‘Cult figure’ looms as a favourite in Finsch

By PETER KORUGL
A MAN, accused of leading a cult movement in Pindiu, Finschhafen electorate, is shaping up a likely favourite to win the election this year.
Arigena Menggenang, a former agricultural scientist, nominated to contest the Finschhafen Open seat, which he lost narrowly in the 2002 national election to Guao Zurenuoc.
“I was arrested with several others and flown into Lae by the police. We were brought to court but the magistrate ruled that what we were doing was not cargo cult,” he said.
He said his bid for political office hung in balance, when he and his supporters were in court but that was out of the way as the court had cleared him.
Mr Menggenang was endorsed by the People’s Labour Party and party leader Peter Yama flew into the electorate to throw his support behind his candidate, before polling next week.
“PLP is confident that he will win,” Mr Yama said.
“He was accused of practising cargo cult here but that did not deter us because Mr Menggenang is an educated man, a leader of his people and he is popular,” Mr Yama said.

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