which means that you must be warn against saying anything which might affect you in any legal proceedings. COMMISSIONER: Welcome Henry you can now start to share us your story.

VICTIM:Thank you everyone for the chance you have provided me with to share my experiences and stories with you and the country as a whole. In 5th May 1999 I was working for the Solomon Islands Plantation Limited (SIPL) as a Clerk. On that Sat 5th it was about in the afternoon when I returned to the office I saw children running on the road to the next division and they were naked and I asked them what had happened and they told me there was a shooting at Barande.

And later on I saw a man from Are ‘are running towards me and I could see that one of his should had little problem. I asked them what had happened and he told me that he was being shot on the shoulder. Whilst we still have our conversation another came and I asked him what had happened and he told me that he was being cut on the hand. They told me that there were two (2) people confirm dead and one of them had his head chopped off and the other one had his head cut into two halves.

I went back to the office and I contacted the boss through the two way radio about what had happened. After I reported the incident to the field manager and the General Manager and then I report it to the Police if they could send us a Helicopter at that time. I think it might be wrong but it’s important to do it. I actually act outside my job description, later about five minute the helicopter was at Barande area. The Police went to Barande and got the children, I was at the road side and I could see it happened and it was hard to control and there was no senior company officer there.

The drivers of the company came and started to organize themselves with the pickup turn and there about two hundred (200) families there. I was there I saw a Police truck came and stopped before me and they told me that the dead bodies are at the back of the truck. I went and I saw one of the two got their heads chopped off and the other one half. The Police then took off and every family in the company’s area fled to sleep at the Tetere Police Station Football field. Others were picked up on the truck and taken to Honiara on the Company’s truck. And that’s what I experienced during the ethnic tension. I questioned myself why human beings had been brutally killed and the treatment was so harsh, when he or she does not deserve it. The corps I had seen have not been involved in the ethnic tension.

During the ethnic tension there was other company’s staff that was also being taken. One was from Makira and his wife is one of the victims as well and the other one was a friend of mine and he was brutally tortured, slow dead kind of dead. They cut off his hand and then followed by other parts of his body. A friend of mine from Makira returned after a week and I did asked him what he was given to eat and he told me that they fed him Giant wild taro and could obviously saw him when he was first came after a week.

I want to say something, as one of the families who are victims of the ethnic tension for instance I had worked twenty (20) years and I am just like a woman who got married and her husband got rid of her. When we work and the situation came we did not take anything with us and the company and the government did not bother about us. Some of us lost properties and even some lost their land. We were in good health and work force and when were troubled they did nothing for us and I want the government to compensate us those of us who lost our properties. This ethnic tension really troubled us. I now could say I came here through this process of healing and something I had discuss with the cancellors that there were a lot of people who are like me and I felt better and healing really takes its course within me and that’s all I want to say.

COMMISSIONER: Thank you very much for your story and experiences during the ethnic tension.

CHAIRPERSON: Richard Metangi, do you promise you’re solemnly telling the truth about the event of the basis of the principle of honesty and good faith?

VICTIM:Yes I promise.

CHAIRPERSON:Be sited,

CHAIRPERSON: Richard Metangi,before you speak I have to advice you that you have the right not to incriminate yourself or members of your immediate family in anything criminal offence which means that you must be warn against saying anything which might affect you in any legal proceedings.

COMMISSIONER: You now can tell your story and also share your experiences to the nation at large.

VICTIM:Well I am at the Fox Wood timber from the time in 1987 to 1999 and the ethnic tension happened at it was about five o’clock in the morning we were at home ready to go to work at the workshop; at that time the Malaitan Eagle Force (MEF) shootout at that area and everyone was panic and I told my family to run to take cover inside the drainage. We had to wait for the Malaitan Eagle Force (MEF) to go back and see what we can do.

I went to the house and got few clothes and we fled to CDC 3, to one of the village called Kolona; one of the houses and hid. We stayed there til the Guadalcanal Revolutionary Army (GRA) and Isatambu Freedom Fighters and the Malaitan Eagle Force (MEF) went to Townsville in Australia to sign the peace agreement we went to Honiara and we were accommodated at the Panatina Campus. So stayed there and wait for the ship and the company did charter the ship and we went home.

Well I stayed home til today and when this program of the truth and reconciliation commission came I decide to come and share my story as well. That’s all I want to say.

COMMISSIONER: Thank you for your time.

CHAIRPERSON: Monty Taro, do you promise you’re solemnly telling the truth about the event of the basis of the principle of honesty and good faith?

VICTIM:Yes I promise.

CHAIRPERSON:Be sited,

CHAIRPERSON: Monty Taro, before you speak I have to advice you that you have the right not to incriminate yourself or members of your immediate family in anything criminal offence which means that you must be warn against saying anything against you or others which might affect you in any legal proceedings. COMMISSIONER: You now can tell your story and also share your experiences.

VICTIM: Thank you commissioners and staff, I will now start. In early 1999 I had witness one incident that had happened in Honiara; one man was stoned at the central market and these were not militants but the displaced ones, women, children; they stoned this man and chased him til they reach old Guadalcanal Provincial Head Quarter (GP) and that time the Police were there. I could see him badly hurt and everybody was throwing stones at him and that was the first incident I had came across.

Another incident was the year 2000, the month of July one night all the ships alarm were signal and all the vessels had to return to Noro base as one of our vessel Soltai 68 had been hijacked. So we returned to the base. And they told us we were going to have a early holiday and I was working Soltai 5. While in Noro I had also witness one incident where the Black Shark it comprised of the Bougainvillians and some from western province they bashed one man from Makira and I will not mention his name. The office in Noro was thinking of sending one of the vessels to Honiara to get all the things in the Head Office in Honiara to Noro if things started to get worse.

They sent Soltai 3 and inside Soltai 3 there was one boy from Guadalcanal and I had to replace him. So we went to Honiara and spent a week and we were not allowed to berth at a wharf side. During night would go out and anchor outside and returned when day break. One time there was a huge cargo boat berthing at the main wharf and it did not give us space to move out in the evening and we decide to continue berthing. A gun man walked into the ship and I knew him and he knew me as well. He demanded food and the boys gave them and then some discipline members of the Malaitan Eagle Force (MEF) came and took him away.

After that incident, a hilux pulled over the next day and told us that the ship would be on mission to the West end of Guadalcanal. They took the captain of the ship and they went to the houses of the bosses in and around Honiara. At the same night one of the bosses came and told us to follow whatever instruction they (Malaitan Eagle Force) gave us. They loaded the ship with tones of rice, noodles and early on the morning the arrangement was changed and the group was transported on the vehicle and we could see the west end of Guadalcanal covered with thick smoke. All the ships at the point Cruz we had seen it happened, and then we had to wait and the troop that went to do the raid returned and on board we had women, men and children. The militants came and asked for engine crease to wash their riffles. At that time I was the only one who was a kid on board and the militant could have send me to do anything they like, actually I felt bad about it.

It was evening and we were at the last point before we approach Marau and they ordered us to lock all the children, women and older men inside the cabins. All of us were to take cover outside, they fear that point as they thought the Guadalcanal Revolutionary Army (GRA) might have attacked us. We arrived at New Island in Marau at that time the main land Marau there were no body and people were staying at New Islands and Marapa. We arrived at New Island and we off load the cargo and then the militants gave us three (3) riffles. The next morning the Noro base gave us a radio call and they told us to take precaution and if the militants the Guadalcanal Revolutionary Army find us they could have shoot us.

We spent the morning part carrying water for the people, we went to Marapa and got water and we went back and distributed to the people. After that we went back to Honiara, two (2) militants and they were responsible for the escort and were with us. During that time if one turned on the radio one could hear bad words insulting words. The head office was really worried and they sent us back to Noro and we followed another route, Honiara, Tulagi, Isabel and then Noro. There the black shark came after us. What we had experience is more what we can say and I really want to make recommendation; if the government of the day could support and extend the projects timeframe. There are many people like us still there living with the trauma. I have a strong feeling that things might have happen in the future.

COMMISSIONER: Thank you Monty Taro for sharing us your story.

CHAIRPERSON: Isaac Menima, do you promise you’re solemnly telling the truth about the event of the basis of the principle of honesty and good faith?

VICTIM:Yes I promise.

CHAIRPERSON:Be sited,

CHAIRPERSON: Isaac Menima,before you speak I have to advice you that you have the right not to incriminate yourself or members of your immediate family in anything criminal offence which means that you must be warn against saying anything against you or others which might affect you in any legal proceedings.

COMMISSIONER: Welcome, you may begin.

VICTIM:Thank you for this opportunity to share my story.I had given my story and it was taped but just to add on. I want to ask a question how the government would address our issue as victim. Secondly what time we are looking for and also I am supposed not to be here as am now in Makira. Not the least the problem is what you had read on the paper and just to add on, I am worried about the young people, to me I am not really worried as I had been through problem but the younger ones is what actually matter.

This all I have to say, thank you.

COMMISSIONER: Thank you.

CHAIRPERSON: Moses Wakwolly, do you promise you’re solemnly telling the truth about the event of the basis of the principle of honesty and good faith?

VICTIM:Yes I promise.

CHAIRPERSON:Be sited,

CHAIRPERSON:Moses Wakwolly,before you speak I have to advice you that you have the right not to incriminate yourself or members of your immediate family in anything criminal offence which means that you must be warn against saying anything against you or others which might affect you in any legal proceedings.

COMMISSIONER: Welcome, you may begin.

VICTIM:Good morning chairman and supporting staff. Now I will start, I had come across several occasions where I encountered incidents during the ethnic tension. I had to explain to the nation; before the ethnic tension had started the Rapid Response Unit (RRU) was the first unit the Police Force had sent to rescue people and protect properties. We are the first unit, we were in the beginning and we were at its end.

SHOOTING AT GOLD RIDGE: it was early part in the morning 9thAugust 1999, another night shift of our Unit went to Alligator Creek to escort the expatriates who were working at the Gold ridge and every morning we had to escort them to their working area and then back. At that day another shift escorted those to Gold ridge they were just about to approach Gold ridge area and the Guadalcanal Revolutionary Army (GRA) approached them. They shot one of our boys and he was hit at the eye and he did not die. His name is Charles Luiramo and he is part Santa Cruz and Malaita. The report of the incident came to our camp and we were on standby and await order from the Commissioner of Police. The Commissioner told us to be quite and standby our Commander would be arriving at the Chopper.

The Chopper arrived at Gold Ridge and our Commander came and talked with the Bosses of the company. The conversation was about the possibility of getting out the company staff that was at Gold Ridge who was residing at the place called Old Camp. It was used to be an operation camp and they left it and move to a new site. There were many of the expatriate and there were about 20 vehicles and the Bosses of the company asked him if he could escort all the staff who was at the Old Camp. The respond of our Commander was yes and he came and ordered us to get into two (2) vehicles and we drove down and when we went the road had many road blocks and we did manage to reach them to the mining site. One of the vehicles at the front and at the centre we have the expatriate and at the back were one of our vehicles. We went through the road we had come across many road blocks and we never saw any person.

We came to one place I knew the place but I forgot its name, the vehicle at the front reported to us the militants were at the front and they shot at them and at the back there sounds of gun fire. All the vehicle of the expatriate pulled over and we drove quickly to the front to help our team. I could see there were many of them; I think the whole tribe of Guadalcanal was there at that spot. They wore Kapilato and they were armed, .22, homemade and iron scrape. We gave them warning shots to disperse them instead they continue to move towards. I understand one of the ex Police Field Force officer was with and he was the one might had been advising them to walk forward as we were not going to shoot at them. We fire shots and they continue to come before us, the person who shot me I believe he was advised by the former Ex Police Field Force member. They ambushed us and he told them the position and he must have position himself just before we arrived. We continue exchanged fire and the machine gun got jammed and obstruct and the person operating it ran to me to fix it. When the gunner shouted obstruct I ran to him and kneel down and while fixing it I could hear the sound of the bullet hitting my helmet.

They were firing me and I could feel the blood and I did not feel the pain. One of the expatriate and he was citizen in Papua New Guinea and was a former military person; he was with us at that time, I was picked and then he rushed me to the hospital and what happened next I don’t know. Before I tell you about another incident I want to say here that I really thankful to one person who had saved my life without him on the 9thAugust 1999 I might have been rot, back to dust. Today I am here as he was the one who saved my life and that person’s name is Kelesi and he was also a member of the unit and his is from Malaita.

One incident that had happened at Ngalibiu whereby the Guadalcanal Revolutionary Army (GRA) they broke the bridge and when the report came our Rapid Response Unit (RRU) was at Gold Ridge and at that time the Police Field Force (PFF) came as well. The officers at Tetere came as well and after clearing the bridge the Police Field Force (PFF) decide to return to Honiara. I was at the west end of the Bridge as they posted me there, at the West end of the bridge and the Police Field Force (PFF) were on their hilux as they were ready to return to the Honiara and Kelesi was on the back of the truck and shouted at me,” Lax have you got a bullet proof vest”, and I responded no “take this one”, and he threw me the vest. I put it on and it was on Friday afternoon and whilst at Gold Ridge I used it. It was about a week and that bullet proof saved my life.

Well this wound I had was a mark of the shot gun and it was fired to me at a very short distance. I have tears coming down from my eyes, not because I am angry but happy about what Kelesi had done to me; and that’s what saves me til today. I guess God might have inspired him to give the bullet proof vest as things might have gone bad the following week.

Another incident happened 22nd November 1999; I am just going to be brief. Well after recovering from a gunshot at the National Referal Hospital I was then report to duty at the Gold ridge and that was early part of the morning 2:00 am there was a report our officers received at the front gate and at that time I was in a night shift and I am incharge of the night shift. One of the security officer hired by Gold ridge and he is from Australia came and picked me up and an officer of mine; he told other officers to wait and we had to go and scout the situation. We drove down and we came to a hill they called custom hill and they thought it has a round shape and they dug around it. We drove to the other end another group of Guadalcanal Revolutionary Army (GRA) were there and they gun pointed us and this Australian Security Officer he drove and he tried to drive zig zag as he was trying to missed the bullets and the truck got over turned and rolled and I was at the back as the two officers were at the front and they jumped out. I rolled with the truck, it was a steep hill and if one could see tall trees little and for men little as ants.

This hilux rolled easy on reversing direction and the trail was out and there was a little stone that was lying there and it halts the hilux for a while. I tried to see them but could not see them and when I looked on the other side it was right steep, one could have died if fall. I climbed out of the window and left. I had a cut on my knee and when arriving at the hospital they had to chip off my skin from other parts and they covered it.

The other incident was when I was walking with some of my wantoks on the road side at King George Sixth National Secondary School. The man was at the other side of the road near Hatsoa Bottle Shop that was formerly owned by the Malaitan Eagle Force Leader. He used fowl / swearing words and we just bowed our heads and kept walking. The words he used to us, personally it’s not acceptable but he had a gun with him, til then it still remain in my head.

The fourth incident: the shooting and others I don’t really think of them as heavy the third one, the fourth one is more serious to me. The perpetrator gave me a punch and I missed it and he is still a prison officer and still I town. After the ethnic tension he met me and tried to smile at me, when I saw him wearing uniform and has star on it I felt hurt and really want to get the star and place it on his forehead. The star of promotion was given by the government and he is now became an inspector, which is not good. Any way I am just angry as he personally came directly to me and intentionally meant to kill me and I had done nothing wrong but carry out my duties. The duties the government and the Police wanted to protect the lives and properties of the people in Honiara. While still at work I thought the two warring parties would respect us but not and we were to protect their lives as well. The Malaitan and the Guadalcanal and we worked amongst people who were armed instead they shot me. My experiences during the ethnic tension and we worked most part of the conflicted affected areas in around the country. We went to the other side of Guadalcanal, Russell Islands, and Temotu where an incident happened where a man was being shot to dead. And that’s why I said we started to work at the beginning to the end. We were also the ones who welcome the arrival of the Regional Assistance to the Solomon Islands and we provide security.

And that are some of the experiences that I went through the ethnic tension. I have few recommendations to make. Since I went through the trauma cancelling I feel my heart is burning and I am a victim of all this things. I felt bad and to be involve as of my duty requested by the government. The points are: I am still angry as the government treated me, when I was shot and wounded the government had paid me less than what I should receive. During Ulufa’alu he had changed the dead and injury benefit. During Solomon Mamaloni’s time when a person died as of his duty he could have a dead benefit of hundred thousand dollars ($100, 00). A person who lost some of his body parts could have a benefit seventy five thousand dollars ($75,000). A person who got injured could have fifty thousand dollars ($50,000). I was wounded before they had changed the benefits. They paid on the new scheme of benefit where it’s down and I thought I was injured before the law was change. I am still concern about the injured benefit. For instance

I had approached Manasseh Sogavare and I told him you have treated us like dogs you could send them to catch pigs and when they got it you got the meat part of the pig and give them bones. Sogavare was just standing and could not do anything and we were at his office. The Police Constable was working very hard and the Bosses just sit back and await ranks. And another example is the proposed forgiveness bill. It’s not being passed. I am not happy with the proposed idea. I think the forgiveness bill is not a good time and the first time I heard of reconciliation, killing of pigs, shell money and cash it just a waste of time and money. The truth and reconciliation is the best way forward. It heals people’s heart and mind. And I now I can show you my picture while in the hospital, thank you chairperson commissioner and supporting staff, Thank you.

COMMISSIONER: Thank you for your story we hope it will be fine and being through this process it relief and help you.

CHAIRPERSON: Monica Katakume, do you promise you’re solemnly telling the truth about the event of the basis of the principle of honesty and good faith?

VICTIM:Yes I promise.

CHAIRPERSON:Be sited,

CHAIRPERSON: Monica Katakume ,before you speak I have to advice you that you have the right not to incriminate yourself or members of your immediate family in anything criminal offence which means that you must be warn against saying anything against you or others which might affect you in any legal proceedings.

COMMISSIONER: Welcome Monica you can start. VICTIM:Thank you, before I tell you my story I am a woman and a victim as you could see I am the only woman amongst men. My family we were very happy and at that time the ethnic tension has not began and my family was at CDC working for the Solomon Islands Plantation Limited (SIPL). CDC was really a good place before the ethnic tension happened and we came from different provinces and we involved in other activities like youth and mother’s group and used to go out to other areas near CDC. As you know I am not employed and my work was to do all the household work and my husband was the one who worked and he worked as an ambulance driver and he worked for six (6) years since 1986 to 1991 and he asked to resign and they refused it and they posted him to drive the heavy vehicle, particular the excavator.

I will now tell you the story about my life since 1998 and my husband had died and I will tell you the story so that I may be free. The stories are in my mind and heart and it’s hurtful, it was May 5thmy husband went to work and the fighting was at Barande and it was on Saturday and that was the time they took my husband. I have to tell the story as he told me the story and when people came I am the one who is going to tell the story and if he tell them it might have remind him of the bad things they did to him.

One Sat 5th May he went to work he was supposed to take day off and his Boss told him to report work and along with his work mate a man from Malaita. The Malaitan man work in the morning up to 12 O’clock and then he clock off and my husband worked in the afternoon commence from 1O’clock to 4 O’clock. My husband told me the militants were hiding at that time at the oil palm tree and they came and gun pointed them. My husband came off from the digger and his work mate both of them walked towards them and they tired their hands at the back and they took off their shirts, watch, hut and shoes. They led them to the creek and it was deep and they blind fold them and they made them to guess where the sun rises and where it goes down. They fire guns at them but it missed and they ordered them to jump into the swamp and they forced them to swim across and they tried to climb on to the other side of the river bunk.

They led them to another place and there they were separated they led my husband to another side of the road and his friend was also taken to the other road. My husband looked back trying to see his friend and they bashed his friend he was so sad and he cried. They asked him where he came from and my husband told them he came from Makira. They bashed him all along and they took him to two women who got married to Guadalcanal. The first woman was from Arosi west end of Makira. She spoke to him in Makira language and my husband could only understand little about the language. The little part of the language he understood he replied. The Boss of the group did not believe that he really from Makira and they took him to the other woman and that woman was from the eastern side of Makira.

They arrived and they called her to come and she came and talked with him and the group told her to feed him. He was given food but ate little and then they took him to another place called KOMICAMA School. They stayed there in the morning he wrote me a note and I read it, in the letter and he advised me to tell all our wantoks to move to Honiara and he said that the group was planning to advance toward the company’s area. At that time we were hesitated to go and we thought we wait for him if he returns.

After a week he return, at that time he looked much different he couldn’t eat, not normal. The group camped at KOMICAMA School and it was morning when one of the Tasiu came around that area and he was from Makira and the Militants told him that they got hostage a man from Makira. He told them to bring him and he took them to their area. And they decide to take him to Honiara and they walked to the main road and during that time there were many militants at the main road. They returned to the Tasiu’s area and the next day they went to the main road and they took him to Honiara and they left him at the All Saint area and he was afraid and the Central Police Station officers brought him to the Skyline area. His Bosses heard that he had returned and they came and took him with them to the office.

Well they took him into their office the Bosses did asked him what had happened and he told him little pit about it. In the evening he used to stay in the room and never stay with us outside. The next day his Boss came and asked him whether he wanted to go home and he told him they he wanted to go home. He first went home and we were the ones remaining and we took little of his payment and we came after him. We came home and he had started to feel sick, custom medicine or any other medicine could not cure and he stayed with us til December 2008 he dead and I was let alone with our children.

I really want to tell the story so that I may feel better and it’s being with me for some times and I had found it quite hard to sleep. As of the fighting in Guadalcanal he was sick and he was just a young person. I think this all I have to say, I now appeal to all the women in Makira please come before the commission and share your story so that you might have been free.

COMMISSIONER: Thank you very much for the story and the share of experience.

CHAIRPERSON: Vagi Basi, do you promise you’re solemnly telling the truth about the event of the basis of the principle of honesty and good faith?

VICTIM:Yes I promise.

CHAIRPERSON:Be sited,

CHAIRPERSON: Vagi Basi, before you speak I have to advice you that you have the right not to incriminate yourself or members of your immediate family in anything criminal offence which means that you must be warn against saying anything against you or others which might affect you in any legal proceedings.

COMMISSIONER: You now can start.

VICTIM:Thank chairperson and supporting staff, I will tell you about the experiences I had came across whilst in Guadalcanal. I worked for the Seventh Day Adventist Mission and they posted me to Kuma. It’s not only me but there were other Pastors that I worked under their supervision. I went there in 1998 in Kuma and my supervisor was a Pastor from Malaita. Things had happened on the other side at the west and the east. We heard the story and the Pastors from Malaita came to be afraid, their children and their wife. They asked me what to do and I told them I would have to transport them back to Honiara. They left with few things and we went through Marau side and we had to leave very early morning. We travelled onboard on the 15 hp engine and it took us 12 hours to get to Honiara.

I left them and returned to the Weather coast I had tried to get their things over to this side and it was really hard. And from Weather coast to Kobiu and the militants were there and they tried to secure the things. I came to the place and talked with the church members to try as much as possible to get the things prepare. The church members were afraid and no one was willing to help me and when the ship belongs to the province came I sent it things home. I had told my story and it was being taped and I think that’s all I have, otherwise I might have repeated the same story.

COMMISSIONER: Thank you.