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Mrs Elaine Tobaea in Buka. |
BEATEN UP FISHERMAN WAS MIX MALAITA AND BUIN, SAYS MOTHER
One of two PNG fishermen from Buin, who were beaten up by Solomon Island border police was part Solomon Island.
Above is the picture of his mother, Elaine Tobaea, who is very angry with suggestions by SI police chief Mostyn Mangau that the alleged incident involving his policemen never happened.
Elaine Tobaea said her husband is part Malaita (Solomons) and part Buin (PNG) and their son Tauku went to school in New Georgia, Solomon Islands.
The mother of 3 boys, Mrs Tobaea, in an exclusive interview, said her son Tauku was beaten up on Feb 5 while fishing with cousin Watson Leo on the PNG Solomon border.
She said the incident happened on Feb 5, a Saturday, and not on February 9, as earlier reported.
Her son, Tauku who attended Ugele Secondary School in Marovo, New Georgia, identified one of the policemen as being from Malaita.
She expressed disappointment that the SI Police Commissioner Mostyn Mangau has downplayed the incident by saying there was no such incident.
She said: "The police commissioner did not see the blood, I saw the blood, it was in my boat and it was on my son."
The RSIPF Media team responded in an email today saying Mr Police Commissioner Mostyn Mangau will respond to the incident claims.
Mrs Tobaea called on SI Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare to sanction PC Mangau and discipline the border police for violation of human rights.
Both men were allegedly set upon by Solomon Islands border patrol officers while fishing between Taurato (PNG) and Ilina Islands (Solomon Islands).
Currently Mrs Tobaea is in Buka to pay school fees for her sons attending Hutjena and Devare high schools.
"My son Tauku is part Malaita and part Buin. He went to school in Marovo, New Georgia and he recognised one of the policeman who is from Malaita.
"There were 5 police, 3 were wearing SI police uniforms, and 2 were in civilian. They were carrying guns. The boat was flying a Solomon Islands flag.
"My son told me that the police accused them of spreading covid. How can that be when they were in the middle of the ocean?
"I demand that Solomon Islands police commissioner apologize to my two boys and people of Buin.
"We have traditional border crossing rights. Even Solomon women come every Thursday to sell their market food at Buin market. We don't treat them harshly; we look after them.
"What the SI police did to my two boys is violation of their rights."
Buin police station commander John Popui confirmed that CID has completed interviewing Tauku and Watson and will forward the report to the Bougainville Police Service Commissioner to raise the issue at ABG level and further onto the PNG Government to raise with the Solomon Government.
MORE ON THE STRUGGLES of ELAINE TOBAEA TOMORROW.
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