CS remembers fallen comrades

By ROSELYN ELLISON
ON Friday, Correctional Service (CS) institutions throughout the county remembered their fallen comrades at the Kuveria CS in Bougainville during the crisis and those that have departed in the course of duty.
A dawn service was held.
On Jan 17, 1990, 30 years ago, Kuveria CS was invaded by the Bougainvillean Revolution Army (BRA) where the BRA soldiers burnt down the facility which included some of the staffs’ residences.
Some officers and their dependants were killed by the BRA.
At Kerevat CS in East New Britain, a dawn service was conducted.
Kerevat CS chaplain Rev Isaac Kunat said those who lost their lives during the Bougainville crisis served the country with love.
He said despite consequence faced, these officers promised to God that they will serve the country with love no matter what challenges they encounter in the course of duties.
“As children of God we must give our service with love and God will bless us in return,” he said.
Kerevat commanding officer Chief Supt Michael Wundia gave a brief history of what actually happened at Kuveria.
Kuveria CS is situated at Kieta in Central Bougainville.
Wundia was a young officer based at Kuveria CS and he witnessed everything.
Wundia recalled that on the Jan 16, 1990, after work, he went to his wife’s village at Bouwen which is a 20-minute walk from Kuveria CS.
“I spent a night there and at 2am on Jan 17, while sleeping, I heard the sounds of gun fire and I knew there is trouble at the facility,” he recalled. “At around 8am, I walked to Kuveria and when I entered the gate, I felt something was missing, the place looked very strange and also it was a very emotional moment for all of us.”
He said those killed were four officers – Sgt Mathew Saun from Bipi Island, Manus, Private Lukas Buro from Aitape, West Sepik, Snr Insp Kingston Karato from Popondetta, Northern, and Private Bernard Tumbi from East Sepik.
“One female dependent was also killed, she was the daughter of Sgt Saun and a male visitor from the Highlands was burnt alive in a house when the BRA soldiers set fire on the officers’ houses,” he said.
He said after the incident the CS Department flew them all (CS officers) back to Port Moresby and from there they were posted to other centres in the country.
“This was one of the very painful experiences I went through and still today. I can remember what was like at Kuveria before the Bougainville crisis,” he said.
“It was a very heart broken moment for all of us that time,” Wundia said.
Kuveria CS was shut down and the new CS is at Bekut in Buka, North Bougainville.
Wundia said to commemorate the day, Kerevat CS organised all their family members’ friends and visitors to participate in the service and in remembrance of those who have lost their lives.