19 to redo polls

 By MALUM NALU

ELECTORAL Commissioner Andrew Trawen has declared failed elections in 19 local level governments in six Highlands provinces where he claims chronic violence and illegal activities have marred voting.

The provinces are Enga, Western Highlands, Jiwaka, Eastern Highlands, Southern Highlands, and Enga, with Chimbu being the only province with trouble-free elections.

The 19 LLGs are Kandep, Wage (Enga), Hagen Urban, Hagen Rural, Mul, Kotna, Muglamp (Western Highlands), North Wahgi, Anglimp,  South Waghi (Jiwaka), Goroka Urban, Gahuku, Lower Bena, Lower Asaro (Eastern Highlands), Ialibu Basin, Mendi Urban, Poroma, Kagua (Southern Highlands) and Tari Urban (Hela)

Trawen signed the papers yesterday afternoon to effectively nullify the elections in the 19 LLGs and also advised Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Inter-Government Relations Leo Dion.

He used his powers under Section 97 (1) of the Organic Law on National and Local Level Government Elections to fail the elections.

“In accordance with Section 97 (1) of the Organic Law on National and Local Level Government Elections, advice will be given to issue new writs for supplementary elections for the named electorates, inclusive of the LLGs and wards,” Trawen said at a press conference yesterday.

“I will announce the new dates for supplementary elections at a later date, as soon as the circumstances resulting in the failure of the elections there change, and community leaders give assurance that people want good and peaceful elections free from illegal activities.”

Trawen said incidents of chronic illegal practices in the 19 LLGs had been reported by election officials, civil society organisations, candidates, researchers, journalists, and the public and “were completely against the theme of free, fair, and safe elections in PNG”.

He said reasons for the failure included:

• Widespread violence;
• Intimidation and threats
• Hijacking and destruction of ballot boxes and papers;
• Ransacking of polling booths;
• Giving false names;
• Preventing people from voting especially female and elderly voters; and
• Illegal sharing of ballot papers amongst candidates and supporters;

Trawen warned at that there would be more cancellation of elections in affected LLGs in the Highlands in the coming days and weeks.