Dad of ‘raped’ girl calls for help as family hides

By Rebecca Kuku
THE father of a student who said she was raped by her teacher is calling on the Government and police commissioner to ensure police in rural areas are able to perform their duties effectively to strengthen the failing state of law and order in remote areas.
He spoke after his family were intimidated, ridiculed, harassed and threatened by his own tribe and those of the teacher for reporting the alleged incident to police and the media.
“When I decided to go against the widespread cultural practice of favouring compensation and bride price as the accepted remedy to child sexual abuse, rape and forced marriage, I knew that there was a huge challenge ahead of me,” the father of the 16-year-old student said.
“My wife and children have been in hiding since the day the teacher was arrested.”
The father said that his wife was also constantly being pressured to travel to Mendi police station to help the release of the teacher accused of raping his daughter. “The seriousness and impacts of sexual abuse of teenaged girls and forced marriages in most Highlands societies are undermined and perceived as mere ordinary experiences of societal life that ends in compensations, bride prices and marriages,” the father said.
“This happens because women and girls are viewed and treated as valuable material objects and domestic animals that can be sold at high prices to the satisfaction of the relatives.”
“The seriousness and legality of child abuse and rape of minor are accurately defined and understood only in civilised societies while the majority of people living in Papua New Guinea, particularly in the Highlands, think and behave otherwise – they see and treat women and girls from the economic perspective.”
The father also called on the educated elites from his home to break free from their “unhealthy” culture and stand with him.
“Even the educated people succumb to the pressures of traditional cultures which undermines the rule of law and the seriousness of sexual abuse and forced marriages in our society. That’s why being vocal against unhealthy cultural practices is a huge challenge because hatred, opposition and enmity are inevitable realities for those few individuals who are brave enough to go against cultural norms,” he said.
He said he and his family were now seen as traitors and rebels for deciding to break away from cultural norm by refusing compensation and bride price and instead reporting the matter to the police and the media.
“My son, who is supposed to be doing grade 5 at a primary school is in hiding with his mother in fear of being beaten and harassed.
“I am therefore calling on the police hierarchy to provide immunity to those brave people who decide to assist police as well as promote the significances of law in rural communities that disregard it.
“This will pave a new era where more people will come out of their traditional cultural environment and begin to shine out to illuminate the dark corners of the Highlands as well the country as a whole.”