By Vasinatta Yama – EM TV News, Port Moresby
The Catholic Bishop Conference General Secretary of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, Fr Victor Roche, has condemned the pack rape that occurred during the New Year period in Port Moresby.
The Church has demanded:
1. A ban on alcohol in settlements, where most alcohol related crimes are happening, especially during festive seasons, for peace in the communities instead of revenge attacks
2. For the law to take its course, and punish the criminals
3. The government to have a real and working leadership structure in every community, to take responsibility of such crimes
4. For authorities to encourage people to go back to their provinces, instead of struggling in the city
Sr Mary McCarthy is calling on health practitioners and counselors to help the four female victims and their families who were traumatised by this incident through counseling.
The incident happened minutes after midnight on January 1.
Two women and two teenage girls were pack raped by more than 40 men, identified by police to be from Enga Province, who were under the influence of alcohol at that time.
The course of the incident is still unknown. Currently, five suspects are behind bars at the Boroko Police station.
This Saturday, the Erave Community in Port Moresby will present a petition to the government.
One of the petitions will be on the use of alcohol, drugs and homebrew in the settlement areas that are causing such problems, especially to women and girls.
Another petition will be on ethnic groupings in settlements.
