Interview with Laban Tivirom (Interview)
(Indigenous perspective)
This interview was conducted by Dr Iwamoto Hiromitsu and transcribed/translated by Pastor Jacob Aramans

Tivirom: My name is Laban Tivirom. I come from Siwasak village in New Ireland Province. When I was a small boy I want to a Methodist school. When the war came we were afraid of it for the first time. We ran away into the bushes with other kids. We stayed on the run till the war ended then we went back to Kavieng. The Australians and the Americans chased the Japanese out of Kavieng. They took control of us. During the war we ran away leaving behind our homes, food and other property. We were taken care of by a Kiap (patrol officer). He fed us with food and water. Before the allies arrived in Rabaul I worked for the Japanese. I worked as a cook and a laundry boy. I performed well and as a result the Japanese liked me. They didn’t ill-treat me in any way and I lived happily with them. When the Americans arrived, they chased the Japanese away. We also ran away and stayed at Lolongai. At Lolongai the Australians looked after us with food until the war ended. When the war was about to end the Kiap, Mr. Ben, came and said the war was over: “You all have to go home”. Dr Iwamoto: I would like you to tell me something about the Japanese. Tivirom: There were many Japanese who stayed with us here. They stayed with us all over this area. They did not do any bad or shameful things to our women. They worked so hard. Whenever someone broke certain laws which they set or laid down, they would bring him over and kill him. The fight grew stronger and stronger and the Americans came and killed many Japanese. Dr Iwamoto: What was the name of your Japanese master when you became cook? Tivirom: Sakamurasang. Dr Iwamoto: Was Sakamurasang a young or an elderly man? Tivirom: He was a commanding officer. Dr Iwamoto: So he was in charge of them? Tivirom: Yes. Dr Iwamoto: So many soldiers worked under Sakamurasang? Tivirom: Many. I also worked under him. Dr Iwamoto: Where did they stay? Tivirom: They lived up there where the memorial stone is now located. Dr Iwamoto: Is it at the location where the bank is now located? Tivirom: A bit further on from the bank. They lived in the houses vacated by the Australians who lived here before the war. Dr Iwamoto: Did they dig any tunnels? Tivirom: Some dug holes around in Kavieng and hid themselves but some of them lived in houses. Dr Iwamoto: Did you see any Japanese women here? Tivirom: Some came here but they were not many because it was war time. Dr Iwamoto: Where did they stay? Tivirom: They stayed here and some of them lived on the island. Dr Iwamoto: Were they many? Tivirom: Not many only few, but later they evacuated them. Dr Iwamoto: Papa, tell me about the school the Japanese opened here. Tivirom: The Japanese opened up a school at Aramap. The kids went to school there but not for long. When the war picked up momentum the kids left the school and ran away. Dr Iwamoto: Did many kids attend that school? Tivirom: Many kids attended that school. Some kids came from other villages and attended the school here. Dr Iwamoto: Were the kids happy to attend the school? Tivirom: They were quite happy to attend the school. Dr Iwamoto: What sort of things did they learn in school? Tivirom: I can't remember now. Dr Iwamoto: Have you ever heard the name Minsebu? Tivirom: Minsebu was an adminsitrator (Kiap) who looked after their administrative affairs. Dr Iwamoto: Were Minsebus good or bad people? Tivirom: They were good. They heard the court cases. Any disputes or wrongdoings were brought to them to be settled. If they found someone guilty he would be sentenced to death and if innocent they set him free. Dr Iwamoto: Some men died that way? Tivirom: Many men died in that way. Minsebus sent them to death. Dr Iwamoto: Did some men from your village die in that manner? Tivirom: They killed some of our men. Dr Iwamoto: Why did they kill them? Tivirom: Because they disobeyed commands and ran away and when they caught them they were put to death. Dr Iwamoto: Did you see many men work with the Japanese in Kavieng? Tivirom: Many, many men worked with them. Dr Iwamoto: What sort of work? Tivirom: Some worked as laundry boys, others cooked and others worked on other things. Dr Iwamoto: Did you see any men working on an airfield? Tivirom: I didn't see any men work on an airfield. Dr Iwamoto: That's all I have to ask, if you have any more stories you can tell me. Tivirom: I don't have any more stories that's all. Dr Iwamoto: Thank you very much Papa. Good story.