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OUTGOING Western Highlands governor
Paias Wingti has called on his supporters to accept the outcome of the
election results and not take the law into their own hands.
He said election -related violence was not in his nature and those who
might be taking advantage of the situation should stop immediately.
I know the election was rigged and a lot of things had gone wrong and
people were generally frustrated. But I appeal to all my supporters to
remain calm because I never believe in evil and criminal ways of winning
elections, Mr Wingti said in a statement yesterday.
He called on his supporters to respect public properties and the rights
of other people and allow normal business to continue.
Mr Wingti said the recent election was the worst compared to past
elections as it was controlled from day one by authorities and in a
manner in which the conduct of counting showed it was never going to be
free and fair.
It raised serious doubts on the impartiality of the Electoral
Commission and the police force in carrying out their constitutional
duties. The perception many people had was that this election had never
been free and fair.
Mr Wingti claimed the election was controlled systematically to achieve
the desired results of collaborators and the emergence of a society
where the elections were controlled by a barrel of a gun.
Meanwhile, two police mobile units and a platoon from the PNG Defence
Force went to Togoba yesterday morning to conduct awareness against any
further violence, and ask for the handover of suspects involved in
setting up roadblocks and setting a truck on fire on Tuesday morning.
Highlands divisional commander and assistant Police Commissioner Simon
Kauba said yesterday that the team was led by provincial police
commander Wini Henao.
Mr Kauba said the security forcers also went to clear the roadblocks to
enable the travelling public to travel safely between Keltiga and Togoba.
It was alleged that one man was found dead after receiving bullet wounds
last Tuesday afternoon at Togoba but Mr Kauba said he did not receive
any report of the killing.
The Kapal Haus, the provincial headquarter building, was still closed
yesterday as public servants stayed away from work for fear of being
attacked.
 
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