Accused Witch Burned Alive in Papua New Guinea

In Feb 6, 2013, a latest sorcery-related killing in the South Pacific nations happened in Papua New Guinea.  A woman was stripped, tortured, and burned alive in front of hundreds of horrified witnesses because she was accused of being witchcraft.  In rural Papua New Guinea, witchcraft is often blamed for unexplained misfortunes.  Sorcery has traditionally been countered by sorcery, but responses to allegations of witchcraft have become increasingly violent in recent years.  The woman’s name is Kepari Leniata and she was a 20 years old mother of 6 years old boy who died in a hospital a day before this tragic happened.  The Deputy Police Commissioner, Simon Kauba blasted to hear that no single arrest was made yet.  Although her husband was described as the prime suspect, he still had more than 50 people suspected to have laid a hand on the victim.  “We are in the 21st century and this is totally unacceptable” said Tom Kulunga, a Police Commissioner.

This event was shocking and devilish.  It is reprehensible that women, the old and the weak in our society should be targeted for alleged sorcery or wrongs that they actually have nothing to do with.  In the supernatural tradition, abnormal behavior is attributed to agents outside our bodies or social environment, such as demons, spirits, or the influence of the moon and star; although still alive, this tradition has been largely replaced by biological and psychological perspectives. No matter what the reason to support the claim is, murders are murders and crime is crime.  It is also shocking that onlookers were shocked by the brutality but were powerless to stop the mob and that there are still people like cult members who ate their victim’ who were doctors brains raw and made soup from their penises.  It is believed that by doing those behaviors, they would attain supernatural powers.  Those news makes me appreciate being born and living in a country with advanced education and government power to keep us safe from being a target to be blamed.

Eun Jee Lee
Feb 15, 2013 4:55pm


source: http://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2013/02/08/alleged-witch-burned-alive-in-papua-new-guinea