Surrender guns callA COMMUNITY leader from Central Bougainville...

Surrender guns call

A COMMUNITY leader from Central Bougainville has called on former combatants to surrender their guns and destroy them.
Mathew Warapere, a former Bougainville Resistance Force unit commander, made the call following the recent killing of Jacob Naisi, a BRF commander from Buin in South Bougainville.
“I knew the late Jacob very well. He was an outstanding leader who supported the weapons disposal process,� Mr Warapere, from the Ipa area of Wakunai, said.
He said it was a sad thing for people on Bougainville to continue killing each other now that the Bougainville crisis was over. “During the weapons disposal period I was very honest.
“I gave up all my guns for the sake of peace on Bougainville,’’ he said.
“After getting rid of those guns, I felt free unlike when I was still in possession of the weapons where I usually had sleepless nights,’’ he said.
Mr Warapere urged those still holding onto guns to dispose of them, saying “those who live by the gun shall die by the gun’’.
“I would like to pass my condolences to the late Naisi’s wife and children and his immediate family members and friends. I hope justice prevails in the end,� Mr Warapere said.