Pastor buried alive over allegation of practising sorcery

By JAMES GUMUNO
A LUTHERN Church pastor from Jimi, Jiwaka, was reportedly buried alive over allegations of practising sorcery.
Pastor Siwal Wil, of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea, was allegedly attacked by a group of youths who buried him in a shallow grave three weeks ago.
A villager, Eluh Wik, told The National that the pastor had called for help from the grave for several hours but no one went to his rescue.
He said the youths threatened people not to help the pastor.
Wik said the suspects blamed Wil of practising sorcery that caused a landslide at Koip village and buried another man alive and killed him three months ago.
“Wil is not a sorcerer. He is a good man from our community at Koip village. He spent his life preaching the word of God,” Wik said. He said  Wil was living with his wife and son when the incident happened.
The matter was reported to Banz police last week but due to poor road condition they could not arrest the suspects.
Provincial police commander Chief Supt Joseph Tondop, who returned from a trip to China last week, said he was aware of the killing.
Tondop said police were investigating the matter and they would make arrests after the report was completed.