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Solomon Islands: Case Study Analysis

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Victim Healing and Truth Commissions

Part of the book series: Springer Series in Transitional Justice ((SSTJ,volume 11))

Abstract

This chapter explores the second case study undertaken in Solomon Islands. Similar to the Timor-Leste case study chapter, a brief historical background of the country, a description of the ethnic conflict known as the Tensions, key socio-cultural components, and the transitional justice strategy undertaken is provided. This is likewise followed by the presentation of responses from 12 semi-structured interviews conducted with victims of the Tensions that also gave public testimony during the TRC.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    In Solomon Islands, when people refer to ‘the Church’, it can be taken to mean any of the main branches of Christianity present in the country including Anglican, Roman Catholic, South Seas Evangelist, Methodist, and Seventh-day Adventist. These are generally all encompassed under the blanket term ‘Church’; hence, referring to ‘the Church’ in this book means the institutions involved with any of these branches of Christianity.

  2. 2.

    As in the Timor-Leste case study, pseudonyms are used in order to protect the identity of interviewees.

  3. 3.

    The term wantok is used to describe people who speak the same tongue and is also a system of social responsibility, obligation, and support in Melanesian culture (Richmond 2011).

  4. 4.

    This is a way of expressing that the experience was removed from his mind in Pijin English.

  5. 5.

    ‘Asking’ for forgiveness is equivalent to ‘offering’ forgiveness, as expressed in Pijin English.

  6. 6.

    Baegu, area of north Malaita.

  7. 7.

    Faye’s comment above about her sisters being angry after she testified was more related to worry about how her receipt of benefits would be perceived by others and thus was not indicative of fear in this way.

  8. 8.

    The members of the Black Shark were engaged by the Western provincial government to provide security during the ethnic tension on Guadalcanal from 1998–2000 (Solomon Star, 18 July 2011). Ex-Black Shark Samson Laketo was arrested by the RSIPF with the assistance of RAMSI after testifying at a closed TRC hearing at Taro, Choiseul. There was a longstanding warrant out for his arrest for murder. The TRC protested that the TRC’s amnesty provision had been breached but since he was arrested after he testified and not during the hearing, the TRC took no further action beyond protest to the RSIPF (Personal Communication, Bishop Terry Brown).

  9. 9.

    Faye, Mary, Ruth, Junior, Erena, and Clarence.

  10. 10.

    The TRC hired a counsellor to speak with victims before they gave testimony and was also available just after the public hearings to debrief victims if necessary.

  11. 11.

    These were Charles, Junior, Erena, Ruth, Wilson, Azinta, and Clarence. In contrast, Faye and Peter indicated that they did not feel as if the counselling they received had been helpful to their sense of healing. It is unclear whether Caroline, the first interviewee, received counselling as this theme only emerged during the second interview and was then included in my questionnaire.

  12. 12.

    As mentioned above, those interviewed received counselling either from an independent counsellor, church-affiliated counselling, counselling as part of the TRC’s work, or a combination thereof.

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  1. Department of Peace and Conflict Research, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden

    Holly L. Guthrey

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Correspondence to Holly L. Guthrey .

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Guthrey, H. (2015). Solomon Islands: Case Study Analysis. In: Victim Healing and Truth Commissions. Springer Series in Transitional Justice, vol 11. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-12487-2_6

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