Police arrested six young men from Vanikoro island in relation to a bitter logging dispute that saw the burning down of logging machines in the past week.
The dispute is between foreign loggers and their local supporters on one side and those opposing the operation on the other.
Temotu Provincial Police Commander Police Commander Frank Menesa confirmed the arrest of the six men, adding the situation was so tense that they have to request Honiara to send the Police Response Team to the ground.
“Our officers are currently on the ground, attending to the situation,” Menesa said.
He added the three officers dispatched from Honiara to the scene last week are back in provincial capital Lata, waiting for their return flight to Honiara.
Menesa said investigation into the incident and the burning down of logging machineries is already underway.
Meanwhile, a traumatised community elder, George Taia, told the Sunday Star from Vanikoro by phone the police are not fair in the way they deal with the situation.
“Police carried high powered guns to intimidate and threaten villagers when they come here,” Taia claimed.
“We have this feeling based on their treatment that the police were here to protect the loggers,” he added.
“In fact the police were late in dealing with this matter.
“We served four warning letters to the Gallego Resources Company Ltd, who are doing the logging, but they refused to listen to us, entering our land illegally, we have to act that way.
“Our boys burn their machines.
“These foreigners did not respect us as landowners. Also no timber rights hearing were held prior to the logging.
“So how come the police come and threaten us when the loggers themselves are not following our laws?
“Whose interests are the police serving? Foreigners or local?”
Police Assistant Commissioner Operations Gabriel Manelusi confirmed the issue, saying they’ve dispatched three officers to the ground but refused to comment further.
“We cannot disclose any information yet because of the sensitivity surrounding the issue. Three of our officers were there to assist the Lata police.”
By CHARLEY PIRINGI
