Warning of high tension

By PETER ESOP WARI
A LOCAL level government president has warned that tension among rival groups in some electorates is still high after the 2012 general election.
Robert Dopo, president of the Ialibu basin council in Southern Highlands, said violence related to elections in the highlands region was common – and it would be no different in the next local level government elections.
Dopo said the decision by the national government to hold the elections of LLG presidents outside council chambers was wrong as it would trigger problems from the 2012 general election.
Dopo said presidents in the districts would have at their disposal K500,000 a year and some were likely use a  lot of resources during the election campaign in June.
He suggested the government reconsider its decision to elect LLG presidents by popular vote.
“The prime minister is a Southern Highlander and he knows very well how elections are conducted there and in other highlands provinces,” he said.
“Last year, we had the general election which divided families, tribes, clans and communities. We are slowly trying to reunite them.
“But this LLG presidential election will make it worse and tribal fights can erupt again.”
Dopo said it was not clear whether the common rolls had been updated since.
“Last year’s election was the worst in the history of PNG with more than 80 MPs going before the National Court to determine whether their elections were done in accordance with the law,” he said.