Rehabilitating ex-militants of the ethnic tension is the right approach towards achieving true lasting peace in Solomon Islands, former provincial member of Guadalcanal Province Silas Divine Lauvisu revealed.
In a visit to the Solomon Star yesterday, Lauvisu told the news that previous government had failed to settle the long overdue promises made for the ex-combatants.
Hence, the current Prime Minister (PM) Manasseh Sogavare should be knighted a ‘Sir’ for his wisdom to unveil the fundamental issues that halted this country from developing.
He said while many citizens condemned the $3 million payment for the former militants last Christmas, they forgot that these are the very people who risk their lives during the ethnic conflict in their struggle to bring peace back to the country.
Lauvisu added that even the people of Guadalcanal have not yet received their bonafied demands ever since the social unrest began some 18 years ago.
The former Deputy Speaker of Guadalcanal Provincial Assembly said if this issue is treated cheap by our successive government then there is no way under the sun this nation will progress in terms of economic development.
Lauvisu, who represents Wandra Bay, ward five in the Guadalcanal Provincial Assembly, during the height of the ethnic tension in 1998 to year 2001 reiterate that the nation must work hand in hand with the government to ensure wounds sustained in our darkest history were buried for good.
“We cannot swept these issues under the carpet and pretend to advocate about peace and development, while major issues that needs to be address remain unsolved,” he added.
By AATAI JOHN
