Ten messages

by Anton Lutz

This blog is one you may like to share with the young people in your life, to help them see how children discuss the topic of Sorcery Accusation Violence (SARV) amongst themselves, to reach conclusions that are as plain as day and that everyone can learn from!

Let’s just keep it simple.

How do we get people talking about SARV?

Here’s what happened when one of the teachers at Kiribodu Secondary School gave this list to her students. They broke into groups and each group researched and prepared a speech about each point. The students rehearsed and got ready to present to the whole school.

Joseph was the first to speak.

“Sorcery Accusation Related Violence makes us be against each other. What do I mean? We think bad thoughts against each other. We fear each other. We hate each other. We talk behind each other.”

Everyone giggled. He should have said “gossip about each other” instead of “talk behind each other!” So funny!

Joseph blushed but kept speaking.

“Every day that this violence is part of our society and nation, it is hurting us. Who is hurting us? We are hurting us. We are hurting our own mothers and sisters, our own daughters and grandmothers. We are hurting our own sons and our own fathers. We are even burning the skin of innocent children.”

No one was laughing now. Joseph was usually a very quiet boy, but now his voice was shaking with anger and emotion.

“God put us on this earth. God blessed us with good land, good weather, good food. Beautiful people. But yet just because of these unproven beliefs, we are hurting one another. Most of us have heard the stories, but when I saw the pictures and heard the real life testimony, I was really shocked. How can we do this? How can we let this happen to our own mothers and sisters? Sorcery Accusation Related Violence might be a part of Papua New Guinea’s history, but it is not a part of our future.”

“Instead of being against each other, we should be finding ways to help one another, understand one another, even help educate one another. In my own personal experience, I went home and told my small bros about why SARV is not good. We all have to do what we can to make a difference. On behalf of my group, we say ‘SARV can be against us, but we are against SARV! We will win!’ God bless you, God bless PNG.”

Everyone clapped as Joseph returned to sit with his group.

“Well done, Joseph,” said Mrs Minwal. “Very passionate and very articulate. Okay, students, who will go next?”

Sarah stood up and straightened our her dress. Regina also stood up. Together they came to the front.

Regina held up a chart while Sarah spoke.

“Many people think that SARV only affects a few people. But actually when you count all the cases and understand that there are family members who are traumatised as well, there are a lot of people. SARV is against the law. What do we mean? The laws of Papua New Guinea make all forms of violence associated with SARV illegal. It is illegal to accuse someone of sorcery or sanguma. It is illegal to attack them, destroy their property, tie them up, torture them, detain them without their consent.”

People were looking confused. Sarah was very smart and tended to use big words.

She paused, adjusting her approach. She took a deep breath.

“Guys, we all have human rights, rights which are protected by our own Constitution here in Papua New Guinea. If you tie someone up, that’s against the law. If you murder them, that’s against the law too. It’s pretty simple, really. Some people believe in sorcery and some don’t. It doesn’t matter what you believe. Because as citizens of Papua New Guinea, we are not allowed to attack or hurt one another. The law is here to protect all of us. End. of. Story.”

Regina was left holding up the last chart, which said “End of Story!” Sarah looked at her and they both smiled. They took a bow and returned to their seats as everyone clapped.

“Well done Sarah and Regina and your group,” said Mrs Minwal.

Thomas was next.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, our statement is this: Sorcery Accusation Related Violence is against God’s Law. And it is also against God’s Will. What does this mean for Christians?”

“Those who hurt, torture, or murder another person for any reason break God’s Commandment that says: “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13). Those who lie or give false testimony about others are breaking another of God’s Commandments in the same list! God expects us to help those in need and not ignore them when they are hurt, or in danger (Luke 10:25-37). If we don’t help people who are in need, this too is a sin (Matthew 25:41-45). On top of this, God told us to love and care for one another (John 13:34), our spouses (Ephesians 5:21-33), our parents (Exodus 20:12), our neighbors (Luke 10:25-37), strangers and outsiders (Psalm 146:9), those in need (James 1:27) and even our enemies (Matthew 5:43-45).”

Everyone was shocked. Was Thomas secretly a pastor?

“This is not complicated,” Thomas continued, “God’s law is about what we should not do. God’s will is about what God wants us to do. God does not want us to believe lies or hurt each other in any way. God does want us to trust in Him and to help each other. Is that simple enough? If SARV is happening in our society, Christians have to do something. Hello? Can I get an AMEN??”

Everyone laughed and then clapped. Thomas might never be a pastor, but he was clearly correct.

On and on the speeches went. Some of the groups did dramas. One group had illustrations, another did creative dance set to music.

Mrs Minwal was so proud of her students. With up-and-coming leaders like this, she knew that PNG would be okay.