By AUGUSTINE KINNA and ANTHONY KAYBING
THE deputy commander of the Bougainville Resistance Force (BRF), Jacob Naisi, was shot dead at his Oria village in Buin, South Bougainville, last Sunday.
It is believed that the killers were the same people who had commandeered a UN vehicle at the same location a week ago.
The brother of the deseased, Rex Naisi, said that Jacob was walking home from a bakery with his two nieces when they were confronted by two men armed with M16 guns, at about 3pm.
An argument came next and the man shot him, he said.
Jacob Naisi, who played a key role in Bougainville’s peace process, staggered back to the bakery , bleeding from his wounds.
The owner of the bakery rushed him to the village but he was already dead.
The body was taken to the Buka Hospital morgue the following morning.
The regional chairman of the Bougainville Resistant Forces , Donald Hamau, said Jacob Naisi contributed a lot to the peace process.
“We have lost someone so precious who always had the heart to bring peace and unity in Bougainville,” he said.
“The BRF and people of Bougainville have lost a brother and leader.”
Mr Hamau said the incident only highlighted the need for the Autonomous Bougainville Government to seriously address outstanding reconciliation and weapons disposal issues in the region.
“I challenge the Francis Kabui government and its ex-combants members to wake up and do something to solve the outstanding issues of reconciliation.
“If it does not do so, more people will die.
“President Kabui must tell us what his government is doing in addressing the outstanding issues of reconciliation and weapons disposal,” he said.