TENSION AT PNG SOLOMON'S BORDER

 

A SI border police patrol boat.

ATTACK ON BOUGAINVILLE FISHERMEN CONDEMNED

A LOCAL Buin leader has condemned an attack on two young fishermen by Solomon Islands border police.

Chief Job Taunai confirmed that fishermen Tauku Obree Greg and Watson Leo sustained facial and back injuries in the attack on Wednesday, Feb 9 while they were trawling on the international border between Taurato (PNG) and Ilina Islands (Solomons).

Both suffered serious injuries and Leo was taken to Arawa general hospital.

Chief Taunai said the locals are incensed by actions of the SI police and are threatening to retaliate but have been warned not to do anything that can escalate the situation.

He said the SI police, held the Bougainvilleans up at gunpoint, belted them up, threw their catch overboard, threw their fishing lines, hooks and spears into the sea and smashed their 19 foot banana boat.

He said six SI police in a 23 foot boat powered by a 60 horse powered engine intercepted the two Bougainvilleans.

Inspector John Kopui of Buin Police Station. He wants the two fishermen to come in for interview on Thursday, which is the market day in Buin.

The matter was reported to the Buin Police Station and Commander inspector John Popui confirmed yesterday that he is aware of the incident.

Inspector Popui said he has asked for both victims to be brought into Buin tomorrow to be formally interviewed.

He said that since this is an international incident, protocols must be followed at the highest level between the governments of PNG and SI.

He also called on Konnou Constituency people to refrain from taking any action that could escalate the situation.

PNG Immigrations Minister Wesley Nukundj, who was in Buin last Friday for the opening of the Buin immigration border station, said he has not been told of the incident.

South Bougainville MP Timothy Masiu, when contacted yesterday, said: “I am not aware.”

Leo, aged 21 and Grey, 24, claim that they were assaulted by Solomon Islands border patrol officers, while fishing between the Saulato and Irina islands on Wednesday (09.02).

The Taurato Island is on the Bougainville side, while Irina Island is on the Solomon Islands side of the border.

They said the border patrol was from Kariki base on Shortland Island.

Lavalei beach which stretches all the way around to Tonolei Harbour.
You can see the Solomon Islands across the sea.

The duo were fishing in their 19-foot banana boat powered by a 15-horse powered engine, when they were set upon by the border patrol officers.

The Post-Courier newspaper reports that Bougainville Police are aware of the incident on the border between PNG and the Solomon Islands in which the two fishermen were assaulted by Solomon Islands border police.

Autonomous Region of Bougainville Police Minister Emanuel Carlos Kaetavara  said the southern command of the Bougainville police service is investigating the incident and will brief the government. 

He said there is a need to quickly address the matter before it escalates into a serious border incident.

PNG PM James Marape (above) and SI PM Manasseh Sogavare (below) need to solve this border issue as soon as possible.

"Any act of aggression at the border by border police and incursions from our side into theirs by any elements from Bougainville including the Mekamui would be viewed as efforts to destabilise the Solomon Islands government, he said.

“Therefore, within the Solomon side of the border joint actions may be taken supported by the joint forces currently in the Solomon’s to deal with the perpetrators,” he said.

“On our side our people must refrain from incursions with the purpose of attempting retaliations on the Solomon Islands police which is a national security entity of our nearest neighbour.

“We will also liaise with the national Department of Foreign Affairs on the matter and reach out to the Solomon Islands High commission to resolve the issue.

“The issue cannot be resolved through retaliatory measures. As a region preparing for independence Bougainville in all situations must display the ability to maintain the highest level of diplomacy on international issues, and the border issue is no exception it has to be solved diplomatically.”

However,  aggrieved relatives of the two fishermen are adamant on retaliation on Solomon Islands border patrol and establishments.

They say, the area has been their traditional fishing grounds for generations, and they have never encountered such bad treatment from the other side of the border.

Locals of Sari and Tonolei villages are also calling on the Autonomous Bougainville Government to make it its priority to sit down with the Solomon Islands Government to address the border issue.

They say their rights to their traditional fishing grounds have been abused and restricted, without proper reason, and that the quicker the ABG and the Solomon Islands Government sit down to iron out the issues, the better it would be for them.

The porous watery border.