Tutuvatu Forum

AK47 · Joined: 08 Nov 2007 Posts: 233

Protecting the Criminals is not unique to Malaitans themselves. The Solomon Islands Police Force with the assistance of a couple of of armed RAMSI officers (this is RAMSI protocol) were attacked in the Weathercoast as they waited for the RAMSI helicopter with the suspect. Two officers fired two warning shots after being surrounded, outnumbered, and hit by stones! these officers received wounds from stone throwers.
And here we are fighting to prosecute them. I think its time we change our views on how our own people treat criminals. First, RAMSI officers were stoned and forced to draw their arms while cross the Mataniko river, and now they had to fire warning shots in the Weathercoast!
Go ahead with your RAMSI criticism because the real criminals are in our communities, walking, talking and eating; things they denied their victims since 2000.
.............

ast night, RAMSI Participating Police Force (PPF) advisers were forced to fire two warning shots on the Weathercoast.

The PPF advisers were assisting Solomon Islands Police Force (SIPF) officers in the arrest of Robert Tatave from Veravolia Village who is wanted in connection with a series of murders, abductions and arson attacks in 2003.

The SIPF officers with assistance from the PPF arrested Tatave and were waiting for the arrival of a RAMSI helicopter to transport him to Honiara.

Whilst waiting for the helicopter, a group of people surrounded the police and began to throw rocks at them. The police officers were outnumbered and were being hit by the rocks and in danger of suffering serious injury.

In order to preserve the safety of the officers and of the man in the custody of the SIPF, each of the PPF advisers fired one warning shot from their service firearms.

One of the PPF advisers sustained bruising and swelling to his arm as a result of being hit by a rock that was thrown by the attackers.

The warning shots dispersed the group and stopped the rocks being thrown at police.

Acting Commissioner of Police, Peter Marshall, said he is disappointed members of the community acted aggressively towards the police.

“The officers had successfully arrested this man but were attacked. This man is wanted for very serious crimes and I am shocked people would intentionally try and harm police in the course of their duties and prevent them from making this arrest.

“The warning shots fired by the PPF stopped a situation that could have seriously injured the officers involved and the man in custody,” he said.

During the attack on police, Tatave escaped from custody. He was still handcuffed at the time.

A warrant remains in existence for Robert Tatave’s arrest. Police are urging any person with knowledge of his whereabouts to contact the nearest police station.

“The SIPF remain committed to bringing people who have been accused of a crime to justice and we are not deterred by this unfortunate incident.”

Source: peoplefirst.net.sb
_________________
For of all sad words of tongue or pen,
The saddest are these:
It might have been.
............
John Greenleaf Whittier

sv · Joined: 06 Nov 2007 Posts: 195 Location: japan

AK47! Is this an attempt by you to try and forge a sympathy view towards RAMSI inside this forum?
none of us are against RAMSI and the good work they have conducted thru out our nation. no one will ever dispute the fact that RAMSI has contributed enormously to the improvemetn of our law and order situation. however, that does not make RAMSI becoming immune from review. if the review team finds out that there is overwhelming support for RAMSI from within our communities, then there is high chance that RAMSI will still be here for another 10 -15 years. our MPs will only vote on any reccomendations contained within the rieview team's submission. Stop being too sympathetic fren, contributors to this forum are a minority while the majority is still out there in the rural areas of solomon islands. the only issue now is for the foreign relations committee or the review committee/team should and must visit all our nine provinces and obtain views from across the society. I firmly believe there is still very strong support for RAMSI out there. But again, it does not mean there should be no RAMSI review. It now seems very obvious that you have a perception of RAMSI being an untouchable group/entity within the solomon islands. we all have our own views and perceptions regarding issues hence, your attempt to gain sympathy for RAMSI under this forum is just nonesense. we are not anti-RAMSI neither are we against the review. we see the review of RAMSI from an angle different from yours.....

pinmiz · Joined: 24 Dec 2007 Posts: 75 Location: Honiara

SV, I hold the view that there is a need for a review of legal frame work that governs RAMSI. This process I personally believe provide an avenue where people come and discuss the issues that are of concern to them in relation RAMSI. I think one should view this process as providing opportunity for concern citizens, organisations ect..to come together and in so doing trash out the different conflicting views that the public might hold whether the views are anti or pro RAMSI . It has been 5 years now and I am of the view that it is timely that the review should take place. The challenge now before the committee is that of reaching out to the people especially when one tries to contrast the size of the work against the short time frame given to the committee to undertake the task. The other challenge is the obvious one “finance”. Despite of these challenges the committee will have to proceed on with the task handed down to them. The important thing is to get information back to Parliament and it is up to Parliament to decide what next. As rightly pointed out by sv, RAMSI plays a very important role in our country; this review is all about seeing into the last 5 years and might be coming up with new approaches to the new issues that have risen since 2003.questions like whether there is a need for shift of approach in relations to the public purpose that was part of the agreement for the eventual arrival of RAMSI in 2003?and if need be a redefining of the public purpose.

AK47 · Joined: 08 Nov 2007 Posts: 233

I agree with you both, RAMSI must be reviewed in its totality and hopefully the Parliament sets a time table for them to either extend their work or leave Solomon Islands sooner. A review of RAMSI is needed and that will have all the stakeholders participated in it. But I still can't believe that the FA is to be done by all stake holders. That is the obligation of our elected members to ensure that the legal wordings of the Act are amended where necessary.

And noooooo Sv, I am not over sympathetic to RAMSI. We have different views over the issue of RAMSI, thats all. I am deeply disturbed by the way SI people treated RAMSI, from both sides of the aisle. Two offices have been killed, one from a an ambushed and the other fell into a deep place. And in many cases, RAMSI officers were attacked. The recent news was a serious one that forced RAMSI officers to fire warning shots. The negative image of RAMSI you've portrayed over the years overshadowed the kinds of mission they provide. Am I forging a sympathy for RAMSI in this board? I don't see any sympathy at all so no wari tumas Sv. We'll just pray for this committee that their works don't overstep their obligations to the nation.

Pinmiz touched on something very important. When the Australian High Commissioner expressed his concern over Sogavare's committee to investigate the riot when the SI Police and RAMSI were investigating the riot and the money that was spent on the committee, he was reprimanded and booted out of the country. That committee required millions of dollars, and paid for with Australian money. I wonder where Sikua get the money to fun at least two committees.
_________________
For of all sad words of tongue or pen,
The saddest are these:
It might have been.
............
John Greenleaf Whittier

sv · Joined: 06 Nov 2007 Posts: 195 Location: japan

To be honest with you AK47, this recent attack by locals against RAMSI when they are executing their duty is un-acceptable. Every good citizens of solomon islands should condemn this barbaric act in the strongest terms. On the other hand, whatever uncalled for accidents or incidents caused by carelessness of RAMSI members must be strongly condemned as well.
It means we should see things on an equal footing. I urge other fellow contributors to this forum to condemn this recent attack on RAMSI.
This recent attack reflects strongly on the cultural practices of giving and caring for each other in many melanesian socieites. Even when there is a culprit within the society, others tend to protect them if he/she is a blood relative. Another similar case is Mr. Edmond Sae who is still at large.
Unless our people are educated of the importance of allowing law authorities to execute their duties without interferences, similar incidents will still happen in the near future.
It is now up to the majority of the weathercoast people whether to hand over this accussed person to the police or continue to protect him.

tkorax · Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 7:41 am Post subject:

This just confirms my point about the lack of confidence and fear and maybe trust on our local SIPF by the public. I see this as an attack on SIPF and PPF rather then RAMSI and it should not just be condemned, but also invesitigated to find out why it all happened......was it because of the way our local officers conducted it?

I am glad to read that SIPL and PPF is involved in this and that RAMSI provides provided them with good back-up.

At the end of the day, no criminal should be protected.

Chala · Joined: 07 Nov 2007 Posts: 144 Location: Fiji

Wantoks,
Protecting criminals is a crime itself. Its reality though that criminals often get protected by their kinsfolk and in fact there are often people who know the whereabouts of criminals but are hesitant to get them arrested and perhaps one reason is fear of repercussion.
On the other hand in this context perhaps there is an element of distrust upon the police following the events of not so long ago when a so-called joint police operation rampaged villages burning down homes. The people need to be convinced that this is a different and more re-vitalised force. Peoples' views should be changed by the police if they are to be tolerated.
_________________
One's Life is a journey in a world where one's destiny is influenced by one's surroundings

AK47 · Joined: 08 Nov 2007 Posts: 233

I just think that they see it as a relative unfairly arrested by the Solomon Islands police. Some people still see these criminals as their heroes. Distrust of Police officers doesn't mean that they have the right to throw stones at them. There are other ways of expressing their distrust. There are courts and political representatives to convey this distrust to the nation. But if this individual committed heinous crimes in the past, he ought to face criminal charges like any other Solomon Islands citizen.
I agree with you chala that the SIRP did raided the Weathercoast in the past and therefore lost the trust of the people. But you forget too that Harold's men in fact torch and murdered people whom they claimed collaborated with the Police. But if Solomon Islands wants to move forward, it must begin with people respecting our laws and let our criminals prove their innocence in court.
The stoning of our Police and RAMSI officers must be properly investigated and instigators must be arrested if our laws are to be enforced.
_________________
For of all sad words of tongue or pen,
The saddest are these:
It might have been.
............
John Greenleaf Whittier

esia · Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 12:05 am Post subject:

Wantoks,
We are already struggling among ourselves trying to enforce the rule of law, let alone without RAMSI. When will we come to a point of recognising a common identity as a nation?Even foreigners recognize the delicate but fragile peace brought about by the presence of RAMSI( see solomonstarnews.com, a study by a Professor from John Hopkins University). The strong cultural ties we have within our extended family and fellow islanders has worked against the stability of our nation. When loyalty is questioned as it was in this case, one factor remains and that is the unweavering loyalty we have with our own wantoks. period. This was also very clear at the height of the tension, SIPF quickly disintegrated into divisions based on wantoks rather than sacrificing for the nation. This is a well entrenched phenomenon that benefits us alot in many areas of our lives not seen in other countries but certainly has worked against the very fabric of nation biulding that is peace and stability.

pinmiz · Joined: 24 Dec 2007 Posts: 75 Location: Honiara

I think there is a need for our education system to be redefined so that somewhere alone the line during a person’s education s/he should be subjected to a way of thinking that advocates her/him being a unit of a united unit, if I may put it that way. I personally went through our education without fully appreciating or participating in discussions that should revolve around forging a united Solomon Islands. That is not to say that I have not been taught in school about theories of development and the likes, but its seem there is no formal avenue where people from the different Islands or ethnic groups come to discuss ways to appreciate each ones difference and finding common grounds. What seemed to be happening at the moment is that a lot of educated people rather than searching for common grounds and finding ways to ensure that things are done in a discipline way they do the opposite of things?

kalulu · Joined: 27 Feb 2008 Posts: 10 Location: bitterkarukaru

I for one agree that we as citizens of SI should work together to make SI a happy place to live in. the question i wish to ask is:

Why is it that while many of the GLM are imprisoned, many of the high profile of EX MEF? are roaming around free. I am talking about people like Ruster, Fioga, Jeremy?

can someone explain this to me because I dont understand. During the ethnic crises, their names hold so much credibility in Honiara if you want your neck to be spared.

Who is upholding the law?

Eddie · Joined: 13 Feb 2008 Posts: 128 Location: Kiwi

It is unfortunate and a sad occassion to see Poso's parents charged.

marakahu · Joined: 11 May 2008 Posts: 3 Location: Solomon Islands

kalulu, you hit the nail squarely on the head!! That's a very genuine observation and is definitely a view that that many people hold. What, simply, is happening?
Surely, all these must go to mean something!

Mataaku · Joined: 25 Jun 2008 Posts: 20

Some prominient members of the former MEF now cover under the name blong LOTU. That will also convinced the system that they are truely changed individuals. I don't believe an inch in their public repentance or pretension. Something is wrong with our justice system I suppose.

kalulu · Joined: 27 Feb 2008 Posts: 10 Location: bitterkarukaru

Good morning to everyone on this forum,

I for one believe that RAMSI do not have the guts to look for criminals at burnscreek or on Malaita. Rather, they would go to the weathercost where people are so easily persuaded to give up family members who are suppose to have the same amnesty to ex MEFs?.

The beheadings that happen in Atoifi (cold blooded murders) are unsolved until now. did RAMSI ever pursue them? Scary bastards. Maybe, these are just junior army people who think they can handle the hard core criminals of SI, bata pikinini tumas. Go Home RAMSI, because all you do now is giving unequal treatment to SI, which only add fuel to the ethnic tension. you are not solving the problem. Cultural competence has to be something that RAMSI badly needs in order to understand diversity in the SI.