By GINNAH MINI
Bishop Justin Ain Soongie of the Diocese of Wabag, Enga, has raised concerns about the Sorcery Accusation Related Violence (SARV) stating that it has never been a part of Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) Culture and Melanesian Culture to torture somebody publicly.
Bishop Soongie noted that somehow the torturing of people has crept into PNG’s Culture and it needs collective effort to eradicate it.
“I believe we can end this, if we all stakeholders and individuals put our heads together,” he said.
Bishop Soongie said that he has been working through advocacy programs to bring awareness to people that torture is wrong.
“It is legally wrong, morally wrong, unChristian and demonic to torture people and humanly speaking, it is not humane to inflict torture to other fellow human beings and this has to be communicated to every citizens of this country,” he said.
Bishop Soongie urged public servants, church leaders, and government leaders to go to the communities to raise awareness to the people that it is morally wrong as the people will listen to the leaders.
“Our people will listen to us. Many of our people have no access to media outlets: they don’t read, they don’t have televisions in their houses and they don’t see what we speak on media making statements.”
Bishop Soongie stressed that PNG communities had to say no to SARV and if every citizen worked together to carry out awareness back in the communities, SARV could be eradicated.
He noted the recent video circulating on social media of people torturing a man from the highlands who was being accused of sorcery calling it as unchristian, unethical and inhumane to PNG’s societies.
Sorcery Accusation Related Violence (SARV) is a national issue that the government together with the churches and Non-Government Organizations NGOs) have been on the forefront to address the issue.