Gay New Guinea Man Murdered By Family: “People Couldn’t Accept The Fact That Harry Was Gay”

Harry Peter's killer remains at large.
From: NewNowNext

 An openly gay Papua New Guinean man has allegedly been murdered by an extended family member because of his sexuality.

According to his close friend Tharani Rengessamy, Harry Peter of Alotau was killed by a relative in his family home earlier this month.

“Harry was a kind, compassionate man who had a positive influence on society,” she told Radio Australia’s Pacific Beat. “He was killed because he was gay.”

“An extended family member killed him late one night when he returned to his home,” she continued. “He was confronted…and accused of not being proper.”

She concluded: “The family member brought another member of his extended family into the dispute and in the end, Harry was bashed over the head … and he bled to death.”

 In the aftermath of the horrific attack, Alotau’s LGBT community has been in a state of intense mourning over the loss of one of its brightest “social butterflies.”

“Even though Harry had such a positive impact on people’s lives…[some] couldn’t accept the fact that Harry was gay,” his friend remarked.

Rengessamy further explained that the population is now divided on the issue, with some condemning his death and others celebrating it.

“You’ve got the community that’s accepted the gay community, and you’ve got the community that is very happy [with] Harry’s death because they believe that [gay people]…should not exist.”

 Though Papua New Guinea’s constitution includes many of the rights outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, LGBT individuals are still unprotected by the government, with homosexuality punishable by three to 14 years in prison.

This double standard has seemingly justified the halfhearted investigation local police have launched into Peter’s death, which Rengessamy says has all but stalled.

“It has been on the national news. Even then, nothing has happened with the police investigation,” she remarked.

Human rights activists have called on PNG’s government to intervene in the matter, imploring officials to protect the country’s LGBT community.

“This is a pure hate crime, a crime that is committed against a person because of his sexual orientation,” said Sulique Waqa of the Fiji transgender movement Haus of Khameleon.

“Now the PNG police need to be aware of this, so does the judiciary, the reporters and the prosecutors, and it has to be called out for what it is.”

If authorities continue to drag their feet on the issue, Rengessamy worries that it will motivate others to carry out violent hate crimes against the city’s gay citizens.

“The Alotau [LGBT community] is…in fear because the… person [behind] Harry’s death, is…out and about,” she said.

“They’re afraid that if he has killed once, what’s stopping him from killing again, and these people would be a prime target.”

“If the police don’t take this person into custody and [have a trial] according to state law,” she concluded, “it means that anybody who’s against [LGBT people] can kill.”

Since speaking out publicly in support of Peter, Rengessamy says she’s received a number of threats from members of the community who are demanding her silence.

“Two gentlemen came to my house, people who are well known in [Alotau]…and told me that if I don’t back off then the next person on the chopping block would be me,” she admitted.

“[But] I’m a true friend to Harry and I’m going to fight for Harry’s justice.”