Election violence breaks out in PNG's Enga

4:56 pm on 22 July 2017

Tensions are high in the capital of Papua New Guinea's Enga province, Wabag, where election-related violence has broken out again.

Reports from the Highlands province indicate three mobile squad police officers were shot this morning amid clashes in Wabag.

There is also an unconfirmed report that the returning officer for Kandep Open, Ben Besawe, was injured by gunfire.

Apprehended men who went on a rampage at the vote counting place in Wabag town.

Apprehended men who went on a rampage at the vote counting place in Wabag town. Photo: Supplied

A series of shootings and disruptions to the process around the Kandep vote count have occurred in Wabag since Thursday.

A number of candidates for the Kandep seat had protested that Mr Besawe has opted not to count at least fourteen ballot boxes which had hitherto set aside.

This is despite a directive to the local election manager, Anton Imau, from the Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato, that the boxes should be included in the count.

The violence has forced another suspension of the count for the Kandep seat, which currently has Alfred Manase of the ruling People's National Congress party leading the sitting MP and opposition leader Don Polye.

Supporters of some Kandep Open candidates urge the Returning Officer to include all ballot boxes in the vote count.

Supporters of some Kandep Open candidates urge the Returning Officer to include all ballot boxes in the vote count. Photo: Supplied

It's understood the remaining ballot boxes come from areas known to be Mr Polye's stronghold support bases.

A peaceful protest was staged yesterday in Wabag by supporters of various Kandep candidates, urging the election officials to adhere to the Commissioner's directive.

Counting evetually resumed yesterday following an earlier suspension of the process due to grievances around the exclusion of 21 ballot boxes.

However the count was soon disrupted again when scrutineers of some of Mr Polye's rival candidates went on a rampage in the counting station and sabotaged a number of ballot materials.

They were swiftly apprehended by police and defence force personnel.

Sabotaged ballot box for Kandep Open.

Sabotaged ballot box for Kandep Open. Photo: Supplied

But violence broke out again overnight, resulting in outbursts of shooting in the Enga capital, which unconfirmed reports say have caused at least three fatalities.

Voting has been suspended again.