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Reports by PETER KORUGL in Kundiawa
NATIONAL Parliament Speaker Jeffery Nape was attacked, one man killed
and a policeman hospitalised as polling got off to a shaky start in
Simbu province yesterday.
According to electoral officials and
police, the incidents happened in the Kerowagi and Sinasina/Yongumugl
electorate.
Simbu election manager John Ellee and provincial police commander Supt
Joe Tondop confirmed that Mr Nape was attacked and his vehicles smashed
by angry voters at Dumun outside Kundiawa.
Supt Tondop said violence erupted when the voters saw an employee of the
Parliamentary Services, who is also a member of the NCD auxiliary police
force, among the officials at Dumun.
The NCD police contingent was assigned to provide security during
polling at the SineSine/Yongumugl electorate. As a member of the team,
the man was sent there.
“For some reason, the people turned on him and beat him up. He is now in
hospital at Kundiawa,” Simbu’s top cop said.
Supt Tondop said when Mr Nape went to investigate and find out why
polling was not held at Kamtai as in previous election, he was attacked
by the same people.
“Stones were thrown at him. We do not know if he was hurt but his
vehicle was damaged,” Mr Tondop said, adding that the NCD police will be
pulled out of SineSine/Yongumugl.
In the killing at Kerowagi electorate, supporters of two candidates
clashed at Moroma resulting in one man being killed.
Supt Tondop said details were sketchy but the situation remained tense.
It is not known if polling will continue in that area.
Apart from these two incidents, polling in the rest of Kerowagi and
Karamui/Nomane electorates went smoothly and were completed.
Mr Ellee said polling in Kundiawa/Gembogl, and Gumine would start today.
He said security forces personal were still traveling in from Western
Highlands province to monitor the polling sessions.
 
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