Robert@PNG

I almost broke down and cried when I looked at the front page of The National newspaper today…

Justice in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea is swift and frequently brutal. This is an everyday occurrence and something that I witness often and have probably become somewhat accustomed to it.

What pinched me when I eyed this photo of course was the image of the man tied up and hung but what really hooked into my core was the look of righteousness on the faces of those standing around. I can understand (after you read the story below) why this man needed to be removed from his community but to torture and brutally inflict pain on another human in the name of justice cannot and must never be justified.

Policemen and villagers in Enga stand around the dead man hanged by villagers angry at the murder of a young teacher.

By JAMES APA GUMUNO
A MENTALITY retarded person who attacked and killed a young teacher in Enga province was attacked by his own tribesmen and hanged to die in a village between Sirunki and Laiagam last Sunday.
The teacher killed was identified as Peter Itaki from Yakaedis village in the Minamb Valley in Wapenamanda district.
Itaki, in his 20s, graduated from Dauli Teacher’s College last year and was posted to Kaipal Primary School in his first year of teaching.
Reports from Enga province say Itaki was chewing betelnut in a trade store and was on his way out when he was attacked.
His assailant hit him on the head with an axe several times and he died as a result.
Angry tribesmen of the killer attacked him, inflicting wounds to his limbs, and then hanged him by the roadside to die.
It is understood the retarded person was a constant menace to the community. He is said to be a regular smoker of marijuana who is married with five children.
Relatives of Itaki and leaders Kiap Yasima and Steven Kia in Minamb Valley called for calm as they received the body of the teacher and mourned his death yesterday.
They condemned the brutal killing of Itaki, but urged relatives not to take the law into their own hands.
Highlands police divisional commander and Assistant Police Commissioner Simon Kauba said yesterday that he heard about the incident but could not confirm it with provincial police commander Chief Supt Michael Chare in Wabag due to communication problems.
Deputy governor of Enga and Member for Wapenamanda Miki Kaeok confirmed the killing.
Mr Kaeok said the killer was hanged to death by his own tribesmen.
Governor Peter Ipatas, who is in Manus province for the Governors’ Conference, said he is yet to be briefed on what happened but said killings in any form should be condemned.
He said there are laws in place to deal with those who take other people’s lives.