Observers criticise PNG election body

11 Jul 2012, 4:30 pm   -   Source: AAP
In its interim report on the 2012 national election, now in its third week of voting, the group praised the poll for being largely peaceful. (EPA)

In its interim report on the 2012 national election, now in its third week of voting, the group praised the poll for being largely peaceful. (EPA)

The Commonwealth Observer Group has slammed PNG's electoral commission for mishandling the polls, saying bungles stopped many citizens from voting.

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The Commonwealth Observer Group has criticised PNG's electoral commission for mismanaging the 2012 poll, saying the widespread disenfranchisement of citizens who wished to vote was a serious problem.

In its interim report on the 2012 national election, now in its third week of voting, the group praised the poll for being largely peaceful.

"The staff of the PNG electoral commission ... worked hard in very challenging circumstances," the Observer Group's chairman, former Vanuatu Prime Minister Edward Natapei, said in Port Moresby on Tuesday.

"Nevertheless, the group observed that there was an unfortunate level of disorganisation and inconsistency in aspects of election management," he said.

There have been countrywide reports of serious discrepancies in the electoral roll.

US Ambassador to PNG, Teddy Taylor, said US election observers also reported widespread discrepancies in how the election was conducted across the country, saying fraud and violence was a particular concern in the Highlands.

"It is our considered assessment that irregularities that were observed in the voting process were in large part not the result of action directed by a government entity or political party," he said on Wednesday.

"Rather, they were the unintended consequences of poor logistical organisation, inadequate training of poll workers and local attempts to address both the challenge of illiterate voters and the desire to inculcate tonic traditions designed to minimise conflict into the polling process."

In some areas of the highlands, groups resorted to "bloc voting" instead of individual voting,

In cases of electoral fraud, people who have lived in the same spot for more than 20 years found their names on a roll in a village 10km away, a long walk in a country of poor infrastructure.

"The widespread disenfranchisement of citizens of PNG who wished to vote is a serious problem that must be addressed through a more reliable and efficient voter registration and electoral roll management system, including the incorporation of some form of voter identification," the report said.

Acknowledging the challenges presented by the weather, the Commonwealth observers highlighted "tardy payment of allowances to officials and security forces, and failures in logistics planning".

"Commonwealth observers sometimes detected a lack of urgency to ensure that the polling schedule was met."

The roll was a major issue before the poll, with the government of Peter O'Neill wanting a six-month delay.

Mr O'Neill later backed down, acknowledging his government did not have the power to delay the polls.

Australia sent 22 electoral advisers as well as IT and logistical support in the form of military aircraft for the poll.

Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah said there were 200 or more Australian advisers working for the PNG Electoral Commission who had "assisted orchestrate this disaster".

The 2012 poll may have permanently damaged the working relationship between Mr O'Neill and Mr Namah.

"Peter O'Neill should be ashamed for listening to the PNG Electoral Commissioner and its Australian advisers," Mr Namah wrote in an angry letter on June 28.

"O'Neill openly criticised me during his election campaign on my initial call to defer the elections to allow PNG Electoral Commission time to prepare properly."

The polls were initially scheduled to close on July 6, but have been extended another week.

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