COMMISSIONER URGES CANDIDATES AND SUPPORTERS TO RESPECT EACH OTHER AND CAMPAIGN IN A HEALTHY, DEMOCRATIC MANNER.

Commissioner's Message
Monday 28 May 2012

Hello viewers throughout Papua New Guinea and welcome to another edition Commissioner’s Tok Out Program.
To begin this edition of the program, I would like to talk about campaigning now that nominations have closed.
Starting as of this week Monday 28 May, the campaign period is five (5) weeks as per the revised election program.
As such, I want to appeal to you the candidates and your supporters throughout the country to conduct your campaign activities in a respectful and orderly manner.
Candidates, you must respect each other and campaign along with each other to ensure free, fair and safe elections in 2012.
It is indeed unfortunate and sad to learn that the 2012 National General Elections has recorded its first election-related deaths in the new Jiwaka province in the Highlands last week when supporters of two candidates attacked each other after the nominations resulting in the death of one candidate while the second election-related death was reported in Chimbu province also last week.
In the light of these election-related violence and deaths, I as the Electoral Commissioner would like to appeal for calm as such behaviour and actions will not bring peace and prosperity to our respective communities but misery.
Candidates and supporters let us prove to the rest of the world that a developing country like PNG has a vibrant democracy.
We must prove that elections in PNG are truly democratic where candidates can campaign freely without being harassed by opposing candidates and their supporters.
We must also prove that PNG can deliver free, fair and safe elections where voters can cast their ballots secretly and freely without being threatened or intimidated by anyone.
Candidates and supporters, I appeal to you to observe traffic rules; do not overload vehicles and do not sit on the sides of moving vehicles or even stand.
An election like the 2012 National General Elections is a festival where masses get together and celebrate.
It is during these times, people indulge in activities such as binge drinking and involving themselves in unsafe and unprotected sexual activities that contribute to the spread of Sexually Transmitted Infections and HIV-AIDS.
Let us respect each other and stop engaging in such behaviour that not only puts us at risk but our families and loved ones.
Still on campaigning, numerous concerns are being raised with regards to bribing and treating of voters throughout the country.
Candidates, you must know that bribery and treating of electors are both ILLEGAL acts and are electoral offences under the Criminal Code.
TREATING is when any person before, during or after the elections corruptly provides or corruptly pays in whole or part the expenses of providing any food, drink or lodging to or for any person on account of any person to do an act or not to do an act as an elector.
PENALTY for Treating is a fine not exceeding K400 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year.
BRIBERY is when: 1. Any person who gives confers or procures promises or offers to give any money, property, benefit of any kind to an elector to vote in a certain way, to do certain things during elections.
2. Any person who is an elector asks, receives, or obtains any money, or agrees to receive or attempts to receive any money, property or benefit for himself/herself or for any person so that he or they vote in a certain way.
3. Any person who is not an elector but asks, receives, or attempts to receive any money, property or benefit for himself/herself or for any other person with a promise that he/she or other persons will ensure a particular person is elected.
Any person who provides funding to any person with the intention that such funding will be used for the purposes set out above in 1, 2, and 3 is guilty of a misdemeanour.
4. Any person who corruptly pays money or property to any person to enable him/her to be registered as an elector and so influencing him to vote that person.
PENALTY for Bribery is a fine not exceeding K400 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year.
UNDUE INFLUENCE is another electoral offence which you candidates must be fully aware of and it occurs when a person who issues threats of force or restraint against any elector or by fraud prevents or obstructs a voter in order to induce him to vote or refrain from voting.
PENALTY for Undue Influence is a fine not exceeding K400 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year.
Remember that as at the date of conviction: A convicted person is incapable for a period of three (3) years to vote and to stand for Parliamentary Elections and is incapable for two (2) years to hold any Local Level Government office.
Away from campaigning…With the nominations concluded last Thursday, a record number of candidates have nominated to contest the 2012 National General Elections in the 22 Provincial electorates and 89 Open electorates in the country.
When nominations closed at 4pm on Thursday 24 May 2012 a total of 3,435 candidates nominated to contest the 2012 National General Elections.
This is the highest number of candidates who have nominated to contest a national general election since the first elections in 1977.
In 2007 a total of 2,759 candidates nominated to contest the elections while 2,910 nominated in 2002.
Out of the total 3,435 candidates a record number of 135 female candidates nominated to contest the 2012 elections compared 101 female candidates in 2007.
Southern region registered the highest number of female candidates of 56 followed by Momase with 30 female candidates and Highlands region with 27 while 22 women nominated in the New Guinea Islands region.
Enga is the only province in the country out of the 22 provinces that did not record the nomination of a female candidate to contest the 2012 elections.
In total, the Highlands region registered the highest number of candidates with 1,388 followed by Southern region with 896, Momase 824 candidates and New Guinea Islands with 328 candidates.
Number of candidates per electorate, Chimbu Provincial electorate recorded the highest number of 73 candidates to contest that particular seat followed by Northern Provincial electorate with 72 candidates while Kerema Open electorate recorded the third highest number of candidates with 71 candidates.
The lowest number of candidates recorded was in the Ialibu-Pangia Open electorate where only eight (8) candidates nominated to contest the seat currently held by Prime Minister Peter O’Neil.
In other election news and events, the first batch 19,000 of transparent or “see through” ballot boxes have arrived from China.
These 19,000 ballot boxes will be dispatched in the coming few days to outlaying and remote electorates first while the balance of 11,000 ballot boxes that will arrive in the country in ten days time will be dispatched to electorates close to main provincial centers.
In total, there will be 30,000 ballot boxes for the 2012 National General Elections.
Viewers, ‘Election is Everyone’s Business’…Therefore, we at the Electoral Commission need the support of all citizens to ensure that PNG achieves a successful outcome for 2012 National General Elections.
SO LET US MAKE THE 2012 NATIONAL GENERAL ELECTIONS FREE, FAIR AND SAFE FOR EVERYONE.
And that’s all for this edition of Commissioner’s Tok Out Program.
Be watching EMTV for the next Election 2012 update program.
Thank you for watching and May God bless us all and our Election 2012 program.