It has been nine months since destruction followed a suspicious death that left 25 houses torched down and more than 100 people, including children, displaced.

The victims are still waiting for police intervention and provincial government support on Kairuru Island, East Sepik province.

Displaced families from Rumlal, Surai, Shovir and Sislal villages met with the PNG Tribal Foundation last Thursday to find solutions to help them return to their land and bring in police for investigations.

The visit was supported by East Sepik Provincial Police Commander, Superintendent Christopher Tamari.

The Tribal Foundation team visited the affected families who are now living in Wom Village and are in desperate need of assistance and proper investigations into the incident, which followed suspected sorcery allegations that led to widespread destruction on Kairuru Island since last April.

Shovir Village spokesperson, Mr. Emmanuel Sperir, said the island has become lawless.

“There is no form of police presence or investigation, and it is almost a year since the locals took refuge at Wom Village,” Mr. Sperir said.

“We know the suspects who are group of individuals, including community leaders and councilors, who acted upon rumours of a death allegedly caused by sorcery and destroyed innocent families’ homes. Houses were burnt, gardens destroyed, and valuable properties stolen.”

Displaced mother Lorraine Kalinau, 43, who survived with her six children, said she has lost hope and is surviving only on sago; she lost her home and gardens when she fled Rumlal Village.

“It was 7pm, I was in the kitchen cooking when a group of men ran into my house and started attacking us.”

“I grabbed the children and ran out, my younger brother, Livingston Kalinau, a 10-year-old boy, was slashed on his left arm with a bush knife and now has permanent scars.”

“God protected my family when we escaped. We only had the clothes we were wearing when our home was set on fire,” she said.

Another victim, Mr. Douglas Kalinau said this is not the first time locals have blamed sorcery for deaths. Several similar incidents occurred a few years ago, forcing victims to flee their land and some are now living with relatives in Maprik and Yangoru districts.

He said police have done nothing to properly investigate the incident or hold those responsible accountable.

PNG Tribal Foundation President GT Bustin assured the families that the Foundation will take up the case and work with police and the Provincial Government to ensure proper investigations are carried out and that families can safely return to their respective villages on Kairuru Island.

“We are working closely with your PPC, Supt Tamari, and Governor Allan Bird, who helped Tribal Foundation take the Glassman Bill into Parliament in 2022, where it was passed into law.”

“We want to make it clear that while we provide assistance to address this incident, locals must refrain from accepting bribes from suspects and their families.”

“Many times, we help pursue cases through the courts, but when matters reach higher courts, suspects resort to compensation in fear of imprisonment. This results in a waste of money, resources and time,” Mr. Bustin said.

The locals have assured PNG Tribal Foundation that they will work together and provide the necessary information to police to support investigations.

During the same visit, the Tribal Foundation team also traveled to Mushu Island, where additional SARV cases have been reported. The team conducted community awareness sessions in local villages, including:

• Screening the nationally recognized anti-violence film Senisim Pasin
  
• Distributing information sheets produced by the PNG Tribal Foundation explaining the new law and its penalties
  
• Encouraging communities to report accusations and violence to police rather than taking matters into their own hands
  

Mr. Bustin said the awareness campaign is part of the Foundation’s SARV Accountability Model, which combines community education, victim support, and law enforcement collaboration to prevent violence and ensure justice.

Local leaders on Kairuru Island have assured the PNG Tribal Foundation and police that they will cooperate with investigators and provide information needed to identify those responsible for the destruction

Kairuru Island has 22 villages, and it is a 45-minute boat ride across from Wewak town.