Polling kicks off in EHP

By ZACHERY PER
POLLING in remote stations of Eastern Highlands province progressed slowly yesterday.
Eastern Highlands is the last province to go to the polls in 706 polling stations.
Polling in accessible areas have been completed.Provincial election manager Jimmy Alywnn is confident that polling teams will be completed as planned.He said polling areas linked by roads had been covered easily.Alywnn said they would confirm the returns of the ballot boxes and start counting at the end of the week.Reports from the remote Obura-Wonenara electorate said a candidate allegedly used armed men to control the polling stations.Another candidate who declined to be named said the same gun threat tactic had been used in the 2007 general election.The joint task force recently retrieved two M16 rifles from a candidate’s village.Polling in Unggai-Bena district has been quiet after the 29 candidates vying for the seat all agreed to ensure that polling is free of intimidation and harassment of any type.Polling in Okapa, Kainantu, Lufa, Henganofi, Goroka and Daulo were also reported to be quiet.The success of the peaceful polling has been due to the presence of security forces at the polling venues.