When I arrived in PNG at the start of the year, I was told about how tensions and violence could be expected to increase during election time. Elections in PNG are held every 5 years.
While in any country there will be stories of corruption during the process and public disappointment at the result, in PNG these seem to go to the extreme. For example:
Candidates - over 2500 running for 118 seats
Outdated electoral roll - in some places the electoral roll hasn't been updated since 2012
Vote buying is expected - everyone knows it happens, but no-one is willing to report it
Ballot boxes burned - this is how people express their frustration at being told they can't vote
Aircraft targeted - today's NOTAMs included the following for both Wapenamanda and Wabag: ACFT OPS WI VCY TO EXER CTN DUE UNREST ON THE GND AND RISK OF PROJECTILES TO AIRBORNE OPS
Vehicles torched - while transporting ballot boxes for counting
Winning candidate announced - before voting has even opened in other parts of the country
Anecdotal stories I have heard of:
- people turning up to vote and being handed a ballot paper that was already filled out
- people turning up to vote and being told their vote had already been cast on their behalf
- businesses receiving insurance payouts in the millions of PNG kina and spending it on election campaigning instead
We'll see what happens next...
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