In Papua New Guinea, most of them live in the cabin of a tropical island, a group of thugs armed with guns and machetes and axes rushed into the night in a wooden house. They seized Helen Rumbali and three female relatives, the burning building, and the women were tortured. The alleged crime: witchcraft.
After being repeatedly cut with a knife, Rumbali sister and two teenage nieces are released after negotiating with the police. Rumbali, a 40 - year - old former teacher, was beheaded.
Her attackers claim that they have clear evidence, Rumbali use magic to kill who recently another villager died because of illness: the victim's grave hole traces of black magic, obviously lead to a group of fire flies to Rumbali witch hunter.
In Papua New Guinea and the political persecution of violence are a growing problem - more than 800 languages and 7 million people, mostly peasants' livelihood diversification tribal society. , experts say, the burning ruthless practice had never happened in the country spread to parts.
Is there a clear explanation of killed in the south Pacific country part of the apparent rise, government officials and even seems to be saying this is why the losses. Some debate in the recent violence fuelled by, not by the state the common belief of dark magic, but by the mining boom economic jealousy was born, expanded the country's economic gap and stops the rich to the poor.
"Jealousy caused a lot of hatred," said Helen, north dry cloth, the commission on human rights, which is based in the region were killed Rumbali chairwoman Hakena. "Who envy those people are doing in your life good man, he have to resort to our people believe, witchcraft, kill them, to stop their own development."
She said is Rumbali witchcraft charges is just an excuse.
"This must be jealous, because her family is really quite good," said Hakena.
Villagers admire, she says, because Rumbali husband and son are government position, they have a "permanent" made of wood, and the family has a college education and high social status.
The United Nations has recorded hundreds of Papua New Guinea witchcraft violence, in remote areas in recent years, many cases are thought to have no report. It found that often attack without scruple.
Until last month, the country's 42-year-old WuFa allow a religion black magic is used as a suspected of killing someone through magic damage to part of the legal defense. The government abolished the legal response to the recent violence.
"Without a doubt, have real true faith, and in some cases, this is to motivate people believe that if they do not kill this person, that person is how to return a responsibility, continue to them brought death and suffering and disease village", the Australian national university research question lawyer milan dafoe Seth.
Recently, but she said, in the case of Papua New Guinea, there is not a true belief is out of hiding, but under the excuse, the rich poor neighbors can attack, a lot of times, get rid of it.
She and other experts in Melanesian region of witchcraft believe violence in Papua New Guinea's new found in its traditional egalitarian culture prosperous and growing inequality is an important reason. Surrounding and the Solomon islands, vanuatu is a widespread belief in black magic, also had not seen the same level of extreme violence has been accused of witches.
Different, they say, is the fastest growing economy in the Papua New Guinea.
Rich in mineral resources, and natural gas for the integration of the world has changed the country's long-term economic stagnation in the past decade, the fastest growing up nearly 7% on average, per year from 2007 to 2010. Growth slowed from 8.9% to 8% peak in 2011, before last year.
Last year, the Asian development bank report, Papua New Guinea has a highest level of inequality, if not the highest in the asia-pacific region.
These social and economic problems has inevitably play into a cultural landscape, which includes a belief, the witch and magic, xu, a researcher at amnesty international regional Kate said.
"There is always a reason to blame, whether in envy, want to get into other people's land, according to the person's personal, or previous land disputes, xu said."
Papua New Guinea, deputy prosecutor Ravunama Auka don't buy, jealousy has a significant number of witchcraft in the murder, he was dealing with. Although he has no statistics, he says, most of the victims were killed, because of the true faith, they have been killed by witchcraft.
Auka there is no doubt that witchcraft murders increased, but fails to explain why.
"There are a variety of reasons, not only because some people are rich, some are not," said Auka.
Before another possible explanation is that just saw QinBu highlands province especially the spread of malignant witchcraft beliefs, anthropologist Philip gibbs, voodoo experts, over the past 41 years lived in Papua New Guinea wilderness Roman Catholic priest said.



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