SHORTLAND ISLANDERS QUESTIONED RECONCILIATION

The Nila Habour in Shortland Islands. Photo credit: SIBC.

The Nila Habour in Shortland Islands. Photo credit: SIBC.

The Shortland Islands and Bougainville parties attending the Government’s national healing and apology program have questioned the national government as to which parties they are reconciling with.

Group Member and Chief Bernard Otuana told SIBC News, they have no problems with the Bougainville nor the Malaita and Guadalcanal people.

Chief Otuana said, it is the Papua New Guinea (PNG) Government and Defense Force which they should reconcile with.

He said, unfortunately, there is no PNG delegation in the current reconciliation program.

“To make a reconciliation we don’t have any problems with the Bougainvillians but we do have problems with the Papua New Guinea Defence Force and the Papua New Guinea Government, they were the ones who were sent to Bouganiville. Bougainvillians are our relatives as they would access humanitarian services by coming through us in the Shortlands, through to Gizo and Honiara during the 10 years conflict period so who will we reconcile with when there’s no delegate from Papua New Guinea attending?”

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