Scrutineers boycott counting in Morobe

By GABRIEL LAHOC
SCRUTINEERS of Tewai-Sias­si candidates yesterday boycotted counting at the Sialum local level government station after disputing the boxes.At the time of the protest, 13 of the 18 ballot boxes from the Sialum and Wasu local level government areas on the mainland had been counted. The remaining five boxes were from the Siassi LLG area. Former MP Mao Zeming was leading the race on 3,803, followed by Steven Farhall on 1,799 and Dr Kobby Gomoreo on 1,418.There were reports of gunshots during the commotion but this could not be confirmed by provincial police commander chief inspector David Warap.Counting observers Daipo Ray and Jim Kisu said there was a threat of violence but police managed to calm things down quickly.Concerns of foul play during polling included allegations of voting by under-aged people in the absence of police in Sialum villages.Ray said scrutineers from Wasu and Siassi islands left the counting area and government station in their dinghies.Despite the absence of many scrutineers, believed to be camping on the nearby Wasu islands, police have reportedly called for the counting to resume today.Tewai-Siassi returning officer Ecky Aku could not be contacted for a comment.Meanwhile, MP Vincent Michaels, from the Siassi islands is reportedly trailing the other five candidates on the progressive tally.But he is expected to catch up when counting of the Siassi ballot boxes resume.