National Cultural Commission (NCC) is worried about activities that will be done during the National Day of Repentance tomorrow.
Activities will include the burning of objects used in “idol worship and witchcraft’’.
The NCC is alarmed by statements which, it says, seem to incite violence against the PNG cultures.
The statements clearly advocate for the breaking down of idolatry places of worship, the smashing of sacred stones, the cutting down of idolatry poles and burning of idols in a fire.
In a media conference today, NCC executive director Dr Jacob Simet condemned the call to violence against our cultures by the office of the Speaker of the National Parliament.
Dr. Simet said they take their stand in this matter on three main grounds.
They are the constitutional mandate of the NCC to protect the PNG culture, the violation of Section 45 of the National Constitution on freedom of conscience, thought and region, and thirdly, the continued “persecution and genocide’’ of the cultures and traditions of the people of PNG.
“If as we suspect, the violence against culture will involve a public display of destruction by burning or other means, we condemn this in the strongest terms.
“We consider this action to be criminal and call upon the appropriate authorities to arrest those who are involved in this perpetration,” Dr Simet said.
In addition, chairman of Jiwaka Pig Festival Jack Kulam called on all cultural groups not to destroy their cultural items.
“On behalf of the cultural groups nationwide, I stand up against the decision of the Speaker to destroy our cultural items as this is our life and our culture must go side by side with the word of God,” Kulam said.