We all must fight child sex abuse

 IT IS part of human nature that people will often be secretive and tight-lipped about sexual offences involving their immediate and extended family members.

Crimes such as rape, incest and child abuse will often remain a family secret, tucked away in the dark corners of people’s minds, because of the fear of breaking up the family unit or losing the breadwinners.

It is therefore hardly surprising that Milne Bay police are blaming families for their reluctance in reporting such cases following the apprehending of suspects in eight cases of incest in the Rabaraba area.

Provincial police commander Joseph Morehari voiced grave concern that every week there was at least one case of rape reported to police, while others were suppressed.

“Cases of child abuse, sexual abuse and domestic violence, mainly against women and young children, have gone unreported to police in the province and I am concerned about the issue,” he said.

Chief Supt Morehari is not the only police commander who has expressed concern about this alarming trend in sex-related crimes against children.

Earlier this week, Lae metropolitan police commander Iven Lakatani reported that sex crimes against minors had increased lately in the country’s second largest city.

Supt Lakatani said they were trying to find out the cause of the increase but police were attending to at least one reported case daily of sexual assault of children.

“Children aged 15 and below are being sexually abused by adults,” he said.

Lakatani revealed that the suspects in most instances were known to the victims.

That statement should ring alarm bells among families in the city who have been warned by the Lae police chief to be vigilant and not trust people who live with them or who they live with.

While Lae city has had more than its fair share of crime and ethnic violence, Milne Bay remains mostly untouched by the criminal kind.

Famous for its natural beauty and tranquillity, coupled with a peaceful and law-abiding population, the province is the envy of others like Morobe.

However, Milne Bay burst its bubble earlier this year when a student was allegedly gunned down by police outside the provincial capital of Alotau.

The incident raised fears among the province’s leaders and the people that Milne Bay was no longer immune to serious crime that had infested other parts of the country.

The province has been relatively quiet since, with no reports of major crime cases, which is a credit to the police, provincial authorities and the people.

However, the revelation by Morehari that sexual offences against children may be rife and are increasing in the province has tainted that picture somewhat.

It would appear that there are many people in Milne Bay who are keeping a golden silence about sexual offences committed by their family members. 

They are even reluctant to divulge information to police about their sick-minded relatives, which is as bad as the actual offence.

By protecting their family’s honour and survival, they have sacrificed their children and female members to the forces of evil.

Both the wrong-doers and their accomplices should be apprehended and brought before the courts to answer for these crimes.

Unfortunately, Milne Bay’s good name has now been dragged into the sewer drain because certain families choose to remain secretive about sexual offences committed by their family members and relatives.

By the same token, there are people in Lae city who continue to protect their evil-minded relatives by not divulging information to police about their wrong-doings.

Sex crimes like rape, incest and child abuse will continue to go unattended by police if family members do not stand up and speak out against their so-called loved ones.

Their cooperation with the police and local authorities is vital in preventing sexual crimes from strangling families and affecting the communities they live in.

Indeed, it takes a brave family to reveal this social evil that is eating away at the very fabric of our society.

The members of every family, each and everyone of us must find the courage to break the culture of silence.

We owe it to the children of Papua New Guinea to protect all of them.