WUNRN
Papua New Guinea Post-Courier
07th January, 2009
Papua New Guinea - Hagen Girl Tied, Burnt to Death
Hagen
Girl Tied, Burnt to Death
By DAVID MURI
She could have been engaged in an extra marital affair, accused of performing
sorcery or blamed for passing the HIV/AIDS virus to one of the suspects.
These were suspicions spreading like
bushfire at Kerebug Dump in Mt Hagen where a woman was burnt alive, because
many say these crimes warrant the death penalty in the Highlands.
The young woman, believed to be between 16
and 20 years of age, was burnt alive after being blind-folded, both her limbs
and parts of the abdomen tied to a piece of log and her mouth strapped and
gagged with rags.
According to eyewitnesses, a truck loaded
with five used truck tyres and firewood drove into the dump site at around 2am
yesterday.
Jessie James, 21, of Wabag who lives in the
nearby settlement, said the suspects then lined up the tyres, poured petrol
over them and the firewood with the woman lying over it and set her ablaze.
“The girl was stripped naked and could not
shout for assistance or resist as she was tightly strapped and her mouth
gagged,” James said.
Highlands divisional commander Simon Kauba
said he was lost for words and did not know how to describe the killing.
“I don’t know the right words to describe it
but its barbaric ... can you find the best word to describe such acts which are
rampant here?” Mr Kauba said.
He has appealed to the public who may have any knowledge of the planning and execution of the burning to come forward and report to police immediately.
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