Human rights defender demands justice

By PHOEBE GWANGILO
A HUMAN rights defender wants justice for the murder of University of Goroka student Imelda Tupi Tiamanda.
Tribal Foundation project manager Ruth Kissam and her members were appalled after Imelda’s husband, Dr Simon Temo, 40, Ken Paul, 27, and Nombre Kasu, 42, were freed from murder by Mt Hagen district court magistrate Leonard Mesmin on Friday on grounds that witnesses failed to provide evidence and facts of the alleged killing during the committal court.
“The case was thrown out on technical grounds where the death certificate was unsigned,” she said.
“We cannot allow for gross negligence by our law enforcement because it dilutes the rule of law in our country.
“The Special Parliamentary Committee on GBV has the mandate to bring to task the police hierarchy in the province and salvage this case as soon as possible.”
Other human rights defenders Lutheran Missionary Anthon Lutz and Ume Wainetti of PNG Counsellor’s Association shared the thoughts.
Lutz said: “This is not rocket science, it is detective and police work.
Even though it might be difficult to locate and organise this evidence, it is not a job we can leave up to the victims.
“When a violent crime has been committed, it is the responsibility of the State to do the work and ensure justice is done.
“Who can we hold accountable when the system fails?
“The victim’s family?
“The police? The magistrate?
“There is an answer and we must find it before more women and children are tortured and killed.”