Papua New Guinea: Armed candidates threaten election

Don Polye, Papua New Guinea's Deputy Prime Minister, has warned that gun-weilding candidates may disrupt elections in the Highland Provinces.  The government is planning on deploying over 2000 security forces to the five Highland Provinces two weeks before voting begins on June 30, confirming that violence and intimidation over this period seems inevitable.  The elections in the Highland Provinces are staggered, to give the security forces a better opportunity to coordinate their operations.

Polye has appealed to the candidates to respect the law, stating, "It is embarrassing and it is discouraging. It’s very demoralizing for candidates – I mean sitting MPs and non-sitting MPs – who are supposed to be leaders, to encourage supporters and voters, especially youths, to have firearms in their possession for election purposes. I condemn it, it must not happen."

However, the Somare government's controversial appointment of provincial administrators has already triggered ethnic clashes in the Southern and Western Highlands provinces.  The PNG Supreme Court has gotten involved, staying the appointments made by some administrators upon the request of the regional governors.

Australia has advised its citizens to avoid the Highlands area during the election period, citing elections-related violence likely to erupt between opposing clan and political groups.  Australians are advised to avoid demonstrations, rallies, and other public gatherings.

The warnings may well be needed.

Ananias Popo, a Chauve Open candidate for the Chimbu province, was stabbed to death last week in Enga province in the Highlands, where he was visiting his family.  Witnesses said he was attacked by a man who demanded Popo pay for renovations done in a village outside Wabag, where he was stabbed.  Polye himself was rushed from a rally being held in Enga, after an opposing candidate fired a pistol into the crowd and unidentified gunmen fired rifles at the Deputy Prime Minister.

Please see also:
"Election candidate slain"  Islands Business (13 June 2007)
"PNG election candidate stabbed to death"  Xinhua (13 June 2007)
"Gunmen fire pistols, automatic rifles at Deputy PM"  Pacific Daily News (13 June 2007)
"Candidates with guns threaten PNG election"  Pacific Magazine (05 June 2007)
"Australians urged to keep away from PNG Highlands"  Pacific Magazine (01 June 2007)