PG407_Film Studies for Development

Assignment task 1: Documentary review

Documentary title: The unseen refugees

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_RGr7Aklys
The documentary's title is 'The unseen refugees’. It was published on November 19, 2019.
Having a title like this summarizes the film's actions and events. Gomumu village in Raicoast
district in Madang province is one of many areas in Papua New Guinea where people
accused of sorcery are often found and hidden from the public. The film's director is Fr.
Philip Gibbs, who produced it with support from the PNGAus Partnership and Pacific Women
Shaping Pacific Development. Deborah Pranis did the camera work and editing. The major
actors in the film are the victims of sorcery accusations who participated in the video
interview. Additionally, Yorike Guru, who lived in his village in Raicoast District, shelters the
victims.
As the title suggests, the film is about witchcraft allegations and the violence associated with
them. The short documentary shows how witchcraft accusations put the accused and their
families at serious risk. These accusations are often accompanied by violence. But less
openly, they lead to constant fear, persecution, and displacement. Survivors report having to
be careful with their movements, confined to their homes, and constantly looking over their
shoulders. Even if you move to a completely different place, you fear your history will
eventually catch up with you. Violence is partly due to witchcraft allegations.
The accused were ignored by the law and the public. Many of them have moved into already
overcrowded homes with relatives or eat poorly and receive little or no medical attention.
Additionally, they have assimilated into the local community. In their own country, they
became refugees. However, people can tell whether you are rich or poor by looking at your
appearance or other signs. Similar to this case, by viewing the film, those survivors of
sorcery accusations seemed innocent. However, they were blamed for sickness or death in
their community. It is a common issue in many areas of Papua New Guinea.
There are four issues to be addressed as reported by the mother of seven children in the
film. They lack land, houses, clothes, and school fees for their children. One of the most
significant questions is whether those accused of witchcraft can clear their names and regain
their place in the community.
Witchcraft accusations have turned terrible into horrific. People's lives are threatened and,
in many cases, they are denied their basic rights to education, health, food, and water.
People are often burned alive due to witchcraft allegations. Because of that, it was very
emotional to watch when the victims spoke about this in the film. It is a classic example of a
woman (second interviewee) who spoke out regarding the loss of her husband to this kind of
practice.

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It was reported that several women and children from Gomumu village were not physically
attacked but accused of sorcery. They were haunted by the fear that the next time someone
in their community died, they would be a target. After the accusation, community members
destroyed their homes and chased them like animals. They were isolated, fearful, and
outraged at the unfair situation.
However, a few of those women who spoke up during the interview were formally accused
of sorcery. They also had no idea they were under suspicion. Their fear of being violent next
time and their everyday struggle for survival is confirmed by a Lutheran Church pastor
named Awar Koia. He also fled with the victims to Gomumu village.
It is worth noting, however, that subtitles were used for English translation, and the
recordings were of high quality. It is through this technique that viewers will be able to
understand much better the message being communicated by the victims of sorcery
accusations in the film. An explanation of why sorcery accusations are not acceptable
because they lead to family destruction and violence.
For local communities to change, it is imperative to discuss solutions to witchcraft
allegations and related violence. Victims suffer discrimination and stigma, exclusion from
family and community, and extreme violence such as beatings, burning, torture, and murder.
Many of these incidents are public, occur in large groups, and are supported by the
community (UNDP, 2022).
In this regard, it is very worthwhile to address the question of what survivors can do to clear
their stigma positively. This review suggests several routes survivors can take to clear their
stigma. One mechanism is to initiate defamation cases in local courts according to Luth &
Forsyth (2021). In some courts, magistrates take such cases aggressively and positively.
Accusers are asked to prove their accusations. If you cannot produce evidence to support
your claim, order compensation. The judge may say "I don't want to hear that in the future."
The applicant's safety may be further secured with a temporary or permanent protective
order to prevent further threats. Although this approach is not a national standard, it should
be better developed and widely adopted.
Forsyth (2021) states that law and order enforcement is another positive intervention. For
example, funding a "Family and Sexual Violence Unit" to oversee witchcraft allegations and
related violence. These routes are often forged by caring government officials looking for
creative ways to help women and men overcome witchcraft allegations. Public awareness
and other practices should be discussed to promote widespread dissemination.
Unfortunately, the paths listed here are only used in a small number of cases. In most cases,
accusations are delayed, sticking to someone "like a birthmark" and likely a hidden trigger
for significant internal migration in PNG. Despite sharing their stigma, these people are part
of a refugee class not recognized by the public and the government.
In conclusion, one could say that the film has an excellent soundtrack, is well-documented,
and has been translated correctly into English. One part of the documentary is particularly
interesting to me, especially when Yorike Guru stays in his village with the victims of sorcery

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accusations. But watching those displaced people describe their everyday struggles due to
sorcery accusations was very emotional for me. Other viewers should also watch the short
documentary to hope for these people in the future.
As a whole, the formation of a support network consists of connecting the mechanisms with
local leaders advocating against sorcery accusations. This will facilitate the conversations
required for change to occur in local communities, the province, and the country at large.

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References
Forsyth, M. (2021, November 5). Children as victims of sorcery accusations related violence
in Papua New Guinea. Devpolicy blog. https://devpolicy.org/children-as-victims-of-
sorcery-accusation-related-violence-in-png-20211105/
Luth, A., & Forsyth, M. (2021, Octomber 20). Justice for sorcery accusation related violence in
PNG. Devpolicy blog. https://devpolicy.org/justice-for-sorcery-accusation-related-
violence-in-png-20211019/
United Nations Development Programme. (2022). UNDP continues its effort to support
victims of sorcery accusation related violence. https://www.undp.org/papua-new-
guinea/stories/undp-continues-its-efforts-support-victims-sorcery-accusation-
related-violence

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