Transcript
A 19-year-old man was killed in Chimbu in a clash between a group of locals and supporters of Kerowagi MP Carmilus Dengama. The MP and his son were caught up in the unrest and sought refuge in the police station, while six men were hospitalised.
This week there was also violence in the Southern Highlands capital, Mendi. The acting police commander of the Highlands Western region, Mark Yangen, says the violence was exaggerated by local media, but involved a man being run over by a vehicle. The Highlands is a high-risk area during these times, but Mr Yangen played down the threat posed by a firearms buildup.
"I don't think they'll use any firearms. I mean in fact these people have the firearms in their villages, we will not deny that they have it. But normally they don't use it during the campaign period, the polling, because the security forces are on the ground and we have stacks of policemen coming from Moresby, we have the Defence Force, we have the correctional services staff."
The deputy governor of neighbouring Hela province, Thomas Potobe, however says there's a need for bolstered security in his tribal conflict-troubled province. In December a security forces call-out saw 300 police and military personnel deployed to the region which is central to the country's US$19-billion LNG gas project. As the call-out wound down last month, authorities admitted a corresponding guns amnesty was only a partial success. Mr Potobe warned that since the last elections in 2012 tribal tensions in the area have worsened.
"And this time I think there'll be fighting all over the place in the province," Mr Potobe said. "But last year we had big fights in the province and at the moment now we cannot manage it."
Last month, PNG's police Commissioner Gary Baki reportedly floated the idea of recruiting hundreds of ex-servicemen to Hela to help stem fighting should it spiral ahead of the elections. Mr Potobe says it is clear that neither provincial or national government has the money to pay for this. He has confirmed fears that lingering tension in and around the provincial capital Tari could escalate again.
"Not only in Tari but also the Highlands around. We need more security on the ground, including Tari. The view of the province, and the electorate, for me, it does not look good for the new elections."
Mark Yangen says the security situation is under control and doesn't see the need for an additional security call-out
"So within the period I don't think the government will allow any call-out. But it will be our responsibility to make sure the Electoral Commission conducts safe elections. We'll support the Electoral Commission to make sure that it's a safe and fair elections, yes."
In a departure from previous polls, individual provincial and regional police commands are to manage their own security in these elections.