Outrage over attack on PNG athlete
Port Moresby: There’s outrage in Papua New Guinea over a brutal attack on representative athlete Debbie Kaore by her partner in front of her children.
The 30-year-old has represented her country in rugby and won a gold medal in boxing at the 2015 Pacific Games.
A graphic video posted on Ms Kaore’s Facebook page showed her being headbutted by her partner Murray Oa, a lieutenant in the PNG Defence Force.
In disturbing footage, the mother of two then falls to the ground after being struck in the face with a hot iron, while her children watch on. PNG rugby league international Amelia Kuk said she was left traumatised after watching the footage of the assault.
The PNG Olympic Committee and Oceania Rugby were among the organisations to condemn the attack. Condemnation too from ‘Grass Skirts Project’, where Kaore works as an ambassador to spread awareness about gender-based violence. The co-founder and CEO is PNG rugby league international Tahina Booth.
“People who commit violence against women should be thrown in jail,” she said.
He said Debbie allowed him to repost the photos of her injuries and the video of the attack to show the public what was happening to many women behind closed doors.