A Torokina machine gun. Photo: New Dawn FM

Pacific.Scoop
By Aloysius Laukai in Buka

The chairman of Bougainville’s Torokina War Relics Association, Albert Magoi, has thanked the United Nations Development Programme for recognising what his group is doing to free Torokina from the deadly relics of World War II.

Accepting a computer system donated by UNDP, Magoi said since his group started last year it had intercepted many weapons being “mined” in Torokina that were being sold to criminals in Bougainville and other provinces.

He said his group had helped contain the situation.

The association is now hoping to send people to the Philippines to train to defuse the bombs still lying around in Torokina.

Torokina Big Bombs UNDP team leader Howard Wilson said his organisation was happy to assist the Torokina group because it is contributing to the Bougainville weapons disposal programme.

He said the World War II relics in the Torokina area were a big concern to the Autonomous Bougainville Government and its development partners.

Wilson said UNDP had been monitoring developments in Torokina including sending a team to verify reports of youths retrieving wartime weapons.

UNDP is interested in peace consolidation and is concerned that the situation in Torokina has become acute in recent times.

Wilson thanked small arms expert, Emmanuel, for assisting the Torokina War Relics Association formally register weapons so it can share information with other partners.

He said he would like the association to use the computer to further assist free the Torokina people caught up in this situation.

Source: Radio New Dawn FM, 20/8/9