Unthoughtful

letters to the editor

A warm

thank you

Madam, Our 1992 contribution drive was wonderful! It was indeed a rare opportunity for Florence R. Ratieta Memorial Foundation to honour two

very special people, Jacob Amos and

the Rev. Joseph Tetau, as tamara of the year. It was truly an evening oiyokwe ‘ as family and friends from all over the islands gathered together at the Ma

juro Community Center to recognize

these “Ambassadors of Love” for their outstanding contributions to the foun dation. Our deepest thanks to everyone who helped make this memorable

event possible.

We take this opportunity to thank a few of the people who generously con tributed their energy and time to the foundation. Members Lily Amos and Jane Betero both write the profiles on the foundation volunteers, which they have done for two years. To these people, we of Florence R. Ratieta Memorial Foun dation say komol tata for your commit ment and extraordinary skills.

Our membership continuous to grow and our services are reaching more people. It is only through your generous support and enthusiasm that Florence R.

Ratieta Memorial Foundation can ac complish its mission and you will see this done better and in more ways in the coming year.

Before I dose, the Board of Trustees of the Foundation wishes all of you, your family and friends, a wonderful Holiday- Season and a Happy New Year.

Again, a warm komol tata, yokvce and tiakabo.

Mary loane

Secretary for the Foundation Majuro

Unthoughtful

remark

Madam, I wish to comment on a statement made by the Honourable Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands ( PIM , October, 1992) “BRA (Bougainville Revolutionary

Army) has not yet killed any Solomon Islands citizens during this long protrac ted crisis. This is not the same case with Papua New Guinea and Australia.”

This is totally an unthoughtful remark.

How could one expect BRA to gun down a Solomon Islander?

The remark made to highlight BRA’s respect for Solomon Islands sovereignty in comparison to PNG sovereignty obvi ously falls short!

Aula Kobale

Queensland, Australia

Australian

parallel

Madam, The act of the Australian government in supplying the PNG government with IROQUIS helicopters ( PIM , November 1992) or indirectly participating in the killing of Bougainvilleans is apparently repeating Australia’s history of slaugh tering indigenous Pacific islanders.

The killing and plundering of native black Australians in the past by whites is parallel to what Australia is now doing in contributing to the killings on Bou gainville.

How does Australia value such types of

aid programs? How many more deaths of innocent Bougainvilleans will such aid cause? The purpose for which the heliopters were supplied should no longer be denied.

Spill-over effects into the Solomon Islands and the pragmatic response from other neighbouring countries were only two of the many examples of the extremely outrageous use of the helicop ters. It would be better if the aid program is diverted towards law and order probelms on PNG mainland which is an everyday night-mare for the citizens of PNG and foreign investors.

Another dimension of the issue is Australia’s position on human rights and decolonization both regionally and inter nationally. It doesn’t make sense to see Australia condemning Indonesia for the massacres in East Timor while support ing the killing on Bougainville.

Although most people appreciate Aus tralia’s aid programs in th& Pacific region, aid must be rational, instead of depriving segments of the society or advocating cabinet ministers/foreign in vestors interests in recipient countries.

The phenomenon of the helicopters is so out of hand that unless Australia takes a comprehensive look at the situation, the sun will never set on the Bougainville crisis.

Warry Lala

South Pentecost Vanuatu