PM warns candidates, supporters not to resort to violence
News that matter in Papua New Guinea
PM warns candidates,
supporters not to resort to violence
PORT MORESBY: Prime Minister James Marape has warned
candidates and their supporters will be arrested by police when they are found
to be involved in General Election 2022 (GE22)-related violence.
Marape was responding to
escalating GE22-related violence and deaths that had claimed 29 lives to date.
He also reminded
candidates to use the campaign period wisely.
“You have fewer than 20
days to polling on July 4. Ouline your policies, plans and let the people
decide through the ballot papers,” he added.
PNG Cyber Monitor reproduces below a few GE22 news updates as published by The National:
PM: Cut out violence
June 16, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
PRIME Minister James
Marape has condemned the spate of election-related violence around the country
recently, warning candidates and their supporters that the police will arrest
those involved.
“Police will arrest candidates and/or their supporters (involved in) fights or
attacks on other candidates,” he said.
Marape was responding to the escalating election-related violence and
accidents, with the death toll reported by the media to date standing at 29.
Two weeks are left for campaigning. Polling will begin on July 4.
Marape reminded the candidates to use the campaign period wisely.
“You have less than 20 days remaining,’ he said.
“Outline your policies, plans and let the people decide through the ballot
papers (who they elect).”
He urged candidates and political parties to ensure that their supporters
behaved themselves in public.
“Supporters must also understand that general election takes place every five
years,” he said.
“After the election, you will go back to your community. You will greet each
other. So there is no point in fighting.”
Meanwhile, Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai said the commission had nothing
to do with the election-violence.
“That is a matter for police to decide, because the campaign actually belongs
to the candidates and the people,” he said.
“If you want to waste your time fighting and arguing during the campaign
period, it’s your loss.”
Sinai said candidates should talk about their policies so that people could
make an informed decision.
“The limited preferential voting has three choices,” he said.
“So work together.”
The latest deadly clashes of rival supporters occurred in Kainantu town on
Friday. Two men were shot dead, several were critically injured and four vehicles
torched.
On Sunday, 16 people died when a truck, overloaded with campaign supporters,
plunged down a cliff in Tomba, Western Highlands.
They were on their way to Tambul-Nebilyer MP Win Bakri Daki’s campaign base
when the accident occurred.
In East Sepik, Commander Superintendent Albert Beli said seven people were
killed in a fight between Murik settlers in Basis and Mengar villagers last
week.
On June 4, two brothers quarrelled over the construction of a rally grandstand
resulting in one stabbing the other to death in Pagia, Southern Highlands.
One June 2, a man died after he fell off a vehicle overloaded with political
campaign supporters in a rally in Wau, Morobe.
And on May 26 two men were shot dead in a clash between supporters of two
political parties in Morobe’s Huon Gulf.
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