Posted by Hautaai on 21/11/2003, 7:30 pm, in reply to "Re: MALA COMPENSATION" This system is still very much alive in our society today with a few muddling here and there regarding the means of compensation although in are'are we have standard charges to every offense and if my memory is correct should be available with our respective house of chiefs.These charges are all in our local areka currency, pig or food. These can be converted into the SBD$ or mixed as alluded to by Hiuare. If done with honour and integrity I see no big issue in the currency or means of compensation as long as the standard charge is adhered to using conversion rate to date. Actually within the realm of Are'are we can dispute a charge if it is too high or above the standard. With regard to jurisdiction as questioned by PKJ, these charges were agreed to and adopted during the work of Masina ruru movement by our chiefs. Execution of these can be carried out by any potential relative of the offended. Conpensation can be negotiated publicly through consensus among relatives of the offended or private by an individual relative. Usually individual is cheaper and is most common with compensation related to girls. Chiefs involved when further enquiries reguired. Conpensation is not foreign to any solomon Islands culture and therefore I see no reason why areka compensation should not be used in Honiara. Let us take that of girls for example cos it is the most disputed one. Our culture valued virginity of a female as a pre-reguisite to stable and valuable marriage. Any pre-marriage affair with an areka girl is a violation of this norm. It broad shame and embarrasment on the girls family cos our culture is not to give second or third grade to a man. These things were not detached from the girl when she is in Honiara. We can dispute it but this is the reality of our culture. Nowadays one can say that virgin does not matter but it will make a difference to a man's life if he is married to a virgin and this is the truth that our culture is upholding. It is also part of our culture that compensation promoted the integrity of the offender. In areka if a man gives what he is charged then he is a real man. He is respected and looked up with. Whatever the situation maybe all is fine once comp is delivered. I'll write again, I have to go, sorry. cheers
129.94.6.29
Suruiana Pata, ma Po'o ma Hanara, is part and parcel of the Areka Society for breach of customary norms and codes that promote and protect a harmonious and peaceful coexistence of citizens. It replaced the pay back system of Bloodshed.
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