MORE THAN 200 FAMILIES DISPLACED DUE TO CONTINOUS SARV RELATED FIGHTS
Picture Caption: Victims of SARV related tribal fights
By Vicky Baunke in Goroka EHP
MORE than 200 people including woman, children and school aged teenagers have been left displayed for more than 4 months as a result of sorcery related tribal fighting in Mane village, Unavi LLG, Lufa district in Eastern Highlands Province.
The fighting stared over sorcery accusations within the community following the death of a young man who died from a loss of blood after he was stabbed by his wife May of this year.
The late victim was stabbed in the leg and succumbed to death the next day around 4am after he could not be brought to the hospital to seek medical attention because of the remoteness of the village.
The relatives of the deceased the same day accused an elderly man and two, 2year old boys in the village for practising sorcery which resulted in the death of the victim.
Fighting have continued since May despite negotiation for ceasefire by police with recent attacks last month where bombs were used and more sustained knife wounds.
It has been more than 4months and the students cannot return to school in fear of their lives.
Meantime, Mane Community Leader Moses Fonu is calling on for peace and support from the local MP Simo Kilepa, the Provincial government including peace committee from the law and justice and police to intervene and restore peace for the families to return home.
The displaced members are now seeking refuge at a nearby community with nowhere to go, no food supplies or any means of survival with no hopes of returning home in fear.
The matter was reported to the Goroka Police station on July 15th and investigations into the deaths is currently being carried out by the Homicide CID section at the Goroka Police station.
However, following police investigations those involved will be charged accordingly under three offences which includes Sorccery accusation, Use of dangerous weapon and Wilful Murder under the Criminal code act.
