The Lovongai Peacemakers and Warlords marked the first anniversary of their Declaration of Peace invoked at the Peace and Reconciliation ceremony at Lavongai Catholic Mission last December 2021 to end the terror of warfare and killings on New Hanover at a three-day Retreat held last week at the Ranguva Solwara Skul outside Kavieng.
The leaders joined with community elders in prayer and worship and discussions to assess and evaluate the outcome of the ceasefire and the attacks on villagers and killings that flared in some areas of the north after the Lavongai Mission peace ceremonies.
The Special Peace Officer and Mediator, John Aini, drew the praise and admiration of the warlords to convene the roundtable meeting for an objective review process despite the threat and terror that appeared to water down the one-year-old Peace initiatives.
Aini who mediates between all warring factions has been handling the Lovongai issue delicately and objectively. It’s an issue that is very close to his heart. Every time he talks about troubles on the Island, he always sheds tears.
The Peace anniversary consolidates the firm stand by Governor Sir Julius Chan for a Resolution for Peace to be brokered from within the ranks of the warring factions and leaders.
The culmination of the exchange of customary offerings and bonfire of dangerous arms and fighting weapons at the Peace and Reconciliation at Lovongai Catholic Mission cemented the leadership and trust as we continue with the Peace process in spite of continuous fighting, commented Sir J in Brisbane who learned of the Peace Retreat.
The Retreat held from the 21st to the 22nd of December was the 3rd Commanders meeting attended by seven of the 12 warlords and Lovongai elders and leaders.
“These commanders are heads of all the warring tribes and the ethnic groups that were involved in the Lovongai Ethnic crises which started in 2006.
“In our search for long lasting peace for Lavongai we continue to hold dialogue. This is one of the ways I reach out to our elders in trying to work with them to find solutions to help us lay peace on our Island,” said Aini.
Peace on south west Lovongai is encouraging because the fighting in the north is relatively small and isolated meaning that the peace effort is holding out and eventually must come to an end, was the observation of the Retreat.
“There are obstacles and its expected. The fight has been going on for a very long time. It will take time for wounds to heal and so I’m not expecting a miracle. But we are trying.”
Aini said the ethnic clashes stem from a number of issues including simple relationship affairs, and then escalated from a number of other complicated issues involving pay back and quarrels over land.
Commander Igua Kara of the Metemaran army recalled that he was automatically thrown in as a commander when war broke out in his community in 2017.
“We were on the Island when they told us that fighting would begin. So I stood up as commander to set up our boys, and organized all our mothers and fathers to ensure they were protected.
I told our people, “We would fight and never allow our enemies entry into our village. We stood our ground. We did that so many times, that it became our normal routine.”
Igua Kara said John Aini was the one who laid the path for peace by simply asking them to stop fighting. “ John Aini provided the leadership we needed.
My house boy was the first place he visited. Then he went over to the commander of the other army and also asked them to stop fighting. He later came back to us and told us that the other army also accepted peace.”
Kara said Commander Lamis Silau of the Tovotakalas army is the champion of peace. He set up a Peace and Good Order committee and we all agreed to contribute five mise, two pigs, and 10 bundles of Taro.
We broke spears and burned them and the fight has stopped since then. And we are waiting for other communities to make the same move,” shared Kara.
It was also agreed at the Ranguva Solwara Skul Retreat that Lovongais who fled their homes and residing in other parts of Kavieng must return home. Peace talks and reconciliations will continue on the Island.
While Former ward 6 member James Matsaling called on the New Ireland Government and the Open member to set up economic opportunities for the people. He said right now the cash flow on the Island is a big problem and the people need economic enabling incentives like transport subsidies and market opportunities to help sell their products and make money.
“ We need strong leadership on the Island to drive New Hanover to the next level. ”
The New Ireland Government has always stood for peace and understands that lasting peace can only be achieved if the people themselves chose peace for New Hanover. It has contributed to a number of reconciliation ceremonies and is always monitoring the peace process.
New Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan thanked John Aini for his leadership in the peace process and encouraged all commanders to continue their peace talks and reconciliations for a better New Hanover for future generations.