The Royal Solomon Island Police Force (RSIPF) calls on Papua New Guinea Nationals at Bougainville to respect Solomon Island as a sovereign country and its resources after 20 plus people crossed the border between Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Solomon Islands (SI) this week.
RSIPF Commissioner Mr Mostyn Mangau says, “I make this call because in one occasion on Tuesday (14 September 2021) early morning a group of about 20 people entered our Territorial water and do fishing and dive beche de mer (sea cucumber) at Nunungari Island, an Island in our Territorial water.”
Commissioner Mangau says, “While our police officers approach them, one of the Bougainvillean picks up a spear gun with the intention to shoot our police officers. Our officers talked to them kindly and they later realised that they were wrong and they peacefully left the island.”
Mr Mostyn Mangau says, “In another occasion, there was a banana boat left Bougainville (Arawa Bovo River) at around 2 and 3pm on (14 September 2021) believed to be Bougainvilleans and Solomon Islanders. Those people on the boat might be interested in beche de mer (sea cucumber) buying and they should be in Choiseul or Vela la Vela or Kolobangara Island.”
“I appeal to communities in Choiseul and Western Province to provide any information about those people. This is our country and we need to protect it. As we in the COVID-19 pandemic it is very dangerous for such crossing to happen at our borders,” says Mr. Mangau.
You can call Kulitanai Police Station on phone 44127, Kariki Police Post on phone 44128, Harapa Police Post on phone 44129, call Gizo Police on phone 60999, Taro Police Station on phone 63199 or call the police free toll line 999.
-RSIPF Press