A 63-year-old man, who now has permanent scars on his body including a disabled arm, is now seeking assistance from police to assist him with his Sorcery Accusation Related Violence (SARV) case.
63-year-old survivor of SARV who was accused of sorcery and attacked on February this year in Kaivukavu village in the Kikori district of the Gulf province, visited the PNG Tribal Foundation in Port Moresby city where he gave his testament of what had happened to him back in February.
The SARV survivor (name withheld) stated that following the death of a young woman on February 1st, in Kaivukavu village after a short illness, the relatives of the deceased then pinpointed the 63-year-old man as the sorcerer responsible for the young woman’s death.
He said about 12 suspects, mostly youths, attacked him with knives. A medical report obtained from Port Moresby General Hospital showed injuries to his right neck, paraparesis, sensation loss to his right arm, and major injuries to his nose and his biceps.
“My wife was assaulted too, even my house was destroyed including our 200 liters water containers for fresh water was also destroyed, my family was traumatized, and we still are living in fear,” he said.
“These youths who attempted to kill me are still roaming the village freely, no police intervention, and as long as these youths walk freely my families’ lives and mine are all at risk.”
He further added that all he needs now is for the law to take its course and perpetrators must be brought to justice.
“We don’t want these perpetrators to stay in the village and cause any trouble again to the innocent villagers whenever there is an incident.”
“We want police to go into the village and arrest these suspects, we have Glassman Bill 2022 passed in Parliament and let the justice system to take its course, telling others that there is law for sorcery,” he said.
PNG Tribal Foundation has advised the SARV Survivor that every process taken of such incidents are to be reported to police with a formal complaint laid, then Tribal Foundation can assist and support victims in prosecution processes through helping police in getting paperwork done and other necessities to get the case investigated.
Tribal Foundation will be working closely with the victim and his families on the case.