For a wonderfully written but excruciating to read article on the insane butchery of Papua New Guinea’s modern day 'witch hunts', and the complicity of police, you can read Jo Chandler’s It’s 2013, And They’re Burning ‘Witches’ in today's Global Mail here

Comments

[Mrs Barbara Short]

I agree with you Michael, it is the ordinary people of PNG communities, who are experiencing these problems with witchcraft/sorcery etc, who have to face the evil and work out what is going on and what is the cause of it and how to solve it.

As Phil has mentioned elsewhere, murderers are using the beliefs of the community in witchcraft/sorcery to bring about the deaths of these women.

The government and the judges have the power to bring in laws that can help to stop the problems.

The police can investigate the horrible events and try to work out their causes. Anthropologists can probably help them.

The church members have to pray about what is happening and ask God to bring about an end to it. And God will answer it in His way.

As I mentioned elsewhere, one of my ancestors was burnt as a witch. This happened in Scotland many years back. It is not common now.

I wish the same for PNG.

[Michael Dom]

I hate to gainsay you Barbara but it is the people in the communities who must face this evil spectre.

Government administers for appropriate service systems to address underlying issues - medical aid, education and police and magisterial services.

Church provides spiritual and moral guidance, support and advocacy; the media reports and advocates.

The police provide security, arrest and investigate (after the crime).

And anthropologists study human relationships and lifestyles and may comment on the trend of human behaviour.

Nay, it is at the grassroots that sanguma must be addressed.

I am sure that there are some communities that have addressed sanguma in an appropriate mannner, agreeable to both society and legal agenda.

All this slaughter of people accused of sanguma is not good for communal conscience.

There is a guilt carried on by all members of the community, whether we wish to acknowledge this or not.

As Christians we all must know that we will be judged for this if we do not act on the wrongfulness when we have the opportunity.

(At least, that's what my mummy taught me.)

[Mrs Barbara Short]

This shocking article certainly conveys the horror and depravity, a sort of "living hell", found in parts of PNG today.

I pray that the government, the churches, the media, the police and the anthropologists will all work together to work out a way to stop it.