by Fabian Hakalits – EM TV, Port Moresby
Candidates contesting the third Autonomous Bougainville Government General Election have been warned not to interfere with the electoral process, or else they will face the full blunt of the law.
Bougainville’s Acting Electoral Commissioner, George Manu, sounded this warning and reminded candidates that it’s an illegal act that be prosecuted.
The stern warning by the acting electoral ommissioner follows an incident that happened in Buka on Wednesday, after one candidate temporarily shut down a polling place.
The matter is now before the Bougainville Police Service.
Mr Manu said such acts disrupt the voting process and interferes with the rights of Bougainvilleans to freely participate in the election.
Meanwhile, PNG Electoral Commissioner, Andrew Trawen, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the ABG General Election polling since Monday this week.
Trawen was pleased to see Bougainvilleans turning up in numbers at the various designated polling stations to cast their votes for their candidates of choice in this important election.
The Bougainville Electoral Commission was further commended for setting precedence, operating as an independent organisation.
Polling is still continuing in the Autonomous Bougainville and outside Bougainville.
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