Ill-treatment condemned

By REBECCA KUKU
THE harsh treatment meted out to four children allegedly caught drawing graffiti in Port Moresby has been widely condemned, with police keen to investigate a possible case of child abuse.
Yesterday, Institute of National Affairs executive director Paul Barker joined National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop in condemning the action of people who had stripped, beat up and poured paint on the four children they caught allegedly drawing graffiti. Pictures of the children being ill-treated were posted on social media.
Barker said there was no justification in how the children were treated.
“What sort of lesson comes from catching a small number of miscreants and perpetrating much more serious crimes, and cruel humans rights abuses against them?” he said.
“It may discourage some from further offending but it also gives people and officials a free rein to use violence and abuse against children and others as they see fit.”
Barker said young people gained status from doing “dares”.
“In a way it’s a demonstration of independence. Yes, young people should be brought up to respect and not to damage or deface public, or other people’s property. But it’s partly the family’s responsibility and partly the State’s responsibility to guide them and provide other opportunities and avenues for achievement in school, training, sports, and meaningful employment.
“Violence invariably feeds further violence and disrespect for the law. And meting out penalties that are worse than the offence sends all the wrong messages.”
He said an appropriate penalty would be to order the children to erase the graffiti or to do social work.
“Society should not be meting out cruel and extra-judicial and illegal punishments on them, because it makes some people feel good or because they’re upset with some civic feature being defaced. These are just children,” he said.
Police Minister Bryan Kramer said he was awaiting a report on the matter from police headquarters.
NCD Metropolitan Superintendent Perou N’dranou urged the children’s families to formally lodge complaints on how they were treated so investigations could be conducted. Parkop said although graffiti was an issue that needed to be addressed, such abuse of children was unacceptable.
“I have seen the horrific images (on social media) and am very disappointed with the treatment these children have been subjected to,” he said.