PNG Parliament is seriously considering pushing back elections

[Palm]

PNG Parliament today discussed seriously the possibility that the elections slated for June may have to be pushed back due to only having approx 60% of the electoral roll complete, and that roll is not necessarily accepted as being correct. To have fair and free elections after accusations of voter fraud in 2007 they want to have a system in place for fingerprint or other IDing of voters. To do that will require much more time. The discussion has been tabled for now, but will bedecided upon soon.
"PNG mulls pushing back election From: AAP February 25, 2012 1:52AM

PAPUA New Guinean parliamentarians have raised the prospect of delaying the June 2012 elections.
The government has questioned figures in the electoral commissioner's report, tabled in parliament yesterday.

The report by Electoral commissioner Andrew Trawen on poll preparations says the electoral roll is about 60 per cent complete, meaning 2.4 million of PNG's four million adults are eligible voters.

However, the leader of government business, Moses Maladina, told parliament some of the figures were incomplete.

"I have since received independent reports that this is not correct," Mr Maladina said, reading a statement by Waka Goi, an MP charged with reporting to Prime Minister Peter O'Neill on preparedness for the elections.

"Yesterday afternoon the electoral commissioner admitted that there were some "pockets" within (the Southern, New Guinea Islands and Momase) regions, which were still incomplete."

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Mr Maladina also said he had received independent reports that electoral rolls for the nation's 89 open electorates had not been returned to many electorates. Mr Trawen could not be reached for comment.

In response to the report, tabled in parliament but not yet available to the public, Mr Maladina also gave a six month approximate deadline for the introduction of biometric technology.

Bio-tech - identifying people through a characteristic unique to them, such as a finger print - had been considered by the government of Sir Michael Somare following allegations of voter fraud in the 2007 elections.

"This government has now re-engaged with the Indian government and entered into an agreement with the Indian Unique Identification Authority to establish a biometric identification scheme in PNG.

"On current estimates, it will take at least six months for a biometric system to be put in place."

Former Attorney General Sir Arnold Amet told the chamber he would consider supporting a temporary suspension of the elections if it meant they would be free and fair.

A non-government MP, Sir Arnold told parliament he would support a bipartisan push to suspend the election.

"Forty per cent (unregistered voters) at this point is grossly unacceptable," he said.

"It may be in the whole nation's interest that the elections be deferred for an appointed time."

Agriculture minister Sir Puka Temu told the chamber it was not in the government's interest to delay the elections.
"We are a very popular government," he said."
http://www.couriermail.com.au/ipad/png-c...6281171193

[Palm]

New report today states Oneill plans to have elections on time. They are working closely with Australia and the UN to make it happen. They've been told my Transperency International that it would be very unwise to delay elections. And the biggest reason to git er done is that Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall plan to visit. That will be interesting.
"Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill says the government has no immediate plans to defer the June national election by six months.

His comments follow a report by the PNG Electoral Commission warning it has still not completed updating the voter registry in most parts of the country.

Former Prime Minister and O'Neill rival Sir Michael Somare called on the government not to put off the election.

Mr O'Neill said the government is continuing to work closely with the United Nations and the Australian government to clear the electoral roll of ghost voters and to have it as accurate as possible before the June poll.


Five years

Earlier it was reported the government was considering deferral.

Watchdog group Transparency International has warned against a delay in the long-awaited poll. Papua New Guineans vote for their central government every five years.

Electoral commissioner Andrew Trawen says that filing details of up to 40 per cent of eligible voters in most electorates in the highlands region has not been completed.

Royal visit

The commission says in a report that these voters could miss out on choosing their leaders if the election is held in June.

The 60 per cent of the voter roll completed represents more than two million eligible voters throughout the country.

Another reason for a possible deferral is that Prince Charles and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, plan to visit PNG in June.

But PNG's former prime minister, Sir Michael Somare, insists the elections must go ahead and a delay would be unconstitutional.

Transparency International PNG said it was strongly opposed to a deferral. Chairman Lawrence Stephens told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat: "What we're saying is that another five years work has gone into preparing for the elections and now is the time for it to happen.

"The reality is that every election - we've had general elections starting in 1952 - has had some pretty acute difficulties. But bit by bit we're improving on it."

Mr Stephens said a push to have the elections delayed was coming "from members of parliament who simply don't want to face the people just yet, thank you.

"Basically it seemed to be avoiding facing the electorate, basically saying we'll delay it for as long as possible so we can hold our positions for as long as possible."
http://australianetworknews.com/stories/...tm?desktop