Moses Garu (born December 1, 1969 – February 10, 2025)Official biography on the parliamentary website was a Solomon Islands politician. He was born in Isunavutu, West Guadalcanal, Guadalcanal Province.
With diplomas in tropical agriculture and in secondary teaching, he has worked in public service, as a school teacher, and in banking. He was a bank manager at the time of the severe ethnic conflicts on Guadalcanal and Malaita in the early 2000s. In May 2000, he was attacked by members of the Malaita Eagle Force with machetes and axes. They allegedly attempted to behead him, leaving him with a permanent "puckered scar on his right jaw running on down his neck". Jimmy "Rasta" Lusibaea, one of the leaders of the Eagle Force, was among those charged with attempting to murder Garu, but charges were dropped when "witnesses failed to testify"."The getting of wisdom", Sydney Morning Herald, October 2, 2010"Pas d'amnistie pour les « Aigles de Malaita »", Les Nouvelles calédoniennes, February 12, 2008
Garu's political career began when he was elected MP for West Guadalcanal in the August 2010 general election, representing the Democratic Party. Lusibaea was also elected to Parliament for the first time in that election, as an Independent, resulting in the two men sitting across from each other in the assembly. They "spoke at length" after the election, and were reported to have "put their past to rest", with Garu expressing no resentment over what had happened during the conflicts."SIDP rises to top" , Solomon Star, August 14, 2010
With the Democratic Party becoming the main Opposition party, Garu was appointed Shadow Minister for Rural Development and Indigenous Affairs in Opposition Leader Steve Abana's Shadow Cabinet."Abana is new Opposition leader" , Solomon Star, September 1, 2010 In February 2011, however, he and two other Opposition members defected to Prime Minister Danny Philip's government majority, stating that they wished to help pass the budget and defend the interests of their respective constituencies."More MPs Join Government", Solomon Star, February 25, 2011 On April 18, he was appointed Minister for Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification."New Cabinet Ministers Sworn in", Solomon Times, April 19, 2011
On November 9, 2011, he resigned and rejoined the Opposition, as part of a mass defection which brought down the Philip government two days later."Lilo fired" , Solomon Star, 11 November 2011"PM Resigns" , Solomon Star, 11 November 2011 Gordon Darcy Lilo replaced Philip as Prime Minister on November 16, and reappointed Garu to his previous position five days later."Abana, Maelanga likely candidates for DPM" , Solomon Star, 21 November 2011
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