Curfew rejected

The National Main Stories

By GYNNIE KERO
NATIONAL Capital District Metropolitan Police Superintendent Gideon Ikumu has ruled out a proposal to impose a curfew in the capital city in the wake of the recent spate of violence.
He said the situation was expected to return to normal after soldiers yesterday joined policemen on the city streets monitoring the situation.
A fight started on Sunday evening following a dispute between scrutineers of the Moresby North-East candidates inside the counting venue at the Sir John Guise stadium.
It spilled onto the main road where men armed with knives attacked each other.
It continued yesterday morning.
Most business houses told their employees to stay at home yesterday for their own safety.
Vanimo-Green MP Belden Namah called for an immediate declaration of a State of Emergency in troubled zones throughout the country.
“I am now calling for immediate declaration of the State of Emergency and curfew in Port Moresby, Enga and all the trouble zones,” Namah said.
But Ikumu said a curfew was not necessary as security personnel were monitoring the situation.
He hopes everything returns to normal today.
He said police had rounded up 18 suspects since Sunday.
“Less than 10 injured. Most didn’t go to the hospital,” Ikumu said.
“No deaths. Police have to link those suspects to the incident.
“They are subject to further investigations.”
Police Commissioner David Manning requested Defence Force Chief Major-General Mark Goina for assistance.
Prime Minister James Marape yesterday said the National Capital District was no place for criminals.
Marape said that additional manpower from the Papua New Guinea Defence have been deployed to support the Royal Papua New Guinea constabulary to police the Nation’s Capital District.
“If you do not like the results of the counting, take it to the court of disputed returns.
“And let the Electoral Commission do its jobs and complete the counting process, send your scrutineers in to witness, and all candidates and supporters stay away from counting sites,” he said.
Marape said that candidates who were contesting to become leaders should not try to take the law into their own hands.

O’Neill: No excuse for violence

FORMER Prime Minister Peter O’Neill says the General Election 2022 may be challenging but there is still no excuse for violence to take place.
Since the weekend, violence had taken over the city.
O’Neill yesterday said: “This is no way to address the issues that are before us.
“I know that this election is challenging.
“But there is no excuse for violence that is taking place.
“I’m appealing to everyone, to please return to your homes, return to your families, keep your families safe, keep your communities safe.
“Let the officials do their jobs.
“And I’m appealing to the leaders in the city who are all aspiring to become Members of Parliament during these elections, this is a time for you to stand up and show leadership.
“We must condemn the violence taking place in the city, as quickly as possible.
“Please stop, respect each other, and don’t take the law into your own hands.
“This is not our way of doing things.
“We are a very proud Melanesian society.
“We have a long history of resolving issues and conflicts in a peaceful manner.
“Let us get back to that and let us resolve issues that are before us.”
Prime Minister James Marape who flew into Port Moresby yesterday from Wewak, East Sepik said: “There are laws to cater for election disputes and candidates should not take the law into their own hands and act like criminals.”
Marape said candidates who had disputes had the constitutional right to take it to the court of disputed return.
“The law is there, no one has taken away your rights to dispute.
“You have 40 days from the return of writs to file and seek justice.”

Candidates propose solutions to improve law and order issues

A GROUP of candidates contesting seats in the National Capital District are working together to help restore normalcy in the capital city.
Powes Parkop, John Kaupa, Andapanga Nelson Baliawe, Dickson Samai, Diane Koiam Unagi and Noel Anjo have come up with suggestions to improve the law and order situation.
They suggest:

  • APPEALING to the electoral commission to fast track management strategies to avoid further delays in counting which is causing frustration and chaos among supporters and candidates;
  • APPEALING to police to arrest those involved in the violence in the city;
  • REQUESTING their supporters not to join in fights and to remain neutral;
  • ASKING fellow candidates to control their supporters and surrender to police those who instigated the violence;
  • VOWING to work with police to ensure that normalcy returns and peace is restored so businesses can resume normally and schools resume classes; and,
  • ASKING social media users to stop posting fake news which provoke people.

“We would like to assure our people in the city that everyone of us has been trying to calm the situation in our own areas of the city and try to get to the bottom of this,” Parkop said.
Meanwhile, candidate Baliawe denied that his supporters were among those who started the trouble on Sunday.