Supporters told to respect rival candidates

By KESSIE TADAP
CANDIDATES in the general election have been urged to tell their supporters to respect rival candidates’ campaign materials such as banners and posters.
Moresby Northwest  candidate Jacob Sekewa urged people not to deface, damage or remove campaign materials.
Sekewa said this after one of his banners was removed allegedly by supporters of a rival candidate.
The banner was hung at 5am at the University of Papua New Guinea’s main bus stop and was removed between 9am and 10am.
Sekewa said such campaign materials helped people know about candidates and should be respected as they cost a lot of money, time and effort.
He said candidates should not only teach their supporters and campaign officials about their platforms but also about the legal and proper way to behave.
He said the deliberate removal of his banner was illegal and was the work of “jealous and primitive people” who had no respect for property and others in the community.
Sekewa said the banner had been removed by occupants of a green Honda CRV vehicle.
He said he had reported the matter to Waigani police and called on the people responsible to explain why they had removed the banner.
Waigani police could not be reached for confirmation of the complaint as calls there went answered yesterday.
Sekewa is contesting under the People’s Party banner and wants to review all forms of taxation.