BY ALEX DADAMU AND LYNNISSHA RUNA
SECURITY personals guarding the Fangs Building in China Town resorted to the last option during Thursday 25, looting and riot pining up ‘Taiwanese Flags’ all over the front of the building – and that tiny action saves the whole building from being burnt to the ground.
According to a spokesperson for the guards, Thomas Tori, one of the three tenants of the building and the owner of the High Nice Clothing shop, Mr. Jerry Chang is originally from Taiwan. Other tenants include Dr. John Hue a local Solomon Islander who owned a Café, and a Chinese National who also owned a shop at the building.
“Since Mr Chang is from Taiwan, it was our idea to put up Taiwanese flags right in front of the shop in our effort to save the building,” Mr. Tori told Sunday Isles.
He revealed that before putting up the flags, the rioters had broken in through the main gate and threatened Mr. Chang who lived upstairs of the building. More than $40, 000 cash was taken from him (Mr. Chang) at that time.
“It was at that moment that we thought of the flags that Mr. Chang kept at his place, so we spoke to the people and put up the flags.
“It was scary and tense but we manage to remove the rioters who throw stones, bottles, and other iron objects at us.
“The crowd then sifted and continue to burn other shops at China Town.
“Mr. Chang was evacuated by Local Red Cross officers who were very active at the scene during that time,” Mr. Tori and his colleague security, Jeffery Hardy (Who was also at the scene) said.
Dr. John Hue, who owns Friendly Memories Café at the building greatly acknowledged the excellent work that Security Guards have done during the looting and burning of buildings in China Town.
“I owe it to the boys, the security guards. I thank them so much for their brave and wise approaches, the risk that they take, and the challenges they manage to handle,” Dr. Hue said.
He went on further to reveal that the rioters have broken into his café and he have lost a few of his properties including two of his refrigerators.
“But I feel sad for those who lost almost everything in flames.
“They are the ones who contributed a lot to the economy in terms of revenue for the country.
“There are local businesses that contributed a lot of revenue to the country, a very good example is Bulk Shop and other local business companies – but still there’s a gap on what they can offer to the country’s economy. And this not healthy for the country,”
Meanwhile, the China Town district has been declared a ‘No Go Zone’ by the government through the National Disaster Operations Committee (N-DOC), according to a government statement.
This includes all other Burnt Down Buildings in Honiara as the result of the civil unrest due to exposure of very high pollutants of Environmental Hazards and Hazardous Materials that are very dangerous to human health.
More than 13 buildings in China Town survived the recent unrest, however, 24 buildings were burnt down in China town alone.
