Sorcery hindering growth: Reverend

By PETER ESILA
A church leader says sorcery is adversely affecting the development of the country by denying communities access to skills and knowledge that could improve their lives.
Rev Chuainsker Natung of the Lutheran Student Congregation (LSC) of the University of Papua New Guinea said highly educated people should return home to their communities to help them but that was not happening because people are scared of sorcery.
Natung said this after presenting a report by the Lutheran Student Congregation titled Action Plan against Sorcery Beliefs and Practices in Papua New Guinea to the Constitutional and Law Reform Commission.
“Many people are running around fearful, and residing in other places finding a safe haven from the community,” Natung said.
“So you can see that this thing is also affecting development.
“We all experience sorcery in many ways, even some of us are fearful of it.”
“So you turn to take up residence here and there making it your village while your people back home need you.
“It is not a new thing that we are talking about.”