the Awarding Ceremony of the Ambassador’s Commendations
2024/11/15


On November 15, Ambassador Yoshiaki Miwa awarded “Ambassador’s Commendations” to Mr. Willie Besi of Barana Village and Mr. Mato Mui Liliau of Kakabona Village for their outstanding contribution to repatriation of fallen Japanese soldiers during the WWII at Mendana Hotel. Director Clifford Tunuki of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Forces EOD team, who made a significant contribution to the disposal of unexploded ordnance during World War II was awarded the commendation as well.
The ceremony was attended by dignitaries including Minister of Commerce, Industries, Labour, and Immigration, Hon. Harry Kuma, as ad acting as acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, and the Minister of Home Affairs, Hon. Junior Isikeli Vave, as well as the families and associates of the three award winners. There are still remains of fallen soldiers of WWII unrecovered and UXOs in Solomon Islands. At the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM 10) held in Tokyo this July, leaders confirmed that Japan and the Pacific Island countries continue to cooperate in areas such as repatriating the remains of war dead and disposing of unexploded bombs.
The Japanese groups of repatriation operation not only recover the remains, but also carries out various projects to promote mutual understanding at the grassroots level, and Mr. Willie Besi and Mr. Mato Mui Liliau have made outstanding achievements in this field.
Speech by His Excellency MIWA Yoshiaki
The ceremony was attended by dignitaries including Minister of Commerce, Industries, Labour, and Immigration, Hon. Harry Kuma, as ad acting as acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, and the Minister of Home Affairs, Hon. Junior Isikeli Vave, as well as the families and associates of the three award winners. There are still remains of fallen soldiers of WWII unrecovered and UXOs in Solomon Islands. At the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM 10) held in Tokyo this July, leaders confirmed that Japan and the Pacific Island countries continue to cooperate in areas such as repatriating the remains of war dead and disposing of unexploded bombs.
The Japanese groups of repatriation operation not only recover the remains, but also carries out various projects to promote mutual understanding at the grassroots level, and Mr. Willie Besi and Mr. Mato Mui Liliau have made outstanding achievements in this field.
Speech by His Excellency MIWA Yoshiaki







