Haus krai going international

 By MALUM NALU

SUPPORT for the national haus krai (house of mourning) on May 14-15 to protest violence against women is gaining support from all over Papua New Guinea and internationally, Women Arise says.

Haus krais will be held at various PNG overseas missions during the two days as women around the world join to support PNG women.

Spokesman Rev Stephen Michael Leach says since the formation of Women Arise following the burning of an Engan woman in Mt Hagen for alleged sorcery, support for the cause has been growing and is expected to reach quite a high pitch as the date approaches.

Women Arise is a grassroots coalition of different women’s groups and more than 40 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that have come together to address senseless, prevalent violence against women.

“This nation has been suffering for a long time as a result of violence across a broad spectrum, not just domestic violence but also gender-based violence and tribal and ethnic conflicts within the borders of our society,” Michael told The National.

 “We felt compelled in light of the recent escalation of violence, especially gender-based and sorcery accusation-related violence to hold a national day of mourning in the form of a massive haus krai. 

They’ve come together and brought all these NGOs under one umbrella.

“We’re all coming together to hold this national day of mourning to coincide with the next session of the parliament. 

“So while they’re in session, we will be mourning at close proximity to Parliament House.

“We are hoping that many will come and there’s been a lot of interest, not only within Port Moresby but also throughout the country and around the world in the past few days. 

“People will be holding simultaneous haus krais throughout the nation beginning on May 14.

“Going all night long, we will be mourning going all the way into the next day. 

“Wantoks living abroad are also organising haus krais at their local PNG embassies to stand in solidarity with us in our collective grief. 

“Across the world, there are Papua New Guineans arising and saying ‘no’ to this epidemic of violence.

“There’s a group in Sweden that has organised a haus krai, a group in America that will go to the embassy in Washington DC and also stand in solidarity with their sisters here in PNG to demonstrate to the world that collectively, we are suffering as a nation.”