Papua New Guinea shamed globally: War zone Port Moresby
News that matter in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea shamed globally: War
zone Port Moresby
PORT MORESBY: Papua New Guinea (PNG)’s capital Port
Moresby was in total chaos for about 24 hours until yesterday afternoon with General
Election 2022 (GE22)-sparked-fighting breaking out citywide.,
The majority of shops
and offices were closed yesterday morning as disgruntled supporters of GE22
candidates went on a rampage wielding bush knives, turning the streets into
battle zones and shaming PNG globally.
By the break of morning,
Port Moresby looked like a “ghost town”. Buses and taxis had also stopped
running.
PNG Cyber Monitor reproduces below the news break and a few GE22 news updates as published by The National:
War zone PNG
July 26, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
The majority of shops and offices were closed yesterday morning as disgruntled
supporters of GE22 candidates went on a rampage wielding bush knives, turning
the streets into battle zones.
By the break of morning, Port Moresby looked like a “ghost town”. Buses and
taxis had also stopped running.
At press time, no deaths were reported but two people were admitted to the Port
Moresby General Hospital from Sunday’s street fighting in front of City Hall
(the National Capital District Commission building), near the Vision City Mega
Mall.
By late morning yesterday violence was reported in nearly every suburb, with
schools and most shops and businesses closed for fear of more knife-wielding
youths and men causing mayhem and looting. However, by late afternoon the violence
and threat subsided as police and soldiers brought the situation under control.
NCD Assistant Commissioner Anthony Wagambie said most of the fighting were not
election-related but opportunists taking advantage of the dispute on Sunday
evening and some were just rumours that caused panic among city residents.
“No one was killed on Sunday evening as some people are alleging on social
media.
“That is fake news, only two people were badly injured,” he said.
“We have made contact with them and have taken their statements and we will
investigate and charge the perpetrators.
“We have arrested and detained 18 people, nine from Sunday evening and nine
from today (yesterday) who were moving around in a bus all armed with knives,”
he added.
Prime Minister James Marape, accompanied by Wagambie declared there was no need
to declare a State of Emergency nor a curfew as demanded by Opposition Leader
Belden Namah.
Counting for the Moresby North-East electorate resumed at the Sir John Guise
Stadium from where the trouble erupted on Sunday and escalated into a running
knife-wielding battle.
Wagambie said with just four days left for counting, the Papua New Guinea
Defence Force and Correctional Services would provide counting security for the
sites in the city.
“All police manpower will be used to police the city and attend to incidents
reported,” he added.
Curfew rejected
July 26, 2022The NationalMain Stories
NATIONAL Capital
District Metropolitan Police Superintendent Gideon Ikumu has ruled out a
proposal to impose a curfew in the capital city in the wake of the recent spate
of violence.
He said the situation was expected to return to normal after soldiers yesterday
joined policemen on the city streets monitoring the situation.
A fight started on Sunday evening following a dispute between scrutineers of
the Moresby North-East candidates inside the counting venue at the Sir John
Guise stadium.
It spilled onto the main road where men armed with knives attacked each other.
It continued yesterday morning.
Most business houses told their employees to stay at home yesterday for their
own safety.
Vanimo-Green MP Belden Namah called for an immediate declaration of a State of
Emergency in troubled zones throughout the country.
“I am now calling for immediate declaration of the State of Emergency and
curfew in Port Moresby, Enga and all the trouble zones,” Namah said.
But Ikumu said a curfew was not necessary as security personnel were monitoring
the situation.
He hopes everything returns to normal today.
He said police had rounded up 18 suspects since Sunday.
“Less than 10 injured. Most didn’t go to the hospital,” Ikumu said.
“No deaths. Police have to link those suspects to the incident.
“They are subject to further investigations.”
Police Commissioner David Manning requested Defence Force Chief Major-General
Mark Goina for assistance.
Prime Minister James Marape yesterday said the National Capital District was no
place for criminals.
Marape said that additional manpower from the Papua New Guinea Defence have
been deployed to support the Royal Papua New Guinea constabulary to police the
Nation’s Capital District.
“If you do not like the results of the counting, take it to the court of
disputed returns.
“And let the Electoral Commission do its jobs and complete the counting
process, send your scrutineers in to witness, and all candidates and supporters
stay away from counting sites,” he said.
Marape said that candidates who were contesting to become leaders should not
try to take the law into their own hands.
O’Neill: No excuse for violence
FORMER Prime Minister
Peter O’Neill says the General Election 2022 may be challenging but there is
still no excuse for violence to take place.
Since the weekend, violence had taken over the city.
O’Neill yesterday said: “This is no way to address the issues that are before
us.
“I know that this election is challenging.
“But there is no excuse for violence that is taking place.
“I’m appealing to everyone, to please return to your homes, return to your
families, keep your families safe, keep your communities safe.
“Let the officials do their jobs.
“And I’m appealing to the leaders in the city who are all aspiring to become
Members of Parliament during these elections, this is a time for you to stand
up and show leadership.
“We must condemn the violence taking place in the city, as quickly as possible.
“Please stop, respect each other, and don’t take the law into your own hands.
“This is not our way of doing things.
“We are a very proud Melanesian society.
“We have a long history of resolving issues and conflicts in a peaceful manner.
“Let us get back to that and let us resolve issues that are before us.”
Prime Minister James Marape who flew into Port Moresby yesterday from Wewak,
East Sepik said: “There are laws to cater for election disputes and candidates
should not take the law into their own hands and act like criminals.”
Marape said candidates who had disputes had the constitutional right to take it
to the court of disputed return.
“The law is there, no one has taken away your rights to dispute.
“You have 40 days from the return of writs to file and seek justice.”
Candidates propose solutions to improve law
and order issues
A GROUP of candidates
contesting seats in the National Capital District are working together to help
restore normalcy in the capital city.
Powes Parkop, John Kaupa, Andapanga Nelson Baliawe, Dickson Samai, Diane Koiam
Unagi and Noel Anjo have come up with suggestions to improve the law and order
situation.
They suggest:
- APPEALING to the electoral
commission to fast track management strategies to avoid further delays in
counting which is causing frustration and chaos among supporters and
candidates;
- APPEALING to police to arrest
those involved in the violence in the city;
- REQUESTING their supporters not
to join in fights and to remain neutral;
- ASKING fellow candidates to
control their supporters and surrender to police those who instigated the
violence;
- VOWING to work with police to
ensure that normalcy returns and peace is restored so businesses can
resume normally and schools resume classes; and,
- ASKING social media users to
stop posting fake news which provoke people.
“We would like to assure our people in the
city that everyone of us has been trying to calm the situation in our own areas
of the city and try to get to the bottom of this,” Parkop said.
Meanwhile, candidate Baliawe denied that his supporters were among those who
started the trouble on Sunday.
City schools suspend
classes
July 26, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
“After watching a few video clips on social media (Facebook) on the street
fighting featuring bush-wielding assailants in the city, we have directed
school principals and head teachers in the vicinity of the city to suspend
classes and send school girls and boys home,” National Capital District (NCD)
education assistant secretary Sam Lora told The National.
He said the safety of the students was paramount so “we have advised school
administrations to assess the situation closely and carefully before releasing
the students home”.
“We have been monitoring live updates on social media and also keep up with the
news to assess the situation to help us reach a decision on the next step to
take from today on.
“Whether we will suspend classes altogether for the week or continue would
depend on our assessment on the current situation in the city and also reports
from the police on public security,” Lora added.
He said from the videos posted on social media, the situation in the city did
not look alright for school students and the public to move around freely.
“We are also talking to NCD police to help us decide whether schools should be
suspended for the whole week,” he added.
Lora said the suspension of classes would only apply to affected schools and
not those outside the vicinity of the capital city.
Education secretary Dr Uke Kombra said it was unfortunate that schools in NCD
had suspended classes due to street fights between the political rivals.
“The suspension is for the safety of teachers and students,” Kombra said.
“It is wiser for our students and teachers to remain at home until we get
clearance from the police.”
He said he was waiting for advice from the police before issuing a formal
instruction to schools.
Kombra said for the lessons that would be missed for a day or weeks, teachers
had to adjust and cover up for the missed classes.
Gordon Secondary School principal George Kenega said a few students turned up
for class yesterday and had to be sent home early.
“We did not receive any instruction from the provincial education division
whether to suspend classes for the week but we will see how things turn up
tomorrow (today),” he added.
Meanwhile, University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) has also suspended classes due
to the violence in the city, Vice-Chancellor Professor Frank Griffin said.
“Given the unpredictable nature of the situation and the need to protect the
lives of students and staff, an emergency situation has arisen.” He urged
students to stay in campus until normalcy was restored.
ACP asks people to respect election laws
NORTHERN Command’s assistant commissioner of Police Peter
Guinness has asked the people of Madang to respect the election laws and allow
counting to take place without any further delay.
He was responding to the arrest of eight people in Usino two weeks ago for
being in possession of unlicensed guns and ammunition.
The eight are alleged to be the supporters of a candidate. ACP Guinness said
the eight were released on a K500 bail each.
It has led to some suggesting that the Usino-Bundi Open seat counting be moved
to Madang town.
The counting began yesterday at the Walium station,
Madang Police Commander Acting Superintendent Mazuc Rubiang said Walium was
manned by 30 policemen assisted by a section of the Mobile Squad.
All access into the counting area have been blocked off with close monitoring
of people movement.
Meanwhile, ACP Guiness dismissed allegations that corruption and bribery were
involved.
“Everyone is entitled to bail unless it is an indictable offence,” he said.
“Madang’s court process is slow due to the election. We cannot be filling up
our cells.
“When they appear before the court and if they plead guilty, they will be
penalised under the new Firearms Act.”
According to the arresting officer Constable Philip Yallon, the eight were
caught by soldiers near a polling are at Pori in Usino.
They had in their possession two guns plus three 12-gauge live rounds, bullets
and three discharged empty shells.
Police arrest murder
suspect
July 26, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
POLICE have arrested a
suspect for killing a man in a General Election 2022 (GE22)-related murder in
Huon Gulf on Saturday.
Morobe police commander Superintendent Jacob Singura said a fight erupted
between supporters of two candidates and the man was slashed to death on the
spot.
He said more arrests were likely in the coming weeks.
The murder has raised GE22-related death toll to 50 nationwide since May 20.
Singura said GE-related violence was not part of Morobe in past GEs but “this
has changed”.
“Since the start of GE22, we have received many reports of violence. The people
in Morobe must understand that any foul plays in the electoral process can
always be settled in the court of disputed returns.
“Why are the taking it so personally and inflict pain on other people or cause
destruction to properties,” he added.
Singura said the people should accept the outcome of the electoral counting
process and allow the winner to take office.
Meanwhile, the situation on the ground in Kabwum was normal as police conducted
investigations into the destruction of ballot boxes and papers as well as other
properties on July 17.
For the Markham incident on July 16, police have arrested the main suspect and
four others who have all appeared in a district court in Lae yesterday.
No election-related deaths at PMGH: Molumi
Staff of Port Moresby
General Hospital gathering for an emergency meeting yesterday with the chief
executive officer Dr Paki Molumi. They discussed hospital operations in the
midst of election-related violence.
By LULU MARK
NO election-related deaths have been recorded at the Port Moresby General
Hospital (PMGH), chief executive officer Dr Paki Molumi says.
Molumi said with the rapid increase in election-related violence since Sunday,
the hospital’s emergency response team was on standby to receive mass casualties.
He said a victim with a knife wound and traumatic brain injury was admitted and
was in a stable condition.
He said the other victim had wounds inflicted by a bush knife (machete) to his
limbs and was operated on.
Molumi said the hospital was open but had heightened security measures
including stricter access.
“All vehicles and persons to be searched for weapons,” he said.
“There is a metal detector search of anyone entering the emergency department,
children’s emergency department, consultation clinic and all entry points into
the hospital.
“The emergency department gate is controlled with no guardians to be allowed
in.”
Molumi said hospital staff were also being picked up and dropped off.
Meanwhile, St John Ambulance chief executive officer Matt Cannon said the
ambulance received reports of isolated skirmishes around the National Capital
District (NCD) yesterday.
He said these skirmishes appeared to be related to the general election and
there were reports of opportunists taking advantage the situation.
“Our mandate is to bring help to all during times of sickness, distress
suffering and danger without any form of discrimination,” he said.
“St John Ambulance will continue responding to emergencies in NCD and around
the country, as always.
“The safety of our patients, community and St John People is critical.”
Counts suspended after violence
ELECTION-related
violence has yet again stalled counting in the nation’s capital, four days from
the return of writs on Friday.
When this paper visited the counting venues, the makeshift shelters for the
candidates’ scrutineers and supporters that had mushroomed around the venues
since the beginning of counting two weeks ago had all been removed with tight
security by police.
National Capital District (NCD) election manager Kila Ralai, who was at the
Rita Flynn counting venue for the NCD Regional and Moresby South counting, said
counting was suspended yesterday.
Rita Flynn counting venue commander Chief Insp Bobby Alisa said his men
numbering up to 300 were closely monitoring the situation following violence at
the North East counting venue (Sir John Guise Indoor Complex).
He said road blocks have been set up leading into the counting venue to prevent
people loitering.
“Last night we had threats coming in and some scrutineers walked off because
they were afraid for their lives,” he said.
Alisa said all counting officials were dropped off at their homes with a police
escort. Moresby North-East returning officer Billy George, who was at the Sir
John Guise Indoor Complex, said he was advised to suspend counting.
Silence over violence is deafening: Catholic
leader
CATHOLIC Professionals Society President Paul
Harricknen says the silence is deafening from General Election 2022 (GE22)
leaders and candidates on the spread of violence nationwide, especially in the
capital Port Moresby.
“They are just desperate to grab power using every means, including violence
and killing,” he added.
In a media statement released yesterday, Harricknen said human life did not
seem to matter when supporters of competing candidates go around cutting and
chopping each other mercilessly.
“No incumbent MP or aspiring MP has spoken or done anything against the
escalating violence we see and hear. Only the NCD (National Capital District
Governor has come out to say something.
“We condemn this savage attitude,” he said.
He said women and innocent lives in Porgera had become the victims of the
mayhem between warring clans.
“Human life is supposed to be preserved and protected by all means, for
goodness sake! What kind of leadership are we promoting for the 11th Parliament
and Government?
“When candidates get into power by means of violence and money, will there be
servant leadership for the people and country?” he asked.
Harricknen said the high level of corruption had permeated our electoral system
where people could not trust those managing the system anymore to the extent
that every election official and security personnel were suspected.
“We condemn the attitude of those in power and position not doing anything or
not doing enough to protect the lives of people,” he said.
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