Attorney-General wants unity in effort to solve sorcery crimes

Justice Minister and Attorney-General Davis Steven says that the “blame game” in the fight against sorcery-related killings will not help in addressing this national issue but only make it worse.
He was responding to a statement made by Paul Barker, the executive director of the Institute of National Affairs, who said the response by the Government and the leaders to sorcery-related violence has been inadequate.
“Prime Minister Peter O’Neill announced a very clear condemnation on behalf of the Government and our people and has expressed strong disapproval of this behaviour,” he said.
“So the search is for how we can react as a nation, the blame game won’t solve the problem.
“It’s about every one of us doing our little bit.”
Davis said every sector in the society must now make it their responsibility to, in their own way speak out against this evil and stop it just like what the churches are doing.
Steven told The National that the issue of sorcery-related killings was entrenched in our customary beliefs and that the Government needed the full support of the people to fight this battle.
“Though it’s good to remind the Government of our responsibility, which is a valid argument but where government is unable after having done what is expected of it, the issue becomes an issue of all the society,” Steven said.
“Government may have not resourced our task force, our sorcery-related coordinating plan, and the other agencies or players in enforcing the national action plan against the sorcery-related killing.
“Everyone in society, all the government players and non-government players, faith-based organisations, parents and citizens must stand up and do our little part.
“The blame game, money and more policing is not going to solve this problem, and even churches alone won’t solve this problem.”