Destroying sorcery
Editorial; 22/7/08
We may now be seeing a more realistic approach by the courts to sorcery and its place in contemporary PNG. The murder of a suspected sorcerer in Lae has led to a handing down of a more than 23 year sentence by Judge George Manuhu, and apart from the severity of the sentence, it is refreshing to see the courts taking the lead in this issue. The Judge added that “many people accused of murder, used sorcery as an excuse for their crimes”. The link between hatred, murder and traditional beliefs is strong and we believe that many so-called sorcery murders are plain killings of others, with no traditional links whatever.Perhaps it is now time to go one step further.