Date: Wednesday, 9 August 2000 10:48 PM

SOLOMONS SALESIAN ROBBED AT ALLIGATOR CREEK

The ceasefire in Solomon Islands is barely holding.  Yesterday there was a shooting incident West of Honiara which had repercussions East of Honiara which is Salesian territory.  The Archbishop takes up the story.

+ Adrian Smith SM (Archbishop of Honiara)

HONIARA: 9th August -- There was an immediate reaction to this incident at both ends of Honiara. Women, who had come in from west Honiara to do some shopping found themselves trapped and unable to go home. As a result, we have 30 women staying here at Holy Cross tonight. Brother Tanaka (SDB), who came in from Tetere which is in the IFM area of influence, crossed the MEF road block at Alligator Creek informing them that he was coming to shop on behalf of the people east of the road block. He had with him quite an amount of money that people in the Tetere area had given him to do purchases on their behalf. Later in the day, as he set out on his way back to Tetere with about $17,000.00 worth of goods on his truck, the goods were seized at the Alligator Creek road block. This has been a very upsetting experience for Brother Tanaka.