060413NORTH BOUGAINVILLE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE
By Aloysius Laukai
The North Bougainville Human Rights Committee (NBHRC) strongly condemns the recent
murder of Helen Rumbali and ongoing kidnap and torture of her sister Nikono in Bana
District, South Bougainville both accused of sorcery.
A committee member of the NBHRC said: “This is a complete violation of these two
women's human rights: their right to life, as well as their right to live a life free from
violence and torture.”
If Helen's sister is still alive, NBHRC calls on Police, local peace officers and local civil
society organisations to facilitate her immediate relocation to a safe house and provide
access to urgent medical treatment, legal assistance and counseling.
“Spreading false rumours of witchcraft, as well as the torture or killing of anyone accused
of witchcraft, is against our Bougainville culture, against the teaching of the Bible and
against the law. If you have suspicions of sorcery, report it. Don't take the law into your
own hands,” one NBHRC member said.
The NBHRC says that the Autonomous Bougainville Government ('ABG') must do better to
protect its own people and ensure adherence to the law.
In resolving this situation, the
NBHRC calls on the ABG to use its own Police Service in incidents like this, and not
private security firms, especially those which employ ex-combatants. If ex-combatants
are injured or killed while attempting to resolve community disputes this will only add fuel
to the fire and lead to more needless death and violence.
Instead, the ABG must educate and train its Police, Village Magistrates, Peace Officers to
intervene as soon as rumours begin and to prosecute those who spread them. Spreading
false rumours is against the law in Papua New Guinea. Victims of false rumours should
contact police and the Courts.
'When someone is sick or has died we need to find out why from a doctor – NOT from a
witchdoctor!” said another NBHRC member.
The NBHRC calls on the ABG to act urgently to save the life of Nikono and allow the law to
take its course.
Note from the editor…
The situation is now under control as per our earlier news
Ends |
Thread abonnieren
