Peter Aitsi from Transparency International said the violence was "very much intertwined and very much connected" with the electoral issues. Several arrests have been made, including some election officials. While polling has happened peacefully in many parts, there has been unrest in several areas, along with dozens of allegations of ballot box fixing and vote-buying. There were fears of violence this election as well because of delays to polling schedules and the expectation that one million names were missing from the common roll. Violence and unrest are not uncommon during PNG's elections.ĭuring the last election in 2017, more than 200 people died. Police say detectives are gathering vision and witness statements as part of their investigation. Mobile phone vision shows people already running away as the heavily armed police arrive, before they lifted their weapons. Port Moresby police say an "unruly" crowd was threatening to harm election officials, and rocks were thrown at officers. "We thought we'd go and make our living, she brought her water and juice, I got my lollies to sell, and we were at the market."
"We sisters were struggling mothers, we survive by running little stalls," she said, tearing up at the memory. She went with her good friend, Anna Koip, the two single mothers were planning to vote and, hopefully, make a few dollars. Polling had already been deferred three times and they were keen to cast their ballots. Ms Max was among hundreds of people who gathered to vote at the ATS Settlement in Port Moresby. In some areas, it is so severe it threatens to completely derail the democratic process. However, the election has been marred by violence. Annaisha Max took her one-year-old son with her when she went to her nearest polling station to vote in Papua New Guinea's national election.Ī few hours later, she would be lying dead in a dusty marketplace, allegedly shot by police.Īfter more than two weeks of staggered voting, PNG's election is winding towards a close, with most areas now counting ballots and new MPs being declared each day.
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