The Commonwealth group that has been observing the Papua New Guinea national elections has called for an urgent review of the electoral process.

The leader, former Nauru president, Baron Waqa, said he was gravely concerned at the daily incidents of violence and tragic loss of life that were being reported.

The Commonwealth Observers said the highly centralised structure of the Electoral Commission had undermined the effective delivery of the election.

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They said the 2022 rolls were missing a large number of names, which in some cases meant up to 50 percent of eligible voters were not on the rolls.

They were critical of the late and insufficient disbursement of funds, and that unpaid bills and allowances from previous elections, created a lack of trust in the commission.

The observers reported numerous allegations of bribery and treating involving candidates’ agents.

They said they had witnessed the distribution of money and food to voters during the polling period.

They said there were inadequate efforts to facilitate the inclusion and participation of women, youth, persons with disability, and other disadvantaged groups in the political and electoral process.

The Commonwealth wants to see:

• immediate reforms to strengthen voter registration;
• the creation of a collaborative and decentralised Electoral Commission that is properly funded by government; and
• a national network to support voter education and participation.

The Commonwealth group that has been observing the Papua New Guinea elections has called for an urgent review of the election process.https://t.co/HbB4xK1cig

— RNZ Pacific (@RNZPacific) July 25, 2022

Moresby governor shocked at election violence
Meanwhile, the Governor of Papua New Guinea’s National Capital District has condemned the violence in the middle of Port Moresby on Sunday afternoon, reports RNZ Pacific.

People presumed to be supporters of rival election candidates clashed at the Sir John Guise Stadium where votes from the national election were being counted.

The attackers were armed with machetes and other weapons.

There are unconfirmed reports that at least two people were wounded.

Governor Powes Parkop said he was shocked to see such “grotesque violence” in the country’s capital, and in broad daylight.

He said it was totally unacceptable and no justification could be made for such unacceptable behaviour.

Parkop said last week that he had asked for police to provide increased security in the election counting centres as he was concerned about the tension and the security risks, but he added that he was not aware that any such efforts had been made.

He said those who committed these “grotesque acts of violence must be arrested and charged and if their candidates are also involved in the planning of these act of violence they too must be arrested and charged.”

Parkop called on all candidates to restrain their supporters and show leadership.

Bishops demand government return to capital
The Catholic Bishops of Papua New Guinea called on caretaker Prime Minister James Marape and his cabinet to return to the city and sort out the problems from the unruly election.

In a statement, the bishops said the leaders needed to return to supervise the proper completion of the electoral process; to direct the work and the intervention of the security forces; and to guarantee the safety of individuals, public institutions, and businesses.

They said a severe deterioration of events in the National Capital District in the next few hours or days would deprive those currently holding positions of responsibility of any future credibility and trust for the welfare of the country and its citizens.

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

Voting in the Papua New Guinea general election begins today.

Voters will elect 118 members of Parliament, including governors of the 22 provinces, from the 3600-plus candidates nominated.

There are 6000 polling teams in the 22 provinces.

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There have also been reports that polling in the capital, Port Moresby has been delayed.

#BREAKING: Extraordinary #PNG polling delay for NCD Port Moresby from Monday 4 July to next Wednesday. Still happening in some locations.

And finally released, a #PNG polling schedule via Electoral Commission. #NGE22#PNGvotes#Pacific pic.twitter.com/jNhmSTUh06

— Stefan Armbruster (@StefArmbruster) July 1, 2022

Papua New Guinea’s caretaker Prime Minister James Marape appealed to the nation to pray for peace and calm ahead of polling.

Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai said the polling dates would differ according to the regions and provinces.

He said most of the polling would take place on 11-12 July, and not go beyond 15 July, to give time for counting officials to do their jobs before the return of writs.

Jame Marape said voters must treat their duty to choose their leaders seriously.

Police Commissioner David Manning said callers can call the hotline number 1-800-500, which has five lines available 24 hours a day until 31 August to help people with election questions.

All police complaints to the hotline will be referred to the Joint Security Task Force Command Centre for assessment before the information is forwarded to the various police commands around the country to take further action.

Commissioner Manning said during the election period members of the security forces, especially police will be heavily engaged in election security operations so the people are not given the assurance that someone will be there to listen to them.

He said all commands from around the country were being positioned to provide security for polling when it commenced.

Commonwealth Observers Group
The Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) is in Papua New Guinea and has begun the assessment of the electoral process.

Chaired by the former President of Nauru, Baron Waqa, the group is composed of nine eminent people from across the Commonwealth. They include specialists in politics, elections, civil society, academia as well as the media.

As part of its work to support the election the group will now meet various stakeholders, including political parties, the police, civil society groups, citizen observer and monitor groups, and the media.

During the 21 days of polling, the group will observe the opening, voting, closing, counting and results in management processes. The interim statement of its preliminary findings will be issued on 24 July.

The group will then submit its final report for consideration by the Commonwealth Secretary-General, who will, in turn, share it with the Papua New Guinea government and other stakeholders. The group is scheduled to leave Papua New Guinea by 31 July 2022.

The Commonwealth Observer Group members are:

• Baron Divavesi Waqa – Chairperson, former President of Nauru
• Dr Nicole George, university lecturer and researcher, the University of Queensland, Australia
• Makereta Komai, editor, Pacific Islands News Association, Fiji
• Luamanuvao Dame Winifred Laban, assistant vice-chancellor (Pasifika), Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
• Makereta Vaaelua, Deputy Returning Officer (DRO), Electoral Commission of Samoa, Samoa
• Hendrick Gappy, former Chairman, Seychelles Electoral Commission, Seychelles
• Johnson Honimae, chief executive officer, Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC), Solomon Islands
• Emeline Siale Ilolahia, executive director, Pacific Islands Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (PIANGO), Tonga
• Wilson Toa, country manager, Vanuatu Balance of Power, Vanuatu

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

The general election tomorrow is crucial for the people of Tonga, says Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland.

Baroness Scotland said the elections would strengthen the democratic process in Tonga.

A Commonwealth Observer Group is in Tonga to monitor the election.

The team was invited to observe the elections by the Tongan government.

The group is being led by former New Zealand Attorney-General Margaret Wilson.

Other members of the commonwealth team include Nauru’s Electoral Commissioner Joseph Cain, Fiji’s Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem and a human rights lawyer from Swaziland, Lomcebo Dlamini.

The team will remain in country until November 20.

Forum, US observers
Observers from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and the US Embassy in Suva will also be watching the election.

Meanwhile, the kingdom’s Supervisor of Elections, Pita Vuki, has told Radio New Zealand he hoped the election results would be announced on Thursday night.

Polling booths will open at 9am and close at 4pm.

Polling officials from ‘Eua, Tongatapu, Vava’u, Ha’apai and the Niua have been trained on what to do on election day and election materials have been sent to the outer islands.

Vuki said the final electoral roll, containing about 59,000 names, had been printed.

At the last election voter turnout was 79 percent.

Thursday’s elections were called after King Tupou VI dissolved Parliament in August and sacked pro-democracy Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva but kept him on as caretaker prime minister.

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By Elizah Palme in Port Moresby

Papua New Guinea’s Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato has defended the just-concluded two-week general election in the face of mounting condemnation.

Some polling is continuing in some delayed places while counting is underway in most electorates.

International election observers have reported “widespread” problems with the electoral roll that prevented thousands of people from voting.

The Commonwealth Observer Group called for an urgent review after the election to improve the accuracy of the roll.

In the interim report, chairman Sir Anand Satyanand, a former New Zealand governor-general, said: “The group was very disappointed to note that previous Commonwealth Observation Group reports that highlighted the need to address this issue of the common roll have yet to be implemented.”

In a press conference in Port Moresby yesterday, Gamato was asked a series of questions by the media, saying: “The issue for the funds for the allowances should not be the case now as the Electoral Commission has enough money to pay for the officers.”

Gamato was responding to questions about the K184,000 (NZ$80,000) allowance money confiscated from former NCD Election Manager Terence Hetinu, which the commissioner confirmed was with the police and undergoing investigation.

In response to the recent resignation of the Electoral Advisory Committee (EAC), the commissioner said the EC was in the process of “helping them out” in terms of logistics and finance, including the information they require.

‘Unfortunately they resigned’
“As we were processing that, it’s a pity unfortunately they resigned”.

He further said the EAC’s resignation is “premature”, stating that their role is to advise or recommend to the EC their grounds for failing of election.

“To this stage, I have not seen strong grounds across the country. Polling has progressed very well apart from issues like the issue of common roll which I’ve already addressed”

He said many people have voted “despite hiccups” with the electoral roll, but promised to address this after the election.

While stating that EAC did not have strong grounds to recommend a failed election, the EC told media the decision to fail the election was his.

“The decision to fail an election is mine”.

EMTV News coverage stories are republished with permission.

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