Subject: 'austraLasia' #315

LET'S NOT FORGET THE SOLOMONS!

Ambrose Pereira

HONIARA: 19th March -- The ethnic tension in Solomon Islands still persists.

Killings are more directed and the capital experienced yet another outburst

of violence on Saturday, 11th March 2000.

The upheaval was said to have started when a group of men alleged to have

spotted two members of the IFM in the Guadalcanal Provincial headquarters.

They started demanding that the police hand over the two men instead of

hiding them. When the police refused their demand, anger was kindled by an

exchange of verbal abuse between persons and then the stoning of the

building started. The police were outnumbered and so had to resort to

tear-gas to disperse the crowd.

A Christian Life Seminar was just concluding in the Holy Cross Cathedral

Hall. The 200-odd participants were in panic as they heard the sound of

gunfire in the distance. Then there were screams and the sound of people

running just outside the premises. Someone passed the message on the move

out of the hall. Another round of tear gas. We struggled to get out –

eyes, lips, throat burning. All made for the tap just outside the parish

priest’s residence. "I inhaled a whiff of the gas…. It just saps your

energy" said the animator of the programme Sir John Muria. Children wailed

and wept as they inhaled the gas. I too happened to be there and thought I

was going to faint as I made my way, eyes closed, out of the hall. I sure

am grateful to the many people who led me to cool my face and soothe my

burning eyes.

"This senseless fight, when will it cease?" was on the lips of many as they

made their way cautiously home.

Andrew Nori, a lawyer is of the opinion that if the government does not

handle things well, it could well turn out into a civil war.