Security forces sent to Kabwum

By JIMMY KALEBE
MORE security personnel have been sent to Kabwum, Morobe, after supporters of candidates damaged two vehicles and vandalised other properties at station and the Kabwum district office, police say.
Morobe police commander Superintendent Jacob Singura said as early as 8am on Sunday disgruntled supporters of candidates in Kabwum started attacking counting officials and properties.
“The attack came after supporters realised that after counting 16 ballot boxes (four each from the four local level government areas), incumbent MP Patrick Basa was leading despite the fact that some of those areas were base vote areas for some other candidates,” he said.
Singura said when the attack happened, two vehicles were burnt by the supporters, one belonged to the district administrator and the other a police vehicle.
The electoral office in the district was completely destroyed, along with a grader, the district offices were ransacked, and stores looted.
“We have sent in the mobile squad 13 and are on the ground now as a result of that situation to help the other security personnel to monitor the situation,” Singura said.
The situation at Kabwum station is still tense, but quiet.
Singura said people were demanding a recount or by-election for the Kabwum open seat.
Without confirming the number of ballot boxes burnt until Sunday, he said the boxes and the ballot papers that went up in flames included those for the provincial seat.
Meanwhile, Morobe rural commander Chief Insp John Daviaga said the Kabwum administration organised transportation yesterday for the evacuation of public servants working there.
“The evacuation exercise will also include election officials and security personnel,” he said.
Daviaga said the offences committed were criminal in nature and serious.

Bogia, Usino-Bundi to count in districts, says official

Counting for Bogia and Usino-Bundi will be held at their district stations, says Madang election manager Sponsa Navi.
Navi clarified this after confusion arose when Madang administrator and election steering committee chairman Frank Lau verbally alerted the districts that their counting venues were transferred to Madang town.
Navi said provincial election steering committee (PESC) members had no power to make such decisions.
“We had a PESC meeting on Saturday and I have put all the members in line with regards to trying to control the election,” he said.
“The proper process is that a returning officer will request for venue change based on security threat or issues with the facility.
“I have not received any security threat from these areas.
“Usino-Bundi has a brand new stadium perfect for counting and Bogia has their facilities set as well; this will lower the cost of trying to accommodate all districts in Madang.
“We have also beefed up security at these two districts and Bogia, along with Madang Open and Sumkar, are expected to start counting by tomorrow,” he said.
Lau, in an interview on Friday, had alleged that Bogia returning officer Cyril Retaw had tampered with four ballot boxes, hence the reason for a change in venue.

Madang education extends school holidays for a week

By GLORIA BAUAI
SCHOOLS in Madang have been given another week’s holiday as the province wraps up its election activities with counting this week.
This was confirmed by the province’s acting Education director John Ura, exercising his power under the Education Act’s subsection 4.2.
Ura said as per the circular by Education secretary Dr Uke Kombra, provincial education boards and advisers were given the approval to assess election-related situation in their respective areas and make decisions for the safety of teachers, students and school properties.
“Madang will count this week so we have extended the holiday from July 18 to the 22nd and term three can resume next week, July 25,” he said.
“Of course, this will definitely affect the school calendar but missed lessons can be accommodated through remedial later on during the remainder of the school year.
“The one-week extension should also give ample time to teachers who are participating as electoral workers to wind down their electoral duties and prepare for term three.”
Ura acknowledged the concern for grade 12s who will be undergoing their national written expression examination in two weeks. “They are scheduled to pick their examination booklets this week so I’m sure each schools have made arrangements to adequately equip their students,” he said.

Transport hinders counting in Wau-Waria

By JACINTA COHLEEN
NEW electorate Wau-Waria in Morobe has yet to start counting because some of its team are stranded.
The district’s returning officer (RO) Fidelis Harissol said due to transportation issues, the polling officials along with three ballot boxes from the Waria local level government were stuck at the Ono census division in Waria.
Harissol said the electorate had conducted polling in its three LLGs (Wau urban, Wau rural and Waria) and were waiting for the ballot boxes from Waria to arrive for counting.
“Three of our teams are stranded at the Waria LLG with the ballot boxes and they are walking now to the district headquarters with the boxes,” he said.
“It is about some hours’ walk to the headquarters,” Harissol said.
Harissol said three teams had started walking yesterday from Waria and were expected to arrive today.
He added that some police and defence members walked to meet them halfway.
“The counting will start when the teams arrive because we are waiting only for them,”he said.
“Transport was the only thing that delayed our polling process and now it is delaying the counting again.”
Meanwhile, Harissol said everything on the ground was fine during the polling.