Sorcery shame for Papua New Guinea in X’mas

News that matter in Papua New Guinea

Sorcery tortures and violence are still being practised in Papua New Guinea in this 21st Century digital era.

Sorcery shame for Papua New Guinea in X’mas

PORT MORESBY: It was international shame for Papua New Guinea (PNG) this Christmas when sorcery reared its ugly head.

Six women were stripped, bound to poles and burnt with hot knives as they screamed in pain, watched by an unsympathetic crowd.

In a video that has gone viral in the internet, the women were accused of practising sorcery in Southern’s Enga.

Police Comm David Manning described the sorcery torture as vile, inhumane, uncivilised, void of any human decency.

“Papua New Guinea cannot progress without letting go of these horrific traditional beliefs. We have launched an urgent probe into the incident in Aiya’s Pawayamo village in Kagua-Erave.”

The news break was published by The National:

Horror torture of women

December 28, 2021The NationalMain Stories

One of four women tortured in Kagua, Southern Highlands by several men over sorcery allegations. – Picture supplied

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
POLICE Commissioner David Manning has described as vile, inhumane, uncivilized, void of any human decency, the torturing of five women in Enga and Southern Highlands.
The video of the torture of the women accused of practising sorcery posted on social media has prompted an urgent police investigation of the incident at Pawayamo village, Aiya local level government, in Kagua-Erave, Southern Highlands.
“I am awaiting a report from the Deputy Commissioner of Police-Operations Anton Billie,” he said.
“The perpetrators are uncivilised and void of any human decency, animals without any sense of logical human thinking.”
In the videos, screams of pain can be heard over and over again, as the hot knife is pressed against the woman.
She wriggles trying to loosen the bindings on her legs and hands.
Out of breath, all she can do is whimper in pain.
The videos are graphic, showing three women naked and tied, legs and hands apart tied between two strong timbers, they are told to tell the truth of their alleged powers and what they have done.
The fourth half-naked woman sits on the grass bound and is questioned extensively.
Between the screams, several men participating in the torture ask questions.
The women respond saying anything to stop the pain.
Comm Manning said: “The country cannot progress without letting go of these horrific traditional beliefs.
“They serve no good to our girls, women, and our communities, this sets our country back decades.
“We need to move on as a people, there is a matter of cultural beliefs that creates identity, and a sense of pride and strengthens us as a country of many tribes.
“On the other hand, our laws guide as to certain aspects of our cultural heritage and beliefs that is acceptable and consistent with our rights and freedoms under our Constitution.
“Unfortunately, these are our beliefs that only a few cultures still hold strong in their ways. Many cultures have moved on or evolved into advanced cultures compared a couple of generations ago. We continue to see these cultures and its values promoted to add value to our lives as human beings.”
The coalition of parliamentarians to end gender-based violence co-chairman and National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop said he was “appalled by the horrendous acts of violence, and it is unacceptable in our society”.
DCP Billie told The National that all efforts “to find these animals should be made. I appeal to the churches, youths, community leaders, women leaders and the district members to assist police in their investigations into the assault of the women and to bring the perpetrators to justice”.
In the first video, three women are tied on top a makeshift bed, with one sitting on the ground.
They are tortured; a man is seen climbing on top the bed and tightening the bindings on the women.
The women are admitting that they did eat someone’s heart using sorcery. The men than ask who their accomplices are, the women respond by calling the names of other people.
In the other video in Enga, two women are seen also tortured by several men.
A man is seen heating up a knife and going between two women, pressing the knife against their skin.