What every man must do to stop violence against women

By Fr. Phil Smith

In the small hours of Sunday morning, I was awoken by the screams of a woman in distress, calling for help and yelling for whoever was assaulting her to stop. "No, No, Stop, Stop, Rape, Rape somepela help mi." (somebody help me) was her cry. Guard Dog Security told me that as she was "outside the gate..." it was none of their business.

I called the police at town station and Yomba no one bothered to answer the phones I took a torch and approached the car where two men where pushing he woman into the back seat very much against her will. As I approached they pushed her head into the cushion of the seat to silence her and I could hear muffled screams as they drove away.

I drove to Yomba station and told the police to come quickly and find the vehicle BBA998. As I was driving home, now around 1.30am, I saw the car turn down the road near the Catholic Mission so I drove back to the police station and insisted they come with me. We found the car back at the scene of the crime, minus the woman, whom they had dumped off.

Map of Papua New Guinea highlighting Madang Province

One of the occupants of the car, known to me and he knew me, told me that he came back to explain to me that what I had heard was simply a misunderstanding and by him explaining to me all would be well. I asked him what words he misunderstood, NO, STOP or RAPE. I insisted that the police arrest the two men and charge them with rape, aggravated assault, driving under the influence and any other law they had broken.

The police arrested and have charged them and they appear in court on Tuesday after having spent a few days in the calaboose to reflect upon their actions.. Both men were not from settlements but "middle class" employees of businesses in Madang. BNBM will be looking for a new head salesman tomorrow! Of course the woman was stupid to be around at that hour of the night, but there is no law against stupidity.

The men broke the law and will, hopefully suffer the full consequences of their worse than animal like behaviour. Both men had been drinking at the Redscar nightclub...a venue that should be permanently closed down. My point for retelling the story is this: Madang's malaise is not just about the settlements, the rot goes much deeper and right into the fabric of the society. If there ever were, "The good old days" in Madang they are now gone forever.

Source: Middle Class rape in Madang

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Dear Fr. Phil,

I read with great interest of your tireless efforts in trying to help the rape victim couple days ago. If every man in Papua New Guinea had the sense to do what you did, Papua New Guinea would be a better place for all of our womenfolk to live and enjoy life.

I applaud your efforts in trying to save the victim. Thank God for such people like you.

God's immense blessings and a very Merry Christmas.