The Naitoko family

Stuff has an article on the funeral of Halatau Naitoko. Regardless of who is to blame, it is incredibly sad that a young man was killed. I have to say how impressed I am with his family who are mourning their loss, undergoing huge media interest yet have retained dignity and have not gone into the blame game.

They absolutely want answers, and will want accountability – and should get it. But I compare this to Steven Wallace where the family almost “lynched” the police officer in the media. While here we have:

Pastor Vosailangi Sikalu speaking through an interpreter told the gathering the blood of an innocent boy had been spilled.

“That blood is crying out for forgiveness,” he said. “Let that be the message to the Government officials and dignitaries, the minister of police, the police commissioner, even to the beloved policeman who fired the fatal shot.”

Now forgiveness should not be mistaken for no consequences. This is the first ever time the Police have killed “the wrong person” and the IPCA and others must leave no stone unturned working out what happened, how it could have been avoided, and most of all whether the care used by Police was adequate.