By ANEEKA SIMONIS
AN OFFICER man who erected a cross on his fence after claiming that a neighbouring Muslim school damaged his trees has said he will not stop until justice is done.
Ian Soer, who erected a two-metre cross with an inflammatory religious message that glares into the school two months ago, said he is prepared to pull out all the stops to right the perceived wrong.
“It’s far from over,” the seething man said over claims that Minaret College’s building practices destroyed dozens of trees which line his property.
“I am going to leave this situation as it is now – they are not going to get away with killing my trees.”
The man, whose public attack on the Islamic school horrified many local residents, said he is keeping his cards close to his chest and refused to say what he plans to do next.
“They don’t negotiate,“ he said in relation to the school’s failure to release an independent report into its building practices or negotiate compensation.
“It’s not my fault they keep destroying my property,“ he said.
The cross, which originally read “Jesus Forgives Your Sins. I Don’t,” still stands on the man’s Tivendale Road property.
Someone painted over the latter statement days after Mr Soer re-erected the cross with steel bracing when it was cut down in late November.
The provocative issue began almost two years ago when Mr Soer said builders dug up the roots to his 12-year-old trees while constructing the college.
He said they were valued at between $50,000 and $70,000.
A negotiated settlement was being assisted by a local leader who has asked not to be identified.
Mr Soer said he has reduced his compensation claim to $5000.
“It’s a rock bottom offer,” Mr Soer said.
He claims the school tried to make him sign a disclaimer which absolved it of responsibility for damaging the trees in exchange for financial compensation.
The Gazette contacted Minaret College for the second time with requests for the independent report or comments about the negotiation but it did not respond.
In a previous comment to the Gazette, Mr Soer said his display was never meant to be religiously offensive.
But after months of failed negotiation, Mr Soer is at the end of his tether.
“I am trying not to have it escalate but I am not going to let them get away with this after 18 plus months.”
Minaret College director Mohamed Hassan told the Gazette in late November last year that the school had “always had harmonious relationships with its neighbours”.
