PM: Cut out violence

By REBECCA KUKU
PRIME Minister James Marape has condemned the spate of election-related violence around the country recently, warning candidates and their supporters that the police will arrest those involved.
“Police will arrest candidates and/or their supporters (involved in) fights or attacks on other candidates,” he said.
Marape was responding to the escalating election-related violence and accidents, with the death toll reported by the media to date standing at 29.
Two weeks are left for campaigning. Polling will begin on July 4.
Marape reminded the candidates to use the campaign period wisely.
“You have less than 20 days remaining,’ he said.
“Outline your policies, plans and let the people decide through the ballot papers (who they elect).”
He urged candidates and political parties to ensure that their supporters behaved themselves in public.
“Supporters must also understand that general election takes place every five years,” he said.
“After the election, you will go back to your community. You will greet each other. So there is no point in fighting.”
Meanwhile, Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai said the commission had nothing to do with the election-violence.
“That is a matter for police to decide, because the campaign actually belongs to the candidates and the people,” he said.
“If you want to waste your time fighting and arguing during the campaign period, it’s your loss.”
Sinai said candidates should talk about their policies so that people could make an informed decision.
“The limited preferential voting has three choices,” he said.
“So work together.”
The latest deadly clashes of rival supporters occurred in Kainantu town on Friday. Two men were shot dead, several were critically injured and four vehicles torched.
On Sunday, 16 people died when a truck, overloaded with campaign supporters, plunged down a cliff in Tomba, Western Highlands.
They were on their way to Tambul-Nebilyer MP Win Bakri Daki’s campaign base when the accident occurred.
In East Sepik, Commander Superintendent Albert Beli said seven people were killed in a fight between Murik settlers in Basis and Mengar villagers last week.
On June 4, two brothers quarrelled over the construction of a rally grandstand resulting in one stabbing the other to death in Pagia, Southern Highlands.
One June 2, a man died after he fell off a vehicle overloaded with political campaign supporters in a rally in Wau, Morobe.
And on May 26 two men were shot dead in a clash between supporters of two political parties in Morobe’s Huon Gulf.