UPDATE: JUSTICE FOR SHEENA on International Women’s Day 2024, Friday, 8 March
THE HIGH COST OF TRYING TO OBTAIN JUSTICE IN AROB
As Sheena’s father, I am aware that over 1,000 of my new Facebook Friends, mostly from AROB, may be wondering why there has been no update from me regarding our “Justice for Sheena”, campaign, for some time.
Be assured, it was not my choice to keep you all waiting!
The silence was quite simply because of two requests, one from Sheena that she just wanted peace and quiet and to be kept out of the spotlight and second from our greatly respected lawyer. He cautioned me about the implications of the upcoming trial.
Sometimes I do benefit from a gentle caution as there is a burning desire within me to ensure justice is finally obtained, a fire that can never be extinguished. In the words of that song “We shall overcome … some day!”
At about a week’s notice, near the end of February, our lawyer was informed by the justice administration, that Sheena’s pre-trial conference would be Wednesday, 6 March. There was a rush to make sure all the affidavits, testimonials and character references had been written, signed, dated and received.
Thank you to all those who provided these.
On Tuesday morning, 5 March, our lawyer phoned ahead to Buka from Port Moresby, before leaving for Port Moresby airport, to reconfirm the schedule. He was instructed by the Buka administration that everything was on schedule for Sheena’s pre-trial conference to take place the next day.
Our lawyer therefore then flew out on Air Niugini to Buka that day, Tuesday morning.
When he got to Buka he was told that the hearing would not, after all, be that week, but next week.
Our lawyer then of course had to change his flight to return to Port Moresby from Buka the next day. However, at the airport on Wednesday, he was told the flight had been delayed until 5pm. In fact, the plane never arrived until Thursday morning when he was eventually able to leave Buka.
Our lawyer therefore had two and a half days of wasted time travelling to and from Buka for very little purpose. At least he was able to catch up with Sheena and give her moral support.
Sheena is in good form and dealing with things very philosophically: one strong lady.
Expensive return airflights, hotel accommodation, hire car and legal fees all for virtually nothing else.
Then, the next day, International Women’s Day, Friday 8 March, Sheena received instructions in the morning to go straight to the courthouse. Her case was going to be heard.
As mentioned above, our lawyer had just returned the previous day, to Port Moresby, having been told the earliest he would be needed for the court case would be next week.
Sheena succeeded in having the case adjourned and received apologies for any inconvenience.
The next date for the case to be heard is 2 May.
Sheena was reminded to have her lawyer with her then.
No comment.
That’s it, you are up to date.
Thank you.
Proud to be Sheena’s dad.
Originally posted on Dave Cook’s Facebook, March 10th
Justice for Sheena is Justice for Bougainville 