Over the weekend…

And somewhere nearby three members of the same family died within a 12 hour period.

The first to die  was a middle aged male.  Cause of death: unknown and /or suspicious.

The other two were females and they got accused by the locals of sorcery and got chopped with bush knives and then burnt to ashes in their homes.

All three were blood relatives – in fact all three had the same father.

And so it is in the Land of the Unexpected. People getting “burnt at the stake” for alleged witchcraft is a common occurrence. Before they die they are normally tortured.

The local term for a witch or sorcerer is “Sanguma”. From what the locals tell me… a little bit like a vampire. “Sanguma” originated in Simbu – where Eli's village is located.

Many a tale gets shared about the evil and powers of “Sanguma” – to the locals it's as real as chips. I have heard first hand stories that would make your hair stand on end.

“Sanguma” have the power to possess, shape change and kill. I have spoken to folks that have witnessed people changing shape into an animal such as a cow or a pig or a bird.

I'm not sure what to make of it. Superstition or real?. The locals, even the ones that proclaim to be devout christians still hold strong to the belief in sorcery.

In the meantime the realtives of tghe deceased are suffering terribly after the loss of three family members. My understanding is that an autopsy will be carried out this afternoon on the body of the dead male. Hearsay has it that if anything suspicious is found during the forensics that the folks doing the chopping and burning will be let of scott free. Don't scoff… suspicious findings during autopsies is common in PNG and many a folk knocking of a “vampire” walk away free.

Believe it or not!

You heard it first on Trupela Tok!