2 more dead in Hela's GE22 fighting
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2 more dead in Hela's GE22 fighting
PORT MORESBY: Fresh fighting among General Election 2022
(GE22) candidates’ supporters has left another two dead in Hela’s Margarima on
Sunday (July 17, 2022).
This brings the death
toll to nine since fighting broke out on July 4, 2022.
Cars and trucks were set
ablaze and houses razed in Lower Wage.
GE22-related violence and deaths nationwide have risen to 45 as compiled by the media, with many others gone unreported or unaccounted.
Papua New Guinea (PNG)
Defence Force Liaison Officer Major Joshua Dorpar said fighting ignited again
following the counting of election ballots for Margarima.
PNG Cyber Monitor reproduces below the news break and a few GE22 news updates as published by The National:
2 more dead in Hela
July 19, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
By REBECCA KUKU
FRESH fighting among
General Election 2022 (GE22) candidates’ supporters has left another two dead
in Hela’s Margarima on Sunday.
This brings the death toll to nine since fighting broke out on July 4.
Cars and trucks were set ablaze and houses razed in Lower Wage.
Papua New Guinea Defence Force liaison officer Major Joshua Dorpar said
fighting ignited again following the counting of election ballots for
Margarima.
According to military sources in Margarima, the situation is still tense.
“Since the last fight two weeks ago, when the death toll was at seven, two more
people have been killed, raising the death toll to nine. A couple of people are
in the hospital.
“Homes have been burnt down, vehicles destroyed, and we are working on
restoring peace again, by talking to the of two groups that are fighting,” the
sources said.
Police commander Robin Bore said the fight started during polling on July 4
between incumbent Komo-Margarima MP Mannaseh Makiba’s (Pangu Pati) supporters
and Independent Dr Benson Wakinda’s supporters at the Yambraka polling centre.
Bore said he did not have enough manpower to deal with the situation at the
moment.
“We do not have enough police manpower on the ground, especially armed/response
units to attend to other law and order issues in the province, including the
fighting in Margarima.
“We have one platoon of soldiers and Mobile Squad 12 but they will be
concentrating on the counting and providing security for ballot boxes.
“Moreover, 40 regular members of Hela are on the roll over team led by Tari
police station commander to provide polling security in nearby highlands
provinces.
“So, after completion of elections in Hela, we will look into those areas that
require police help,” he added.
GE22-related deaths nationwide have risen to 45 as compiled by the media, with
many others gone unreported or unaccounted (See details in The
National’s InfoGraphics on https://www.thenational.com.pg/ge22-is-a-mess-mp/).
Security forces sent
to Kabwum
July 19, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
MORE security
personnel have been sent to Kabwum, Morobe, after supporters of candidates
damaged two vehicles and vandalised other properties at station and the Kabwum
district office, police say.
Morobe police commander Superintendent Jacob Singura said as early as 8am on
Sunday disgruntled supporters of candidates in Kabwum started attacking
counting officials and properties.
“The attack came after supporters realised that after counting 16 ballot boxes
(four each from the four local level government areas), incumbent MP Patrick
Basa was leading despite the fact that some of those areas were base vote areas
for some other candidates,” he said.
Singura said when the attack happened, two vehicles were burnt by the
supporters, one belonged to the district administrator and the other a police
vehicle.
The electoral office in the district was completely destroyed, along with a
grader, the district offices were ransacked, and stores looted.
“We have sent in the mobile squad 13 and are on the ground now as a result of
that situation to help the other security personnel to monitor the situation,”
Singura said.
The situation at Kabwum station is still tense, but quiet.
Singura said people were demanding a recount or by-election for the Kabwum open
seat.
Without confirming the number of ballot boxes burnt until Sunday, he said the
boxes and the ballot papers that went up in flames included those for the
provincial seat.
Meanwhile, Morobe rural commander Chief Insp John Daviaga said the Kabwum
administration organised transportation yesterday for the evacuation of public
servants working there.
“The evacuation exercise will also include election officials and security
personnel,” he said.
Daviaga said the offences committed were criminal in nature and serious.
Bogia, Usino-Bundi to count in districts, says
official
Counting for Bogia and
Usino-Bundi will be held at their district stations, says Madang election
manager Sponsa Navi.
Navi clarified this after confusion arose when Madang administrator and
election steering committee chairman Frank Lau verbally alerted the districts
that their counting venues were transferred to Madang town.
Navi said provincial election steering committee (PESC) members had no power to
make such decisions.
“We had a PESC meeting on Saturday and I have put all the members in line with
regards to trying to control the election,” he said.
“The proper process is that a returning officer will request for venue change
based on security threat or issues with the facility.
“I have not received any security threat from these areas.
“Usino-Bundi has a brand new stadium perfect for counting and Bogia has their
facilities set as well; this will lower the cost of trying to accommodate all
districts in Madang.
“We have also beefed up security at these two districts and Bogia, along with
Madang Open and Sumkar, are expected to start counting by tomorrow,” he said.
Lau, in an interview on Friday, had alleged that Bogia returning officer Cyril
Retaw had tampered with four ballot boxes, hence the reason for a change in
venue.
Madang education extends school holidays for a week
Holy Spirit Primary
students returning home after being told of a oneweek extension to their
holidays. – Nationalpic by GLORIA BAUAI
By GLORIA BAUAI
SCHOOLS in Madang have
been given another week’s holiday as the province wraps up its election
activities with counting this week.
This was confirmed by the province’s acting Education director John Ura,
exercising his power under the Education Act’s subsection 4.2.
Ura said as per the circular by Education secretary Dr Uke Kombra, provincial
education boards and advisers were given the approval to assess
election-related situation in their respective areas and make decisions for the
safety of teachers, students and school properties.
“Madang will count this week so we have extended the holiday from July 18 to
the 22nd and term three can resume next week, July 25,” he said.
“Of course, this will definitely affect the school calendar but missed lessons
can be accommodated through remedial later on during the remainder of the
school year.
“The one-week extension should also give ample time to teachers who are
participating as electoral workers to wind down their electoral duties and
prepare for term three.”
Ura acknowledged the concern for grade 12s who will be undergoing their
national written expression examination in two weeks. “They are scheduled to
pick their examination booklets this week so I’m sure each schools have made
arrangements to adequately equip their students,” he said.
Transport hinders counting in Wau-Waria
By JACINTA COHLEEN
NEW electorate Wau-Waria in Morobe has yet to start counting because some of
its team are stranded.
The district’s returning officer (RO) Fidelis Harissol said due to
transportation issues, the polling officials along with three ballot boxes from
the Waria local level government were stuck at the Ono census division in
Waria.
Harissol said the electorate had conducted polling in its three LLGs (Wau
urban, Wau rural and Waria) and were waiting for the ballot boxes from Waria to
arrive for counting.
“Three of our teams are stranded at the Waria LLG with the ballot boxes and
they are walking now to the district headquarters with the boxes,” he said.
“It is about some hours’ walk to the headquarters,” Harissol said.
Harissol said three teams had started walking yesterday from Waria and were
expected to arrive today.
He added that some police and defence members walked to meet them halfway.
“The counting will start when the teams arrive because we are waiting only for
them,”he said.
“Transport was the only thing that delayed our polling process and now it is
delaying the counting again.”
Meanwhile, Harissol said everything on the ground was fine during the polling.
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