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Tribe from New Guinea sues New Yorker
Some of you might have caught Jared Diamond's recent report in the New Yorker about the Handa clan of Papua New Guinea highlands and their penchant for revenge killing. The story profiled tribesman Daniel Wemp and his six-year quest to avenge the death of his uncle.Well, the Handa tribe is pissed: They say the story unfairly portrays them as bloodthirsty animals bent on rape and murder.
Wemp is now availing himself of the great American pastime: Taking the New Yorker to court.
He is suing the magazine for $10 million, having filed a lawsuit in New York Supreme Court earlier this week.
How does a New Guinea tribesman come to sue in New York court? I'm a little unclear of that too (though clearly the Handa clan has a bit more contact with the outside world compared to, say, some tribes in Irian Jaya). It appears he has help in the form of the New York City-based Art Science Research Lab, which recently sent a team to New Guinea to closely fact check every one of Diamond's assertions in the story. They claim Diamond was duped by many of the people he interviewed.
The group is preparing a 40,000 word report -- 40,000 words! -- refuting the New Yorker story (which strikes me as overkill given how little Americans likely care about this story).
Right now, the New Yorker is standing behind Diamond.
I'd personally like to know how the Handa tribe figures it was wronged to the tune of $10 million. I mean, the tribespeople live in New Guinea's highlands, for heaven's sake.
Filed under: Oceania, Papua New Guinea
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
toddkmeadows Apr 22nd 2009 4:16PM
"I'd personally like to know how the Handa tribe figures it was wronged to the tune of $10 million. I mean, the tribespeople live in New Guinea's highlands, for heaven's sake"
Devaluation of their real estate holdings perhaps?
Rhonda R Shearer Apr 22nd 2009 8:18PM
The tribes have oil and gas in their area. Divine Word University has 60 students from the Southern Highland of Papua New Guinea (PNG) this year alone, and their data base supplies The New Yorker to their students. Academics follow Diamond's work. Two Handa members I have been in contact are well educated--one a lawyer for 7 years and PhD candidate, his brother is an economist, who works for the Transport dept in policy planning.
Reputations are important to business there. They are unfairly said to have been committing rapes as Nipa by Diamond when they are not Nipa and live very far away.
To set the record straight--we used local researchers. See http://www.stinkyjournalism.org/latest-journalism-news-updates-149.php#comment .
I can't imagine the anger and unfairness one must feel to be said to be a criminal in the New yorker by a famed scientist and you find out only after the fact as no one bothered to call you. Message is loud and clear--they were not worth calling. We would never to this to our own people but it is okay to do this to them?
Henep Isum, the man Diamond said was also a murderer, was in fact a village peace officer. He is not in a wheelchair from a spinal injury resulting from Daniel Wemp's hired assailants. The New Yorker and Diamond never bother to check...we did and he is walking around fine.
Since the New Yorker say they "stand behind the story" how else do these people get the lies removed other than a legal action? There are seeking justice for themselves and I am all to happy to help in that goal. Truth is a beautiful thing.
Malaycobra Apr 22nd 2009 5:50PM
Is it just me or does Daniel Wemp seem like a strangely un-New Guinean tribal name?
I would expect to see something like Ugaboo Clickclick.
I'm trying not to appear racist, but probably failing dismally.
Nick Hawkins Apr 22nd 2009 6:20PM
A journalist exaggerating something? Surely you jest!
FlirtyBits Apr 22nd 2009 6:29PM
What the hell does a tribe in the highlands of New Guinea care about an article in the New Yorker? What are they going to do with $10 million dollars, buy and island...oh wait...they already have one. Perhaps it will fund the six year war Mr. Wemp has against his uncles wrong doer. Seriously...six years...not much for a revenge seeker but he is sure quick to suite up and sue for 10...million...dollars!!!
David Roth Apr 23rd 2009 5:43AM
Rhonda Shearer,
You did an amazing job with this! This whole thing better not get swept under the carpet. Even besides the libel, that Jared Diamond is now proven to be a blatant liar in his non-fiction writing is enough! Look what happened to that old Jewish couple who were lying. That is what should happen to Jared Diamond.