Violence in Hela continues

FIVE men were injured, houses, properties and vehicles were burnt as fighting continued between the supporters of two candidates in Margarima, Hela last week.
Police commander Chief Inspector Robin Bore said the fighting was between the supporters of Margarima MP Manasseh Makiba (Pangu Pati), who won the seat, and Independent candidate Dr Benson Wakinda. It started during the polling on July 4.
“Three of Makiba’s supporters were killed by Benson’s supporters after the fight started,” Bore said.
Bore said the fighting continued after the declaration of Makiba as MP.
“Five people were injured, and houses and properties of Wakinda’s supporters were burnt,” he said.
He said the supporters of Makiba retaliated after three of them were killed.
“It led to the burning of houses in Ipwaka village and Hiri village,” he said.
“Security personnel in Tari have been sent to Margarima to join their colleagues sent from Laiagam in Enga to control the situation there.
“Everything is under control.
“Hopefully next week, peace will be made between the supporters.”
Meanwhile the United States, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), is providing an initial US$100,000 (K352,500) in immediate humanitarian assistance to respond to displacement in PNG resulting from violence which began in May and continues.

Police confiscate weapons from supporter

POLICE in Goroka confiscated bush knives and axes from supporters of candidates on Sunday near the National Sports Institute where counting for Eastern Highlands was taking place.
Provincial police commander Supt Michael Welly ordered his men to disarm the supporters and send them home. They were also carrying, bows and arrows.
“Confiscated too were a factory-made gun and homemade gun.
Police chased away the crowd from the perimeters of the National Sports Institute counting venue.
Police also reported that a person was killed in a fight among supporters of candidates contesting the Regional seat on Tuesday.
“One person was killed during the fight. The security forces stepped in and stopped the issue from escalating.
“Counting has resumed,” he said.
Welly thanked the Electoral Commission and security officials for working together to address issues immediately. He said counting in the Eastern Highlands was progressing well.
“When there is an issue, the EC officers inform me.
“I step in with the security team to address it and counting continues.”
Counting for the EHP provincial seat is going into elimination after quality checks. EHP Election Manager Gore Kaupa remains confident that the writ for the regional seat will be returned tomorrow (Friday).

RO thankful to counting officials and scrutineers

By PETER WARI
RETURNING Officer Sebastine Kisambo has thanked the election counting officials and scrutinisers for the Mendi-Munihu Open seat in Southern Highlands for a peaceful counting exercise.
It ended successfully at 8pm Tuesday when Raphael Tonpi was declared the winner of the seat.
“It is a lesson to the others (Nipa-Kutubu, Kagua-Erave and regional seats) still continuing with the primary counts and elimination process,” he said.
“After all, the people have spoken and we have to work together to declare their leaders.”
Election manager Alwin Jimmy also praised the officials and urged the counting officials and scrutinisers to speed up the counting process for the seats yet to be declared.
Assistant election manager Grace Wong said for the regional count, 14 counting venues were created inside the counting centre at Momei Oval to speed up the primary count.
“Counting for the regional and elimination for Nipa-Kutubu and Kagua-Erave were suspended on Tuesday and continued today (yesterday),” she said.
“We are trying to look for some extra counting venues for the regional count within the town vicinity but that is if the candidates agree, otherwise, they will make use of the buildings at the main counting centre at Momei Oval.”

Candidate withdraws case

KANDEP Open candidate Luke Alfred Manase has withdrawn a case he filed in court to restrain Don Polye from any conduct which may show that he had been declared the winner of the seat.
Judge Joseph Yagi at Waigani National Court yesterday allowed Manase’s lawyer Justin Isaac to withdraw the application.
Isaac asked the court to withdraw the application after Judge Yagi had questioned what utility it might have when the writs declaring Polye the winner had been rejected by the Electoral Commission.
“We asked the court to stop Polye from certain conducts, especially engaging in meetings with the elected MPs and governor which may cause confusion,” Isaac said.