Cops to be deployed two weeks before GE22 polling
News that matter in Papua New Guinea
Cops to be deployed two
weeks before GE22 polling
PORT MORESBY: Police personnel will be deployed to their
operation areas two weeks before polling starts for General Election 2022
(GE22), Police Commissioner David Manning says.
“There were significant
cuts to the police budget which meant there was a reduction on the duration of
our operations,” he added.
PNG Cyber Monitor reproduces below a few news updates on GE22:
May 9, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
POLICE personnel will
be deployed into their operation areas two weeks before polling for the general
election starts, Police Commissioner David Manning says.
Manning said there were significant cuts to the police budget which meant there
was a reduction on the duration of their operations. “Because of the cuts we
can only be involved in the polling,” he said.
“So you will find that around two weeks before polling starts is when we start
deploying into the areas of operations.
“We will be very much out in numbers and in force during the polling period,
and of course, the counting.” He said he was satisfied with the election
operation plans and the level of preparation so far.
Manning said the assistant commissioners were tasked to maintain the security
operations of the elections in their respective regions.
“When we learnt about these cuts we looked at other means to continue with the
election activities that we will be normally associated with, especially in the
pre-elections period which is straight after the issue of writs.”
Manning said they reached out to the non-governmental organisations such as
Transparency International PNG and others to deliver the pre-election
activities such as awareness.
Church urges people to vote for candidates
with values
THE Catholic Bishops
Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands (CBCPNGSI) has urged voters
to support political parties and candidates with good moral conducts, good
family life and good political platforms.
The bishops outlined that politics was part of every human person’s life and it
should be guided by principles of honesty, transparency and good moral conduct.
CBCPNGSI president and Archbishop of Madang Anton Bal raised this during their
conference held on Thursday in Mt Hagen.
Bal said that they respected the rights and freedom of all citizens to support
and elect candidates at their own choice using their own prudent judgment and
conscience.
Bal said citizens had a democratic right to choose trustworthy and Godfearing
leaders.
He said that lay church workers also had the right to stand for the election as
candidates, support and vote for candidates as well but they must maintain the
independence on integrity of the church.
“We ask you to vote wisely because your vote is your power and it determines
you and your children’s future.
“We know of social disorder and destructions during and after elections, thus
we shouldn’t forget that we have to keep our human dignity in high esteem and
practice proper moral conducts,” Bal said.
He also urged all priests, deacons, catechists, pastoral workers, communion ministers
and group leaders not to accept gifts and materials from candidates and not to
use church facilities for campaigns.
“Parishes are not allowed to host political campaigns in church facilities like
schools.”
Deputy PM Basil’s ULP to contest nine seats in
Morobe
Deputy Prime Minister
and Bulolo MP Sam Basil (middle) with Gabensis dancers from Wampar, Huon Gulf,
during the announcement of ULP candidates for Morobe. – Nationalpic by JACINTA
COHLEE
UNITED Labour Party
has put up candidates to contest nine of the 11 parliamentary seats in Morobe
with no candidates for Lae and Finschhafen.
ULP announced and endorsed its nine candidates at Eriku Oval in Lae on Saturday
in front of the party’s general secretary John Avira, founding member and
Raicoast MP Peter Sapia, PNG Country Party leader Wera Mori and supporters from
all districts of the province.
Party leader and Deputy Prime Minister Sam Basil announced the candidates and
said they won’t contest two seats of Lae and Finschhafen held by MPs John Rosso
and Rainbo Paita.
“We have respect for the MPs who have done well in the province. We won’t put
up candidates against them. And we will work with them in delivering services
to the people,” said Basil.
The candidates were Basil – Bulolo; Kemasang Tomala – Morobe regional; Koni
Iguan – Markham; Tukape Masani – Huon Gulf; Skyson Danny – Menyamya; Missian
Gware – Nawaeb; Don Sawong – Kabwum; Stephen Farhall – Tewae-Siassi and Willie
Sine for new Wau-Waria electorate.
“We have followed party’s set criteria in selecting these candidates,” Basil
said.
“The candidates have houses in their wards, LLGs, districts and province. Most
MPs that I’ve led in previous parties didn’t have a house in the village, so
once they won elections, they lived in towns and cities and not feeling
comfortable to be with people in the village settings. They all have houses in
villages, and are engaged in some form of service delivery in public, private
or doing businesses in their communities.
“They also have good standing, are not previously convicted criminally and a
member of a church,” said Basil.
General secretary Avira said they have followed processes in selecting the
candidates.
PNG Defence Force deploys teams to Highlands
for election ops
By REBECCA KUKU
THE Papua New Guinea
Defence Force (PNGDF) has deployed teams to Western Highlands, Enga and Hela
for pre-election operation, a senior officer says.
Commander Major General Mark Goina said PNGDF personnel had begun deploying in
April due to law and order issues faced in the western end of the Highlands
region.
“The rest of our teams will be deployed two weeks from polling, but we have a
team based in Mt Hagen, Pogera and Tari, and the PNGDF will maintain a presence
in these areas leading up to the election, this year,” he said.
“We will be here to support our brothers from the Royal Papua New Guinea
Constabulary in delivering a safe election and most importantly creating a safe
environment for voters to exercise their constitutional rights to vote in
leaders who will represent them in the next five years.”
Goina said that the PNGDF also had teams in Morobe, National Capital District,
West Sepik and Western where their barracks and forward operating bases were.
“The rest of the teams will be deployed two weeks or a week before polling for
other parts of the country.”
Goina also called on the people to work in partnership with the Joint Security
Task Force Team during the general election.
“Let’s all work together in delivering a safe election this year,” he said.
Police commission
armoured vehicles
May 9, 2022The NationalMain Stories
THE general election
has become riskier over the years hence capacity building is important for the
protection of police personnel and to ensure a safe and free election for the
people, officials say.
At the commissioning of the three armoured vehicles bought by police for this
year’s election security operations and other policing challenges at McGregor
Police Barracks on Friday, Minister William Onglo said the vehicles were a
shared asset to be used by PNG Defence Force, Correctional Service and police.
He said the first deployment of the vehicles would be in the highlands for the
protection of the service men and women and the people.
“The vehicles are part of our capacity building,” he said.
“We will look at the regional capacity building of our tactical units to
protect our policemen and women.
He said the modified vehicles were all standard compatible LandCruisers (two
10-seaters and one four-door version) which was the common model used by the
police force which could be easily managed, fixed and maintained.
He said the total cost of the vehicles was about K2.6 million and now that the
process on how to bring the armoured vehicles was known, this was the start and
more might have to be brought in.
According to Police Commissioner David Manning, the vehicles were procured
through the United Arab Emirates.
He said the four-doors cost around K280,000 and the 10-seater cost around
K275,000.
He said there were questions about the costs and why the police force was
invested in this type of operational assets.
“The answer is quite simple, the very minute you wear this uniform, you
deliberately put yourself in danger every day and policing in this country is a
potentially violent and high risk career that you are embarking on.
“That’s a concern those of us who are responsible for leading the respective
forces do not take lightly.
“We have the responsibility to sit with widows and explain to them that their
father, mother, partner had died in the course of their duty through deliberate
violent act,” Manning said.
He said these vehicles were an addition to the security forces capacity to
mitigate threats during election operation.
He said the three forces working together would at least be a deterrent to the
people who wished to harm not only the service men and women but the voters as
well.
Watchdog concernedabout electoral laws
TRANSPARENCY
International Papua New Guinea (TIPNG) is sounding the alarm on the risk of an
inadvertent breach of both the election laws and the Constitutional
requirements pertaining to the conduct of this year’s general election.
TIPNG, in a statement yesterday, said key information from the PNG Electoral
Commission (PNGEC) had not been forthcoming despite several attempts made by
TIPNG.
Chairman Peter Aitsi said Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai had announced a
revised election schedule issued by Governor-General Grand Chief Sir Bob Dadae
on Friday, however, PNGEC officials had not produced a gazettal notice, giving
effect to the announcement.
“TIPNG understands that the delay in the commencement of an election is the
administrative prerogative of the PNGEC,” they said.
“Our concern is that the Constitution is quite clear on the deadline for the
return of writs, which is the fifth anniversary of the last return of writs.
“In the 2017 general election, writs were returned on July 29.
“It is important to take note that the general election must be viewed as a
holistic process.
“It commences with the issue of writs, and is completed when the writs are
compiled and returned.”
Aitsi explained that the Organic Law on National and Local Level Government
Elections prescribed timeframes for the scheduling of elections within a
three-month period before the anniversary of the return of writs.
“The issue is that that both the Organic law on National and Local Level
Government Elections and the Constitution, may not have contemplated an
extensive delay in return of writs, thereby breaching the fifth anniversary
deadline, which is where we envisage a constitutional crisis emerging.”
Coronavirus remains a threat during election
Coronavirus (Covid-19) is still the health
threat apart from security risks in the general election, Police Commissioner
David Manning says.
Manning, who is also the National Pandemic Response Controller, said the
National Control Centre had worked very closely with the Electoral Commission
and delivered the Moresby Northwest by-election last year and the same would be
done this election.
“We talk about security threats but apart from our people being exposed to the
direct violent acts, there’s also the health threat,” he said.
“NCC is working with Electoral Commission to ensure that we mitigate the risk
of Covid-19 from spreading during the election time. Police Minister William
Onglo also said people should be mindful of Covid-19 and respect each other.
He said Covid-19 was the biggest threat and it was important that policemen and
women were not put in situations compromising their health.
Public servants warned
May 9, 2022The NationalMain Stories
PUBLIC servants in
Northern have been urged not affiliate themselves with candidates contesting
the general election.
Provincial administrator Trevor Magei issued the statement to public servants
in Northern during the provincial election steering committee meeting last
Monday.
“We want to manage our public servants so they do what is right during the
election,” he said.
“We want them follow the correct election processes during the election period.
“We don’t want public servants to affiliate with candidates or with current
Members of Parliament so that we don’t go to the court of disputed returns.”
Magei said public servant supporting candidates would be an issue in this
year’s general election and appealed to all State employees act honestly and
with integrity.
He said proper and ethical conduct would prevent accusations that public
servants were biased.
He said from past experience public servants who had supported candidates were
usually brought before the court of disputed returns.
“This is considered as unnecessary and in doing so public servants will breach
their oath of affirmation, code of ethics and other laws governing the public
service.”
Meanwhile, Magei urged public servants in the province to stay away from
political rallies, campaigns, gatherings and in assisting candidates in their
lead up of political campaign.
“We want to deliver a free, fair and safe election process,” he said.
“This will only be achieved if public servants adhere to what we’ve discussed
and plan for to implement in this national election.”
Pre-election operations underway
Kokoda highway upgrade
launched … People from Northern’s Sohe recently seen gathering for a ground
breaking ceremony for the maintenance of the Kokoda Highway. The road was
sealed up to the Embara Bridge. From the bridge onwards, the road was yet to be
sealed and it takes hours for people to travel to Popondetta town. –
Nationalpic by LULU MARK
POLICE in Northern have started their
pre-election operations in preparations for the general election.
Provincial commander Senior Chief Inspector Ewai Segi said they had realigned
their manpower with community leaders within the local level governments (LLGs)
areas to ensure law and order were maintained until the issue of writs on
Thursday.
Segi said Northern’s land mass was manageable and that security operations
would cater for the entire province.
He said security personnel had limitations in and community leaders should not
rely heavily rely security personnel to achieve the maximum outcome of the
election process.
“We are a small province and in terms of law and order issues, it will be
manageable during the election,” he said.
“For security issues, that is not my business alone.
“It everyone’s business, the Royal PNG Constabulary, Electoral Commission,
candidates and officials.
“We have to work together to provide security for the people.
“We need to ensure that as much as possible, our people embraced the critical
process by being part and parcel of the election process.”
Segi said despite past law and order issues in the province during elections,
this year’s election would be different as they aimed to provide a safer,
fairer and free election for the people of Northern.
Meanwhile, Segi said the election process was everyone’s business and that they
had to maintain law and order.
Border ops to continue
May 9, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
THE Papua New Guinea
Defence Force (PNGDF) will continue to maintain their presence at land and sea
borders during the general election, says commander Major-General Mark Goina.
Goina said the defence force took pride in their role as the custodian of the
country and their duty
was to protect the air, land and sea borders of the country to ensure the
protection of citizens at all times.
He said the defence force would continue to maintain their presence at the land
borders in the Western and West Sepik areas.
“We also have three ships out
at sea and will continue normal operation, protecting our seas,” he said.
“We have already deployed three teams to the western end of the Highlands for
pre-election operation and will deploy more teams for the polling period. “At
the same time, as we support our brothers in the Royal Papua New Guinea
Constabulary and the Correctional Services in creating safe environment for
voters to vote and deliver a safe and trouble-free election, we will have teams
at our FOBs (forward operating bases) and border posts who will continue normal
operations.”
Goina said the defence force would continue to maintain presence at the
country’s major project areas.
Liquor ban for East Sepik
POLICE in East Sepik
will clean and reorganise the Wewak station starting today in preparation for
the general election, a senior officer says.
Provincial police commander Supt Albert Beli said they would start using
holding cells at the station in town in order to free space at the cell at
Caltex.
Beli currently has a strength of 399 policemen and women and is expecting
additional manpower from outside the province.
He reiterated yesterday the provincial liquor licensing board’s decision on the
restriction on sale of liquor during the election period.
Beli, who is the board’s deputy chairman, said by Thursday only hotels would be
allowed to sell liquor.
“We (provincial liquor licensing board) are mindful of small business owners
who may be affected by the ban, but it is only for the short term,” he said.
“Anybody (outlet) who defies the restrictions or ban will be severely dealt
with.”
CS announces deployment of 500 officers for
election duty
By MELYNE BAROI
THE Correctional
Services will be deploying 500 officers from the provinces to the joint
security task force for the general election.
According to CS in a statement, the Highlands remains an area of concern in
terms of safety and security.
“The Highlands is an unpredictable area when it comes to national events so we
will be sending most of the officers there,” the statement said. Polling
sessions will be conducted within each provincial prison facility as well to
cater for inmates.
“We have not confirmed the number of eligible voters for this election but as
any eligible citizen of Papua New Guinea the inmates will cast their votes as
well.”
A review of the funding for the deployment is underway as preparations commence
for selected officers to travel to Port Moresby. About K1 million would be
allocated for the deployment operations.
The CS clarified that correctional institutions around the country would
operate as normal with the help of respective provincial police during the
period.
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