Ceremony to start reconciliation

The Solomon Islands experienced 'tensions' in late 1990s through the early 2000s in which there was violence on the side of the national police and a number of militias representing different communities. Communities were burned, many women suffered sexual violence and survived, people were killed and driven off land. In 2006, there was another wave of violence with the burning of the Chinatown, after outraged boiled over following anti-corruption campaigns and people's anger. (Note: this not the very best summary of all that happened but gives you a picture.)

Chiefs from the village sit on the left-side of the table and representatives
of the police on the right. In the middle a representative from the Anglican
Church and from RAMSI - the regional Australia force in Solomons. 

The pictures below are from a ceremony that signals the beginning of a reconciliation process between a community on the island of Guadalcanal and the national police. Although there have been many reconciliation ceremonies over the last decade, this community has now agreed to enter in and begin to negotiate a possible return of the police to the area. Below you will see some pictures of this ceremony, which I got to witness my first week here. 

'chapu' - a traditional gesture and gift given in ceremonies
between families or communities. This one was presented
from the government side to the community chiefs.

The Anglican priest begins the ceremony with a prayer of reconciliation.
The ceremony was held in the capital, Honiara at the Anglican Cathedral.
The chiefs traveled from the village with the support of the Ministry of
National Unity, Reconciliation and Peace to attend the 'opening' ceremony. 

The chief gives 'shell money' to the Police head as a gift - noting in a spee-
ch it was not possible to present a full 'chapu', having travelled from the
village, but would next time the Police head comes. 

The Police head gives each of the
chiefs shell money beaded cords. 

The head chief and the Police head mutual place shell money over each
other's necks as a gift of goodwill and the start of a reconciliation process
between violence committed between the national police and the community.