DEAR EDITOR – I write this an open letter to Edmond Sae.
Edmond Sae, may I refer to you as Edmond?
You are quite likely aware of the recent call from the Malaita Provincial Police Commander, Alfred Uiga, for you to surrender yourself and be given a fair trial.
I am likely to be highly criticised in the Solomons for directly appealing to you in the same vein, even addressing you as Edmond.
I don’t believe we ever met although I was your Commissioner prior to my leaving my post in July 1999.
Nevertheless, you were one of my police officers and, despite all that happened post mid-1999, I have never ever forgotten my police officers, men and women, and I will always be appreciative of their service, loyalty and devotion to duty despite all the challenges we, jointly, encountered with shortages of equipment and operational needs to do our job effectively.
Edmond, in the past few months I have lost many colleagues and friends either through natural causes due to ageing or in tragic circumstances brought on by serious illness or by accident.
One realises that life is far too short and we only have once chance to do good in this world before death sees us depart from our loved ones, including family, friends and colleagues.
I am not, to be truthful, a wholly devout Christian but I have always tried to do the right thing for others, including my past police colleagues, even to this day, some 15 years after leaving, on resignation, as the Commissioner of the Royal Solomon Islands Police.
I avoid the word “Force” because I prefer to think we were a “service” prior to what occurred in 2002.
You, Edmond, as a former police officer under my previous command, I know to have been a Christian with strong faith, a family man and hitherto a just policeman.
Whatever you have been alleged to have done and I stress alleged because you know full well until a person is tried and convicted of a crime, he or she is merely alleged to have done some wrong or other.
I am in no position to judge you for what it alleged you did, but while the allegations against you persist have you really weighed up and fully considered the implications for your wife and family and, for that matter, the distress that may have been incurred by the wife, family, friends and colleagues of the late Sir Fred Soaki.
Edmond if it true what you are alleged to have done in the past, and again I pass no judgment, as a Christian, please realise although one may try to escape facing the consequences of ones alleged actions in this life, we cannot escape the consequences of our actions in the life hereafter.
I truly appeal to you, out of concern for you, your family and the wife and relatives of Sir Fred, as well as your former colleagues, and me as your former Commissioner, please submit yourself to the authorities to properly consider the circumstances of what you are alleged to have done.
If you wish, and if you have trust in me, I am prepared to return to the Solomons in order to convince you of my genuine concern for you, your family and all those still suffering the consequences of what is alleged to have occurred at Auki so many years ago, Do, consider my appeal to you, please.
If you prefer to write then I can be reached by email – [email protected]
Sincerely and wholeheartedly
Frank Short
Former Police Commissioner
Bangkok, Thailand
