PNG NATIONAL GENERAL ELECTIONS : MENDI BURNS

 

MENDI TURNS INTO LAWLESS TOWN

Front page of the Post-Courier newspaper.

UPDATE:

POLICE Commissioner David Manning has named governor  Governor William Powi, and his rivals Joseph Kobol, Peter Nupiri and Bernard Kaku as suspects in the Mendi burnings.

They are alleged to have incited their supporters to go on rampage in the Southern Highlands provincial headquarters.

As fighting rages in Mendi, in neighbouring Western Highlands province, 4 Mendi men were arrested by Mount Hagen police.

Mount Hagen police, acting on a public tipoff, arrested the four men who were found to be in possession of K65,400 in cash and 30 rounds 5.56 bullets including other offensive weapons.

The men were allegedly on their way to Mendi, when they were intercepted by Mt Hagen police at the back of the WHP police headquarters.

Commissioner Manning said their vehicle was also impounded at Mt Hagen Police Station.

“I have issued instructions for all Mt. Hagen police station police not to allow any visitations,” he said.

Last week, Mendi burned as opposing supporters turned the township into a battlefield.

The warring parties, believed to be supporters of incumbent Governor William Powi and other regional candidates, shut down the town and in the mayhem raided the Mendi police station and burned ballot papers.

 

Police Commissioner David Manning directed police in Mendi to arrest one of the candidates, Peter Nupuri, who police suspect is behind the violence.

 

Mr Manning said he had ordered for Mr Nupiri’s arrest following the ransacking of the Mendi police station from where the remaining ballot boxes for the provincial seat were removed from the containers and burned.

 

“I have directed the apprehension of Mr Peter Nupiri for questioning in relation to the incident at the police station," Mr Manning said.

 

The mayhem was the culmination of frustration that have been built over weeks into the on-again off-again counting of the regional ballots that has dragged on for weeks since counting started in mid-July.

 

Southern Highlands police yesterday confirmed that allegations over electoral fraud by counting officials had led to the frequent disruptions and the PNG Electoral Commission must take a stand on this.

 

“The Electoral Commissioner should make it clear if the candidates should go to court to obtain a court order or not to stop the provincial returning officer from counting the disputed ballot boxes,” provincial police commander Superintendent Daniel Yangen said.

 

The police chief joined candidates Peter Nupuri, Benard Kaku and Augustine Rapa in Mendi who are accusing the PNGEC and its official on the ground in Mendi for the turmoil.

 

Mr Nupuri called for the Electoral Commissioner to replace the election manager, Jimmy Alwynn.

Prime Minister James Marape yesterday condemned the burning of the ballot papers, describing those involved as “constitutional terrorists who would be hunted down by the police.

Shops, banks and other services go up in flames in Mendi town. Picture posted on Mendi page.

 

“Those responsible are not ordinary arsonists but constitutional terrorists who can enter a police station and burn ballot boxes containing the votes of the people,” Mr Marape said.

 

“This is State property and such an act is one of terrorism,” the PM said, adding he had asked the police to go into Mendi, conduct the investigation and arrest those responsible.

 

He said people in PNG could not continue to take the law into their own hands and his government would strengthen the police and justice system.

 

 “I will, in the first instance, ensure that Southern Highlands, Hela, Enga and other hotspots are attended to at the very earliest,” he said.

 

Former prime minister and Member for Ialibu-Pangia, Peter O’Neill blamed the chaos in Mendi on the Government.

 

“This election has been a government-made shambles everywhere and democracy has been hijacked to make way for a autocratic style of leadership,” he charged.

 

“I do not condone the violence in Mendi but I can certainly understand why it is happening. 

"People are fed up with the way democracy hgas been cast aside by a power-hungry few hell-bent on seeking control at the expense of the people.”

 

Mr O’Neill urged the Electoral Commissioner to re-assert himself and take control of the Mendi counting room and ensure a fair outcome for the voters and candidates.

 

The destruction of the ballot papers has put an abrupt halt to the counting, which was heading into the elimination rounds.

Electoral Commissioner, Simon Sinai will decide either to treat the Mendi situation as a “special circumstance” and declare the leading candidate as the winner or order a supplementary by-election.

 

“I will make a decision once I have gone through the report on the incident,” Mr Sinai said yesterday.