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By MATHEW YAKAI
A JUDGE ordered yesterday that ballot boxes currently held in Tari for
the three Open electorate in the Hela region, be transferred to Mendi
town for counting of votes.
Justice Mark Sevua warned against counting the votes in Tari, in
violation of the Electoral Commission directives.
A written order he signed and issued, said all candidates of the open
and the regional electorate namely Tari-Pori, Komo-Magarima and
Koroba-Kopiago electorate, their supporters, relatives, agents,
scrutineers, managers and voters be restrained from withholding and
interfering with the safe delivery of ballot boxes containing marked
ballot papers to the counting centre in Mendi.
Justice Sevua said SHP had been the focus province for the Electoral
Commission (EC) and the security force to ensure the election was
conducted peacefully and that had been achieved.
He said no individual or minority group would be allowed to hijack the
electoral process or democracy.
“SHP had conducted its election very well like other provinces and
minorities would not be allowed to disturb the process that would affect
the good majority,” Justice Sevua said in his short ruling.
The order empowers the EC to enter Tari with the full force of the
security force to safely transfer the ballot boxes to Mendi.
Justice Sevua said Tari was a volatile place.
The court action was brought by candidate Mali Nandi, who had asked the
court to make a ruling after candidates and their supporters from Hela
region prevented 253 ballot boxes from leaving Tari, demanding that the
counting be held there.
Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen told reporters yesterday he would
not change his mind, but gave no indication when security forces would
go in to extract the boxes.
 
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