Survive Among Sharks, Tension Victim

Richard Karima & Andrew Fanasia Jr. Mothers attending TRC in Western Province were in tears upon hearing the unbelievable experience encountered by an innocent twelve years old boy during the days of fire arms. One can not believe and bear the pain and suffering foretold by Mr. Winston Petervoza from Menavuli Village Choieseul Province. Winston Petervoza was twelve years old when the country was brought down to its knees. During then there was lots of unnecessary military groups arose in other provinces excluding Malaita and Guadalcanal Militants to undermine the right of innocent lives. Choieseul was one of the provinces which gave birth to such illegal arms group. In year 2001 when the tension was at its height, Peterzova was twelve years of age; one afternoon he was on his own working back home after school when suddenly and unexpectedly the Rebel ambushed him. He had very shy character and can only speak out when asked. His very young age and even bitter tears can’t help from the might of the cruel men, he was so confused and don’t even knew what had he done wrong against them. They took him to their village and tied him with a chair and told him that he was taken hostage because of his elder brother’s action. He told the commission that his bigger brother removed their fire arms without informing them to crippled them doing harassments putting the lives of civilians at risk. He was given no food all through out his imprisonment for one whole night. Early the next day they put him in their boat and headed towards Gizo. He was still bound by nylon ropes; Petervoza eyes filled with tears as he was revealing his boyhood memories. On their way towards Gizo they ruthlessly dropped him on Solomon Taiyo fishing rafter between South Choieseul and Vella la valla, thousands of miles away from both islands. Rafters for ones knowledge were created to harbor sea creatures. Looking down from where he was floated hugging, he saw the merciless sharks and thousands of schools of fish roaming beneath him. Instantly Petervoza began to cry, he thought about his mum and dad realizing that, “this is my last day.” He can’t help to get out from the rafter because his hands were still tied up and his age strength is not enough to fight the situation. “I was just floating helplessly among the deadly creature waiting to provide delicious meal for the sharks under the rafter,” Petervoza said with tears as he was trying to recall that moment. Thanks God he closes the jaws of the sharks just like He did for Daniel in the lions’ den in acceptance of their innocence. All of those times his heartfelt family have no ideas as to where about their little innocent and shy boy had gone. However, the situation then drives them to know exactly what’s happened. After two or so hour the militants return back from Vella la Vella and took him on board and went to Gizo. At Gizo he was still held captive at gun point and the power of the Japan rope cannot let him free. “They threw me onboard their boat as if I was their caught fish for the day; I had not eaten or drink anything,” Petervoza emotionally told the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. By then he was unconscious because the difficult treatment he undergo for almost twenty four hours. Heavenly blessing finally reached him late in the afternoon that day when they arrived in Gizo; the Bougainville Revolution Army (BRA) released him from his cage. They nursed and gave him food before they drove him home. He reunited again with his beloved family with kind assistances from foreign elements. In receiving his brother, the elder brother gave them the fire arms which he stole from the Rebel. He told the commission that during his captivity he kept crying for mercy but tears can’t paid. He remembered his parent but there’s no one any way near to rescued him from hand of brutal men. Mr. Winston is now twenty four years old, finally relief at last after affected trauma and living with pain for almost ten years. Petervoza said he is now free man and “I forgive my perpetrators with all my heart and I am more than willing to look them in the eyes and shake hands with them.”