GLASS MAN ACT PASSED BY PARLIAMENT

 

Mendi MP and Works Minister Michael Nali and fellow MPs leave Parliament after passing the Glassman Bill.

CON ARTIST FORTUNE TELLERS PUT ON NOTICE

TOKSAVE: All glassman and glassmeri are on notice.

A bill has been passed in the national Parliament that makes you and your activities illegal.

If you are caught involved in glass activities which results in harm to innocent citizens, you will be arrested and charged and if convicted, you will be jailed.

Parliament passed the Glassman Bill last Thursday which will now address sorcery accusation related violence (SARV) by criminalizing the act of practicing as a glasman or glasmeri.

The Private members’ bill proposed by East Sepik Governor Allan Bird - the Glassman Bill - has allowed for amendment to the Criminal Code.

It will now address SARV by criminalizing the act of practicing as a glasman or glasmeri, the use of glasman or glasmeri and other related acts.

“This bill has allowed the amendment of the Criminal Code Act and adds a Division 4 to Part VII preparation to Commit Offences: Conspiracy: Accessories After the Fact. Said Division 4 “Acting Like or purporting to be a Glasman or Glasmeri” will include paragraphs 520A through 520G,” Mr Bird told Parliament.

“This action of amending the Criminal Code through legislative reform is the first of those bold actions, and is directly aimed at individuals who not only propagate sorcery accusation related violence, but furthermore, inappropriately benefit from the torture and murder of innocent and defenseless men, women and children.

“They are con artists who destroy lives, communities, and the reputation of our nation. PNG must not allow these serial killers to continue to operate as they please. 

“This Bill comes about as a result of the public hearings by the Special Parliamentary Committee on Gender Based Violence and Sorcery Accusation Related Violence established in 2020 by this Parliament.

Mr Bird said that over the past decade, the use of 'glasman or glasmeri' in order to falsely identify individuals accused of sorcery had dramatically been on the rise.

“A large majority of SARV cases involve the use of a 'glasman or glasmeri' to falsely accuse someone of sorcery. The accused are usually widows, women and girls,’ he said.

“The women and girls are usually then subjected to extreme acts of torture, rape and many are eventually killed once a confession is extracted under extreme pain and torture.

“It has been found that in most cases 'glasman' receive payment for these “services” and are motivated by greed.

“Further, in the experience of non-governmental organizations, such as the Papua New Guinea Tribal Foundation, who work extensively in this area, none of over 200 individuals they have assisted who were accused of sorcery actually were sorcerers or practiced sorcery.

“Addressing SARV and ending this barbaric practice will take a number of important and bold actions.”

with Gorethy Kenneth of Post-Courier