Sir Julius: GE22 is so chaotic
News that matter in Papua New Guinea
Sir Julius: GE22 is so
chaotic
PORT MORESBY: The 82-year-old Sir Julius Chan says as
the only surviving leader from the Sir Michael Somare era, he has never
experienced so much “uncertainty” in a general election (GE).
After being declared the
winner of the New Ireland Provincial seat for GE22, retaining it since his maiden
elector victory in 2007, Sir Julius said: “Democracy is not about killing,
fighting, robbing or buying of votes.
“That is corruption at
its worst. I have not experiences a GE such as this with so much uncertainties,”
he added.
PNG Cyber Monitor reproduces below the news break and a few GE22 news updates as reported by The National:
Sir Julius: It’s so
chaotic
July 21, 2022The NationalMain Stories
SIR Julius Chan says as
the only surviving leader from the Sir Michael Somare era, he has never
experienced so much “uncertainty” surrounding a national election than the
General Election 2022 (GE22).
After being declared the winner of the New Ireland regional seat and retaining
the governor’s seat he first won in 2007, Sir Julius, 82, said: “Democracy is
not about killing, fighting, robbing or buying of votes.
“That’s corruption at its worst. I have not experienced an election such as
this with so much uncertainties around it.”
Being the “last man standing” from the Somare era, he urged leaders “to have
faith in ourselves that we will perform to the best of our abilities”.
“Somare, Sir John Guise, Sir Maori Kiki and those we worked together before,
never had opportunities like you people (enjoy today),” he said.
“Sir John Guise never finished high school, and he became deputy prime minister
and governor-general.
“He lowered the flag and handed it to Australia. What is right about him is in
his heart.
“I was lucky to be with them at that time.
“We have survived 46 years of democracy. There’s no turning back in life. The
future depends on you and me.
“Right now, we have to declare honesty, integrity and hard work to take this
country forward.
“From here on, things we know to be wrong must be left behind.”
Sir Julius, the leader of the People’s Progressive Party, was also prime
minister from 1980-1982, 1994-1997 and 1997 (June 2 to July 22).
He polled 31,717 votes for an absolute majority yesterday.
He is also the first PPP candidate to win a seat for the party in GE22.
The runner-up was Moses Makis (Indigenous Liberation Party) who garnered 16,591
votes, with Nelson Hungrabos (Independent) coming in third with 2,112 votes.
Fourteen candidates contested for the New Ireland regional seat.
Court to rule on Enga counting
July 21, 2022The NationalMain Stories
THE National Court will rule today whether to stop the counting of Wapenamanda’s ballot papers in Wabag following incumbent MP Rimbink Pato and two other candidates’ applications.
Lawyer for the plaintiffs (Pato, Justin Bero Sarimbu, and Danny Terep Katie) Nathan Pilamb before Judge Joseph Yagi at Waigani informed the court that Electoral Commissioner (EC) Simon Sinai gave directions on Tuesday to have the ballot boxes moved to Jiwaka for safety reasons.
“Despite Sinai’s direction, Enga election manager Anton Iamau, Wapenamanda open returning officer (RO) Kevin Yati and the officials declined to follow Sinai’s direction and proceed with the counting as of 11am today,” Pilamb said.
He said they sought courts order to verify and make effect Sinai’s decision.
“We are seeking an interim order for court to order for Iamau, Yati and the electoral officials on the ground to follow Sinai’s direction to have the ballot boxes transferred to Jiwaka.
“Sinai directed to have the ballot boxes transferred and proceed scrutinising and counting at Jiwaka due to security issues which the officials must follow,” Pilamb said.
He said election officials, including election managers and RO, were obligated to follow the commissioner’s directions.
“We understand that the EC is not subjected to direction or control by any person or authority and also that the election process should not be interrupted by any powers.
“What we seek now is for the court to exercise its over-ruling powers to warrant justice where it’s necessary,” Pilamb added.
He further said the order they were seeking was not in anyway interrupting the election process but to stop officials on the ground and allow the directions of EC to be followed as it should.
Solicitor-General Tauvasa Tanuvasa, representing EC, opposed the application saying that it was incompetent as the order sought was to intervene electoral process.
Tanuvasa said: “EC supposed to be the one seeking such order to make effect its own directions and not the candidates as in this matter.
“Three of the plaintiffs are candidates and what they are seeking is clearly to intervene in the process.”
Court terminates Trappe’s challenge
MUL-BAIYER MP Koi Trappe’s application to challenge Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai’s decision to appoint Tommy Kolo as returning officer (RO) for the electorate was discontinued yesterday in the National Court.
Trappe’s lawyer Elizabeth Ngomba told Judge Joseph Yagi that she had a notice of motion on foot.
However, Judge Yagi noted that the application should not be heard because State was consenting to discontinue the proceeding.
Ngomba settled to have the matter discontinued.
Representing Sinai and the Electoral Commission, Solicitor-General Tauvasa Tanuvasa did not object to that application.
Judge Yagi then granted leave to Trappe, through his lawyer, and discontinued the proceeding in its entirety.
Trappe, in his originating summons, filed as a human rights matter, claimed that Kolo had actively engaged himself in politics in association with another candidate in the electorate, Harvey Bill Nii.
Trappe further claimed that the continuation of Kolo as the RO would interrupt Trappe’s rights to be given a reasonable opportunity as a candidate of the electorate to be elected to an elective public office in a genuine and free election.
Trappe sought an order for declaration that Sinai’s decision to appoint Kolo as RO on July 12 was unconstitutional and therefore was null and void, and non-effect.
Tanuvasa said outside of court that his office had sent a letter to Trappe in relation to section 5 notice of the Claims By and Against the State Act, which had not been given to the State before the start of the proceeding.
Election-related violence subsides, polling
starts
Enga police commander
acting Supt George Kakas yesterday during the opening of the first container of
ballot boxes for the Wapenamanda Open seat.
ELECTION-related
violence in Enga has subsided, allowing for polling in Lagaip and Paiela to
start, says provincial police commander acting Supt George Kakas.
Kakas said members of the security task force would be escorting ballot boxes
to the polling stations.
“For Lagaip and Paiela, we will (be bringing in) ballot boxes (to allow) people
to exercise their constitutional right to cast their votes,” he said.
He said Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai wanted the counting for Enga to be
moved to Jiwaka. But Kakas said “we are working against time”.
“We want as much as possible to (complete) this election in the time we have,”
Kakas said.
“So we have gone ahead with counting here in Enga and will start with the
Wapenamanda Open seat (then) the rest of the seats.
“Laiagam and Paiela will start tomorrow (today) once we complete polling today
(yesterday).”
Kakas said there had been reports of ballot boxes being hijacked on social
media.
“But we will go ahead and bring them back to Wabag, where the provincial returning
officers and returning officers decide which boxes can be counted,” he said.
“The counting venue has already been set up inside the Wabag Primary School.
“We have counting teams on the ground and we are proceeding with counting.
“Hopefully we can complete all these by July 29.”
First sitting of 11th Parliament likely to be on Aug 4, says PM
James Marape
PRIME Minister James Marape says the first
sitting of the 11th Parliament is likely to be on Aug 4, and urged election
officials to ensure that the writs are returned as scheduled on July 29.
“I am confident that we will deliver this election on time,” he said.
“The return of writs will be on the July 29 but the first sitting of Parliament
will be on Thursday Aug 4 to elect a Speaker,” he said.
“As long as majority of the writs are returned, the few lagging behind can
return their writs in the extra five days.”
He said the counting of votes should be done over 24 hours now to ensure
everything was completed on time.
Marape urged the provincial governments and administrations to assist wherever
they could to ensure counting was completed before July 29.
“Don’t wait for the Electoral Commission,” he said.
“Do what you can to ensure that your province delivers.
“Provide electricity, conduct counting in the local level governments, set up
counting groups and security teams to work in shifts and do counting day and
night.”
Marape rejected claims that the General Election 2022 (GE22) was the worst in
PNG’s history, saying that every election has its fair share of issues.
“For example in 2002, all five Hela seats were declared failed and Hela had to
have a by-election in 2003,” he said.
“So every election has its challenges and this (GE22) is no different. Yes, we
were pressed for time but I have confidence we will deliver the GE22
successfully.”
Marape also suggested that a parliamentary committee be set up to recommend
ways to improve the running of elections in the country.
“This committee will review past elections, including the 2022, 2017, 2012,
2007 elections,” he said.
Pre-marking of ballot rife: Voter
Waigar polling site in
the Gena Waugla local level government area Kerowagi district is one of the
polling venues that had separate polling booth for women. Pictured is a woman
queuing up to caste her vote on Tuesday.PRE-MARKING first
preference of ballot papers in favour of candidates in their own stronghold is
rampant in Chimbu polling stations this week.
Concerned voters expressed disappointment over being deprived of their right to
vote.
John Wagl, a voter at Waigar polling station, said pre-marking ballots was an
electoral offence.
“If the people are given a chance to make own choice of their preference, we
the voters will feel satisfied that we cast votes of our choices,” Wagl said.
He said the practice was rampant at all polling areas.
In Sinasina-Yongumugl electorate over 900 ballot papers were allegedly marked
in favour of a candidate from a particular area.
Voter Paul Lucas said there was always illegal practices occurring.
Agen’s case adjourned
By VANESSA NIKEN
ACTING Judge Tracy
Ganaii yesterday adjourned the rape and assault case against National Capital
District regional candidate Robert Agen due to the State’s non-appearance in
court.
Ganaii told Agen, 50, of Aregol village, Sinasina-Yongomugl, Chimbu to return
for his trial continuation in the Waigani National Court tomorrow after the
State sought permission to adjourn the matter with due respect for its
appearance before Judge Theresa Berrigan.
“Mr Agen your matter is adjourned because the State is not available in respect
to the appearance before Judge Berrigan,” she said.
Agen is charged with four counts of grievous bodily harm and sexual
penetration.
Agen is alleged to have committed the offences on April 30, 2018 at Ower’s
Corner in Sogeri, Central, against then girlfriend Hennah Alwina Joku (victim).
The assault and rape took place after Agen had accused Joku of cheating on him.
Agen is also alleged to have assaulted and raped Joku a second time on Sept 15
that same year after they returned from a fundraising event.
Agen was allegedly drunk at that time and assaulted Joku at a friend’s home in
Waigani, Port Moresby.
Agen filed a no-case submission claiming that additional charges were added
after he was initially charged with assault.
He said his constitutional rights had been abused and asked the court to
dismiss the charges.
Judge Ganaii however refused his application and ordered the trial to continue.
Ganaii also refused a notice filed by Agen’s lawyer John Napu to withdraw from
representing his client because he disagreed with the proceedings and wanted to
file a Supreme Court reference for interpretation.
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