Chief justice attack: sorcery perpetrators act with public support
12 January 2018
HELEN DAVIDSON | Guardian Australia | Extracts
PORT MORESBY - Papua New Guinea’s chief justice has been ambushed and attacked in another incident related to Papua New Guinea’s escalating problem with sorcery-related violence.
The ambush followed the kidnapping and torture of two women from the judge’s tribe, who were accused of killing a man with sorcery.
Chief justice Sir Salamo Injia was traveling from his home in Enga province’s Wapenamanda district on Monday when he and his police escort were stopped at a makeshift roadblock.
Acting police commander, Epenes Nili, said both vehicles were attacked by a large group of men in what he believed was a planned ambush.
“They didn’t listen to the police [trying to move the crowd on] and started attacking the police vehicle, and throwing stones and rocks at the chief justice’s vehicle,” he told Guardian Australia.
The cars fled the scene and returned to Injia’s home, Nili said. The chief justice was not hurt but was shaken after the incident.
Injia was targeted because his tribe had not paid compensation for the death of a man said to have been killed with sorcery, Nili said.
Sorcery accusations – and violent summary attacks – occur with increasing frequency in PNG, but little action is taken.
Despite the brutal and frequent attacks, which occur completely outside the nation’s justice system and are punishable by death, there have been no convictions.
Perpetrators act within a culture of strong belief in sorcery, and with the knowledge they often have broad public support.
Nili said the only hindrance the police had was the reluctance of victims and their families to come forward – usually because of their fear of retribution – however he has also spoken in the past of a lack of police resources to respond and investigate.
In the case of the attack on the chief justice, three ringleaders had been arrested, he said, and police would also investigate if any of them had been involved in the torture of the two women.
He assured they would be charged
It's an eye opener for Chief Justice. Now to do something on the Sorcery Act and make it a strong law with severe penalties.
I'm very sorry that the innocent Chief Justice became a victim of sorcery related violence. Engans must respect and have pride in their own man who is the head of the judiciary.
If they cannot respect such a high profile man, they are still in their stone age living in caves.
Posted by: Philip Kai Morre | 12 January 2018 at 10:49 PM
While it could be said that no one can prove or disprove sorcery that does not prevent the apparent belief in it or the use of it as an excuse to commit a crime.
The issue here is that even the Chief Justice is not immune from a lack of law and order.
Attacking the real source of the problem is the issue. This instance is a mere example of what has been allowed to become a major threat to the PNG nation.
When will someone, anyone in PNG, lay a complaint against the PNG government that they have allowed their nation to lapse into lawlessness? That's a court case that should be resolved in the Courts.
I wonder who might be prepared to prepare the case or hear the evidence?
Posted by: Paul Oates | 12 January 2018 at 10:22 AM
This alleged attacks on person or groups of persons alleged to have practised sorcery must stop.
It is a perception problem. You cannot prove beyond reasonable doubt that an act of sorcery is the cause of death, it's impossible. It cannot proved it in a court of law or scientifically.
Natural causes of death are intertwined with mystic beliefs and superstitions, which do not have a basis of support. They arise due to innuendo, allegation, rumour and gossip.
This affects innocent and unsuspecting people whose lifestyle or habits may be different from the norm.
Posted by: Heai S Hoko | 12 January 2018 at 09:26 AM
Violence suits those with nothing to lose
Posted by: Bernard Corden | 12 January 2018 at 07:57 AM
A tweet I posted on 09/01/2018:
Within space of a week: an video of musician brutally assaulted, then overnight, CJ being subjected to #sarv. The quick response & implications: just wow! When will we get the same response-rate for #gbv #evaw as is being served out for male-male violence?
NO to all violence.
Posted by: Rashmii Bell | 12 January 2018 at 07:23 AM