Report on Sorcery Accusation Related Violence in Bougainville for the Autonomous Bougainville Government

Abstract

This report presents some of the top-level findings of a research trip conducted between 27 February and 9 March 2019 by Miranda Forsyth and Llane Munau. We conducted 52 interviews with: Chiefs, VC magistrates, Police and CAPs, Accused, Accusers, Religious leaders and others. We conducted research in Buka, Tinputz, South Naisioi, Arawa, Bana and Buin. The report is also based on the documentation of 266 cases of SARV in Bougainville between January 2016 and December 2018. These cases are far from being a complete record of all the cases in Bougainville during this period, having been collected in just five locations. Out of these 266 cases, involving a total of 366 accused (as many cases involve multiple accused), 70 involved violence and 111 victims of violence, including 12 deaths. Show more