‘Offenders will be arrested’
By JAMES APA GUMUNO
POLICE throughout Enga have been instructed to arrest anyone campaigning for next year’s general elections, The National reports.
And, provincial police commander Supt Martin Lakari has relayed this instruction to all his station commanders.
He said it was illegal for anyone to campaign at this stage.
PNG Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen announced last week that any early campaigning by intending candidates or current members of parliament would be illegal.
Lakari said many intending candidates in Enga were already on the campaign trail but this practice must stop immediately or they would be arrested by police.
He said many were sponsoring sporting events or organising parties to inform the people about their intentions to run for election next year.
He said they were also taking advantage of grieving relatives at funerals to buy food and drinks on the pretext of comforting them when it was a thinly disguised campaign strategy to win hearts and minds next year.
Lakari warned anyone breaching the electoral process and the relevant organic laws would be arrested.
“The law is very clear. Candidates are only allowed to campaign after they have paid their nomination fees when the writs are issued by the governor-general next year.”
Lakari appealed to people not to move around begging for money or goods from intending candidates.
He urged the people to elect leaders of their choice when the time comes next year.
Trawen had warned intending candidates not to campaign until he gave the go-ahead as required under the constitution.
No comments:
Post a Comment