Elderly man killed in Jiwaka over SARV

Over 50 men in Jiwaka allegedly murdered elderly man in his 70s, burnt his guest house and three makeshift houses last Saturday.

He was allegedly suspected of practicing sorcery in Onlo village, Upper Jimi, in Jiwaka.

A PNG Tribal Foundation officer [named] is actively assisting the families of the deceased and accompanied them to the Banz police station on Wednesday.

They reported the incident to the Criminal Investigation Division office and to the officers who handle Sorcery Accusation Related Violence [SARV] in the province.

The community is now grappling with the aftermath of this tragedy, as many are left questioning the motives behind such a heinous act.

Local leaders are calling for an urgent investigation to ensure justice is served and to prevent further violence related to these accusations.

The deceased’s son (named) told Tribal Foundation; he is still in shock of what had happened to his father last Saturday between 5pm to 6pm at their home in Onlo village.

He was away in Mendi Teachers College when he received the news of his father brutally killed by group of men believed to be their own extended relatives in the village.

The incident occurred after the death of his uncle, a distant relative who passed away in 2021 due to a prolonged illness.

“He was my uncle, and I know he was a sick person, but when he died, they blamed my father for practicing sorcery on him. It’s been years since his death and they killed my father because they thought he was behind the death of my uncle.”

“Last Saturday, the suspects saw a man visiting my late uncle’s graveyard. They questioned him and were trying to attack him when he mentioned my father’s name, and told them, he killed my uncle. The mob didn’t waste time; they went into our home and chopped him into pieces,” he said.

GT Bustin, president of the PNG Tribal Foundation, said, “We are seeing this kind of horrific and barbaric behavior happening so often that, unfortunately, it is becoming far too common. We are calling on the government to take more action in helping us with arrests and successful prosecutions of perpetrators, rescues and protection of victims, as well as increasing awareness of the law throughout the country. Too many people are doing studies and forums. We need less talk and more action.

“As I always say, glassmen don’t go to forums, and Tribal needs help. We are an NGO, and we are doing the government’s job with very little support.

“We must hold SARV perpetrators accountable before anything will change,” Mr. Bustin said.

The victim (the deceased’s son) said families and villages watched helplessly when they attacked his father and burnt down his properties.

At the Banz police station, CID Officer First Constable David Tal confirmed receiving the complaint for further investigations.

“I have advised the victims to find a home valuer to value their properties destroyed so police can use the evidence to proceed with arrests and criminal charges laid,” he said.

Tribal Foundation will be working closely with police and the victims on the case.