Clan under probe

By TONY PALME
POLICE want to question the relatives of an elderly man hacked to death on Friday after being accused of causing the death of a clan member through sorcery.
Jiwaka police commander Inspector Horim Piamia told The National that 60-year-old Gonne Bapke, from the Ngeneka tribe of Kopung village in Minj, was killed allegedly by his relatives following the death of a clan member living in Port Moresby.
Bapke is survived by his three wives and “many” children.
“It would have been wise if the family had obtained a post-mortem result to know the cause of the death (of the clan member in Port Moresby) rather than accusing (Bapke) of sorcery,” Piamia said.
“I call on the community leaders to assist police in arresting the suspects involved in the killing.
“I also appeal to the family members to consult doctors to find out the cause of the death (of the relative in Port Moresby).
“Jiwaka is a province known for sorcery-related violence which is affecting the lives of marginalised members of the community.
“Many innocent people have been killed or abused because of this superstitious belief held by some people on fellow members of the community.
“Victims of sorcery-related violence are living with a scar that will never be erased in their lifetime.”
Piamia called on law-makers to toughen the penalties on perpetrators of sorcery-related violence.
“Police are also facing a hard time in apprehending suspects of sorcery-related violence because the courts seem to be lenient on them by imposing penalties or releasing them on bail,” he said.
Piamia called on people to get away from beliefs in witchcraft and to believe in God only.
“No one has the right to take another person’s life. It is God that has that authority and power to judge people,” he said.
Piamia said another elderly man accused of sorcery at Kilip in Banz, North Waghi, last year was buried alive. He could not confirm the total number or sorcery cases reported in the province over the past three years.