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. |
Buin people are renowned aggressive people in Bougainville especially the konnou constituency where the incident happened.
ReplyDeleteIf the Solomon Islands police personnel were from the Western Province of SI,they should have known better the traditional fishing locations on either sides of the border.If police personnel were from other provinces of SI who lack mutual understanding on the border issue I presume they have put to risk Solomon Islanders living in and around the vicinity of the border.
I hope PNG is not using Solomon Island to cause hiccups and delay tactics on Bougainville Independence.
sad but international boarder laws with current Corona movement restrictions must be abide by all...no one is above the law
ReplyDeleteSo sad to hear this.
ReplyDeleteThis action taken by the s.I police who patrol along the border that results injuries to our Melanesia brothers. This kind of actions was not accepted.
Kindly ask the responsible authority must investigate the issue and dealt with accordingly.
So sad to hear that
Delete