Papua New Guinea’s GE22 in chaos, mayhem nationwide

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Papua New Guinea’s GE22 in chaos, mayhem nationwide

PORT MORESBY: Women were raped, government and private properties torched, ballot boxes either hijacked or burnt as General Election 2022 (GE22) descended into more chaos and mayhem over the weekend.

Reports of violence and mayhem emerged from Paiam town, Porgera,  Enga’s Kompian, Kabwum and Morobe’s Mutzing.

Police Commissioner David Manning yesterday (July 17, 2022) warned that he would recommend to the Electoral Commission to declare failed e3lections for Enga if the violence, deaths and destruction continued.’

“There is an upsurge in lawlessness in the past 72 hours in parts of Enga.

“A joint task force comprising military and police personnel will be deployed in Enga to restore law and order,” he added.

PNG Cyber Monitor reproduces below the news break and a few GE22 news updates published by The National:

More chaos, mayhem

July 18, 2022The NationalMain Stories

David Manning

By STAFF REPORTERS
WOMEN were raped, government and private properties torched, ballot boxes either hijacked or burnt, as the General Election 2022 (GE22) descended into more chaos and mayhem over the weekend.
Reports of violence and mayhem emerged from Paiam town, Porgera and Kompiam in Enga, and Kabwum and Mutzing in Morobe.
Police Commissioner David Manning yesterday warned that he would recommend to the Electoral Commission to declare failed elections for Enga if the violence, deaths and destruction continued.
“There is an upsurge in lawlessness within the past 72 hours in parts of the Enga,” he said.
“A joint task force comprising military and police personnel will be deployed in Enga to restore law and order.”
Three girls hiding in a house when armed men stormed into Paiam town were reportedly raped.
Porgera Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Nick Pakea also said a woman was also raped in front of her husband, before he was told by the thugs to give them K500 (Story on Pg 2).
Manning also revealed that 15 candidates in Enga were being investigated for their roles in the election-related violence.
“Someone must be held responsible for the death and destruction in the Enga,” Manning said.
“These candidates, these so-called leaders, were silent when the death and destruction began and have remained silent since.
“God help us if this is the caliber of leadership being put forward for the people of Enga.”
Deputy Police Commissioner (operations) Anton Billie said five people had been arrested and charged with hijacking three ballot boxes and ballot papers from Tolenami, Yambuli, and Ipalop wards in Mulitaka village in Laigam district, Enga, last week.
“They were among 20 suspects arrested initially,” he said.
“Five suspects were charged while 10 were hospitalised after being assaulted, allegedly by members of the Joint Security Task Force.
“The five suspects are being held in the Wabag police station.”
In Mutzing yesterday, the Markham counting centre was destroyed and the election is likely to be declared failed.
Angry supporters of candidates rioted, tore down the centre’s counting scoreboard, raided the counting room and seized ballot boxes which were smashed and burned.
In Kabwum yesterday, two vehicles, the district office and ballot papers were destroyed.
A police and the district administrator’s vehicles were also damaged as arrangements were made to send more security personnel to Finschhafen.
In Kompiam-Ambum district, the home of Finance Minister Sir John Pundari was burnt in his village.
The Yumbiliam High School and the new Level Four hospital, also in Enga’s Kompiam-Ambum, were razed by rival supporters of candidates.

Girls, woman raped

July 18, 2022The NationalMain Stories

By REBECCA KUKU

THREE girls and a housewife were raped when a group of armed thugs stormed into Porgera’s mining town, setting fire to properties after security personnel left for Wabag to escort ballot boxes there.

Families have started leaving Paiam town fearing for their safety, while businesses want an immediate Government intervention.

Porgera chamber of commerce and industry president Nick Pakea said the armed men walked into the town soon after security personnel left the Paiam police station for Wabag with the ballot papers.

They started setting fire to government properties and houses at around 8pm. “The mayhem and destruction continued until 9am (Saturday),” he said.

“On Saturday afternoon, they returned, burning down the Porgera Secondary School classrooms.

“Some of the criminals broke into houses, raped three girls hiding in one of the houses.

“In another house, a woman was raped in front of her husband.

“Then they demanded K500 from the husband for her life.

“Porgera has gone to the dogs.

“The Government needs to intervene now.

“More funding must be put into sending additional (police and military) manpower with enough resources.”

Pakea said the criminals also entered the Porgera mining site and burnt mining equipment.

“All public servants including health workers, teachers, bank staff, local policemen and women and their families have started leaving Porgera for their safety,” he said.

“Even businesses have closed and many are considering leaving for good.

“We appeal not only for the business community but also on behalf of the people to the government to intervene immediately before more lives are lost, more women and girls are harmed and more children are left homeless.”

Provincial police commander George Kakas could not be reached for comment yesterday.

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Additional security to be deployed: PM

PRIME Minister James Marape says another 500 policemen and soldiers are being assembled for deployment to hotspot areas where General Election 2022 (GE22) violence has erupted.

“Police are investigating and those responsible, including GE22 candidates, for destroying and burning government and public properties will face the law,” Marape said in a statement on Saturday.

“Marape said the additional security personnel would protect key institutions, sites, assets, and government and public property such as Porgera, Hides, Kutubu and other key installations.

“The Police Commissioner has been instructed to follow this through. We will not brush aside these acts under the cover of GE22 to be treated lightly.

“We will work on every evidence, including social media postings, case-by-case, and electorate-by-electorate.

“You cannot break the law and live in our country, whether you are a candidate, incumbent MP, supporter or an electoral staff member.

“I want to warn candidates nationwide to control their supporters.

“Control your villages. Control the areas of influence you come from in the country. You are contesting to show leadership.

“You are not contesting to demonstrate frustration, to break laws, to become warlords, thugs and criminals.

“We have given instructions to the police to compile evidence on every incident of law breaking.”

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Manning warns of failed election in Enga

Houses and properties being burnt at the Kaipores sub district station in Enga’s Kompiam-Ambum in Enga last week. Police Commissioner David Manning warns that General Election 202 for Enga may be declared failed if the violence, deaths and destruction continue in the province.

POLICE Commissioner David Manning warns that General Election 2022 (GE22) for Enga may be declared failed if the violence, deaths and destruction continue in the province.

“There is an upsurge in lawlessness in the last 72 hours in parts of Enga,” he said.

“A joint task force comprising of military and police personnel will be established and deployed to Enga at the earliest to restore law and order.”

Manning also revealed that 15 GE22 candidates in Enga were being investigated for their role in election-related violence.

“Someone must be held responsible for the deaths and destruction in Enga.

“These candidates, these so-called leaders, were silent when the death and destruction began and have remained silent since.

“God help us if this is the calibre of the ‘leadership’ that is being put forward for the people of Enga.”

Manning has been in the Highlands since day one of polling.

“The situation in Enga is very serious and I have grave concerns for the lives of many innocent people there who have become victims of barbaric and animalistic attacks,” he said.

“I have always maintained that the electoral process must be jointly delivered in partnership with the people.”

Unfortunately, certain candidates do not think this is the way GE22 should be delivered.

“Reading through the reports on the situation on the ground, it is frustrating and sickening to note that known candidates and their supporters have deliberately attacked opposing candidates and their supporters to influence a favourable outcome.

“To think that these candidates are considered to be highly educated and have successful careers, married and have children of their own, condone such violent acts by their tribesman and supporters is sickening.

“I have conveyed my concerns to the prime minister (James Marape) as well as the Chief of the PNG Defence Force (Major-General Mark Goina).

“We have resolved to establish a multi-task force to enforce the law in Enga immediately and to also secure the Porgera mine.”

Markham counting disrupted

July 18, 2022The NationalMain Stories

By JIMMY KALEBE and Malikai Balandu
COUNTING for the Markham Open seat in Morobe was disrupted on Saturday after a group of people broke open ballot boxes and burnt the ballot papers inside.
Returning Officer Willie Pilailo said it happened during the counting of votes from the Umi-Arzera local level government, when incumbent MP Koni Iguan was leading.
“(Supporters of other candidates gathered) at the main gate to the Markham Valley Secondary School where the counting was progressing and headed for the district office at Mutzing station,” he said.
“They stoned the district administrator’s house then destroyed the container used to keep the ballot boxes.”
Pilaiao said they removed the ballot boxes, took out the ballot papers and burnt them.
“(Ballot papers in) four ballot boxes yet to be counted were burnt near the district headquarters,” he said.
Morobe election manager Simon Soheke said the counting was progressing well until the two ballot boxes from Umi and Mutzing station were counted.
“There were four candidates from these areas and they were expecting to collect a good number of votes from there,” he said.
“Unfortunately, they did not get the number of votes they expected.
“The two ballot boxes that they complained about were removed from the counting room and the ballot papers were burnt.
“That includes the provincial seat ballot papers as well.”
Soheke said the burning of ballot papers and boxes could have been engineered by outsiders.
“That is a sad reality for Morobe and for the Markham,” he said.
“Markham people are peaceful.”
Soheke said most of those who took part in the rampage were allegedly youths who were under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
Morobe police commander Superintendent Jacob Singura has sent extra policemen to Mutzing.
“We will investigate the incident on Saturday and those involved will be arrested and charged,” he said.