Dear Editor – In a press release from the OPMC on Monday, 27 March 2017, is reported the Prime Minister, the Hon Manasseh Sogavare, has expressed support for a proposition by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to participate as a guest in the open sessions of the annual Pacific Islands Leaders’ Forum this year.
The visiting Regional Director for Asia-Pacific at the ICRC, Mr. Boris Michel, called on the Prime Minister last Friday (24 March) and sought his opinion on the proposition after briefing him on the work of Solomon Islands Red Cross (SIRC).
Mr. Michel was in Honiara to attend the launch of the new SIRC strategic plan last Wednesday.
He was impressed on the Prime Minister that it would be useful for the ICRC to participate in open sessions of the Pacific Islands Leaders’ Forum as a guest to provide updates on its work and exchange views with leaders on issues ‘close’ to it (ICRC) such as International Humanitarian Law.
“It would be very useful for us to participate in the open sessions of the Pacific Island Leaders’ Forum even as a guest. It is important that Pacific regional leaders thoroughly understand what we stand for and are doing both regionally globally and to exchange ideas on issues close to us such as the International Humanitarian Law, particularly the challenges to its application,” Mr. Michel expressed.
During my time in office as the Commissioner of Police in the Solomon Islands I, too, was very aware of the need for awareness of International Law and why, in the early period of my service and well before any outbreak of civil unrest which ultimately culminated in what we have come to know as the time of ‘ethnic conflict,’ I instituted several courses on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law for police officers then engaged on border duties.
I was fortunate to have had the assistance of Mr. Gregory Balk, who together with the International Committee of the Red Cross, based in Suva, helped to conduct the training.
Following his work with the police, Mr. Balke inaugurated a Human Rights Apprentice Program aimed at helping young Solomon Islanders learn about human rights issues in the Solomons.
I was greatly encouraged by the words of Gibson Itea Audea, one of the first of the Human Rights Apprentices, when he, reportedly, said: “I think that this is a good program because it helps youth in Solomon Islands to learn about human rights. When we know our rights, we can do things according to law and solve problems in a peaceful way. In the Solomons human rights are a missing element; it can be part of the solution to the problems we have today.”
To me, to this day, such profound advice subsequently went unheeded.
Yours sincerely,
Frank Short
www.solomonislandsinfocus.com
