‘Aussie citizens’ arrested

By JUNIOR UKAHA
POLICE in Northern have arrested a number of people after they allegedly interfered with polling in Goina Local Level Government area.
Provincial police commander Victor Isouve said members of the movement, Kuwo Gave, had used force to stop LLG locals from voting in the elections, telling them they were Australian citizens and not Papua New Guineans.
Kuwo Gave is a Papua-wide movement that recognises Papua New Guineans were citizens of Australia before independence and their believers never agreed to be part of the new PNG state.
Their charges were yet to be made known.
Isouve said a number of suspects from the movement, including a policeman who killed a civilian, were detained at the Popondetta police station cells.
Isouve said polling for the Kira LLG has been deferred to tomorrow because of bad weather and transportation hiccups.
“Polling in other areas are progressing well,” he said.
“I have placed armed policemen on strategic locations throughout the province to deter any threats,” Isouve said.
He said 320 security personnel are providing security for the election period.
He said rumors about hijacking of ballot boxes in Afore and Sirorate were false alarms.
He said his policemen have walked on foot to check these places and there is no evidence of hijacking of ballot boxes.