Police and the PNG Electoral Commission To Clamp Down On Breaches Against the Marking of the Prescribed Finger during Polling.
Commissioner’s Address on the Tok Out Program
Hello viewers throughout Papua New Guinea and welcome to the weekly edition Commissioner’s Tok Out Program as we begin the month of June which is the month of polling.
As of today Wednesday 06th June, we have exactly 17 days to go before polling commences on June 23.
I will begin the program by discussing the use and importance of the indelible ink during polling in the 2012 National General Elections.
Viewers, I must issue this stern warning that police and the PNG Electoral Commission will clamp down hard on breaches against the marking of the left index finger during polling.
The whole reason is to prevent FRAUDULANT and MULTIPLE VOTING in this year’s National General Elections.
The indelible ink is an official election mark and is a black ink.
It is used at the polling place to mark the prescribed finger of a voter to show proof that the voter has been provided with his or her two ballot papers and has already voted in the election.
A nominated election official will mark the base of the index finger nail with the ink using a little nylon brush.
Election officials with the support of police will ensure that every eligible voter who claims the right to vote MUST present his or her small finger to be marked with the indelible black ink to prevent multiple and fraudulent voting.
The marking of a voter’s finger with the ink is a COMPULSORY REQUIREMENT before the voter is issued with two ballot papers – one for the Provincial electorate and one for the Open electorate.
Once a voter’s finger has been marked with indelible ink, he or she MUST NOT attempt to remove the ink or seek the support of others to remove it.
An individual MUST NOT coerce anyone into removing the ink from his or her finger.
Any attempts by the voter or any other person to remove the ink from the finger of a person that has already voted in these elections will be severely dealt with under the law.
Also any police officer who fails to apply the indelible; knowingly disallows the use of the ink; or allows the tampering of it, including the removal of the ink from the finger of a voter will also be dealt with under the law.
In the meantime, a voter will be issued with two ballot papers – the sky-blue one for the Provincial electorate and the pink ballot paper for the Open electorate to choose the three most preferred candidates of his or her choice from each of the electorates.
Remember: A voter is required to vote ONLY ONCE by marking his or her three top choices on each of the two ballot papers.
Be warned that any individual, who impersonates a person to secure a ballot paper, fraudulently destroys, defaces, takes a ballot paper out of the polling booth, or supplies ballot papers without lawful authority will be severely dealt with under the law.
Viewers, if you happen to witness such unlawful behaviour, you are encouraged to report this to your nearest police post so that perpetrators can be dealt with accordingly.
I, as the Electoral Commissioner can recommend to the Head of State – the Governor General – on advice from the Elections Advisory Committee to cancel the writ for election in an electorate if that particular electorate witnesses high incidents of unlawful behaviour that impinge on having a free and fair election, and the integrity of the election results.
Viewers, take heed of my warning and DO NOT risk your community and your electorate not being represented in Parliament.
In other election news and events, pre-election deployment of security forces, particularly to the Highlands has begun.
The pre-election deployment began on June 2 with the airlifting of 550 PNG Defense Force personnel to the Highlands.
On May 31 a total of 340 soldiers from the first and second battalions of the Royal Pacific Islands Regiment from Taurama in Port Moresby and Moem in Wewak were flown to Lae on two Australian Defence Force C130 Hercules aircraft.
They joined 210 personnel from the Engineering Battalion in Lae and travelled by road to Mt. Hagen in Western Highlands province where the Joint Task Force Operations base is located.
PNGDF call-out dates as advised by the Royal PNG Constabulary are between May 31 and September 31, 2012.
This is line with PNGDF’s pre-polling deployment into the Highlands by air and land between May 31 and June 2 and part of the insertion of more than 2000 security force personnel for the 2012 election.
The 550 soldiers from IRPIR in Taurama, 2RPIR in Wewak and soldiers from the Engineering Battalion in Lae joined forces at Watarais at the junction of Madang, Lae and Highlands highway and travelled by road up to Mt. Hagen.
The travel by road up to the Highlands was a show of force to deter and discourage any security threats during the whole election period.
High risk areas identified by the National Intellience Organization and the security forces are all the seven (7) Highlands provinces, Lae city and National Capital District.
PNGDF has deployed more than 800 of its personnel for election security operations of which 550 will provide security in the Highlands and 312 will for the rest of PNG.
Other PNGDF personnel are on standby and will be issued short notices for deployment if the need arises during the election period.
For our maritime provinces PNGDF is using its four (4) naval patrol boats to provide election security.
The police have already started inserting its personnel into polling areas from June 2-7 before the commencement of polling on June 23.
The first batch of police personnel being inserted are the response unit. The unit will respond to any election security issues or incidents and they are to operate 200 meters away from the polling area.
The second batch of police personnel that will be inserted will be polling security. They will be the ones to provide security within and around the polling area.
The Correctional Services have also completed a pre-deployment training has deployed the first 70 of its officers for election duty.
Australia and New Zealand have joined PNG’s election security operations and have sent in logistical support and personnel to ensure the elections are free, fair and safe.
Election security operations in the Highlands region start from Hela and will come down to Southern Highlands, Enga, Western Highlands, Jiwaka, Chimbu and will end in Eastern Highlands.
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.
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