Sorcery, Murder,Things Falling Apart and Melanesian Attutudes . A Plea to PNG's Educated.
By JOHN FOWKE Press reports around the world indicate that "sanguma meris" are being burnt alive in Mount Hagen City. A spectacular departure from the usual method of murder involving dragging the alleged sanguma behind a vehicle, then arrowing and drowning him/her after rape and/or torture. This latter method of murder weas the fate of the mother of an old friend of mine near Suave about five years ago. The old lady, a widow and alone in the village of her late husband, was accused of using sanguma powers to kill a young man of the village, the subject of investment by relatives and a rising star in his course at UPNG. There were no investigations . The matter was ignored by empowered officials despite pleas from my friend, who was in a position to provide petrol and "lunch allowance" in the manner usually demanded. It was suggested that the old lady's murder had been justified in traditional terms. It was said that the officials themselves felt threatened. A