‘Sorcery not part of culture’

By BRADLEY MARIORI
SORCERY cannot be accepted as part of our culture because it is an emerging social phenomena today, Evangelical Lutheran Church of PNG (ELCPNG) head bishop Rev Dr Jack Urame says.
Rev Urame said sorcery-related killing has increased in the country in recent times and many innocent people had been accused and killed.
“Recently, there was a report of a man accused and beheaded in Bougainville due to sorcery and we totally condemn this act of violence against innocent people,” he said.
“Sorcery belief existed in our society long before western civilisation began, but accusation and killing did not happen frequently like what we see today.
“What we have experienced today is a new development.
“Nowadays, every misfortune or death is linked to sorcery.
“When people cannot understand the causes of sickness and death or other misfortune, they use their traditional belief in sorcery to explain and blame innocent people.
“Often people do not ask what caused the sickness or death but asked who caused it.
“As a result, they connect sickness and death to people.”
Rev Urame said often the weak and defenceless people in the community are accused and killed.
“People are tortured, lives are lost and families are disintegrated or pushed out of their communities,” he said.
“This extreme form of violence in the name of sorcery and witchcraft must stop.
“Sorcery accusation-related violence is an emerging social problem affecting our society.
“Therefore, we must all work together to overcome this challenge.
“Lifestyle diseases and deaths related to it, drugs, unemployment, lack of basic infrastructure development, economic inequality, social injustice, lack of education and poverty all contribute to so much social stress in the country.
“When there is social stress, sorcery is used as an excuse to avenge frustration, confusion and uncertainties. That is why sorcery accusation related violence increase today at an alarming rate.
“We need awareness to inform and educate our people to understand and change their mindset.
“We need a collective approach and action.”