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Wingti frets over the negatives of attack
By HENZY YAKHAM
FORMER prime minister and Western Highlands Governor Paias Wingti has
expressed concern over the negative perception of Papua New Guinea in
the international community as a result of “minor and isolated” election
incidents.
Mr Wingti stressed that compared to past general elections, the current
one using the limited preferential voting (LPV) system has enabled
candidates and their supporters to work together to share votes.
“This is by far the most successful election so far compared to past
elections, which were marred by violence, vote rigging and electoral
fraud,” he said.
Mr Wingti said this in Port Moresby yesterday when refuting media
reports that he was attacked by drunken thugs and sustained injuries in
Minj, Western Highlands on June 29 during a big political rally.
“Yes, there was a confrontation, but as you can see, I was not hurt
because there were many peace-loving and law-abiding people including
some young men who acted quickly and contained the situation by
escorting me to Minj police station,” the former prime minister told The
National.
Mr Wingti said that particular incident did not represent the whole
picture of elections in Western Highlands or the country in general.
“Western Highlands was among provinces that had enjoyed relative peace
with elections conducted in a trouble-free atmosphere over the years,”
he said.
Mr Wingti also apologised to the people of Anglimp-South Waghi for not
addressing them at Minj last Friday as the situation did not allow him
to.
 
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