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Date: Fri, 2 May 1997 15:25:19 -0600 (MDT)
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Subject: [MELANESIA-L] NATL: Changes Galore
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MELANESIA-L
Source: The National, April 30, 1997
X-URL: http://www.wr.com.au/national/17home.htm
Byline: Peter Korugl (Mount Hagen)
CHANGES GALORE AS POLL FEVER GRIPS HIGHLANDS
The lamb flaps and the loud hailers seem to have done a disappearing
act in the Highlands even as the election fever hots up. There are
other changes too, not so striking as 934 candidates woo electors in
the five provincial and 34 open seats in the region
MOUNT HAGEN: There is something unusual about the way the people
conduct the general election in the Highlands.
Unusual because it is not like the Highlands to find that the
favourite lamb flaps has faded from the campaign. The loud hailers,
blaring out music from rooftops of four-wheel-drive land cruisers have
also done a disappearing act.
People living in the urban centres and along major roads in the
Highlands are enjoying their sleep in this election more than ever but
be reminded that this is early days yet. The music and the speeches
are no longer delivered through these speakers, day and night, like in
the past elections.
The only campaigning being done by the candidates is at political
rallies and at public venues like the markets.
This is just one of the many changes seen in this general election.
"The other thing the candidates have to be careful about is that there
is a large literate population in the villages now, unlike in the
past. These young men and women are going to make a big impact on this
election," Chimbu villager, John Onguglo observed after trekking
through the mountains of upper Chimbu on a campaign trial with his
favourite candidate this week.
Mr Onguglo says these educated men and women discuss and share their
views with their own people on politics, business and other matters
that affect the country and as a result, the rural population is no
longer the ignorant lot they may have been in the past.
The economic hardships faced by the country recently has also had a
profound effect on the lives of the people in the Highlands - many of
whom rely on coffee as their main source of income - and that too has
opened the eyes of the people to the economic forces that influence
their daily lives.
The Sandline affair has also exposed the Parliament, the government
and its institutions to the people.
The "grassroots" and the soldiers in Port Moresby may have thought
they were on their own but they did not realise that the rural
population, already disillusioned with the government, was demanding
that the key players in the affairs of the nation resign from office.
That is not the only problem for the candidates.
Christians throughout Papua New Guinea are praying for good, honest
leadership after the 1997 general elections. Many Christians believe
that it was God that inspired Brigadier General Jerry Singirok, the
sacked commander of the PNG Defence Force to expose the Sandline
contract and that was the direct result of the "Brukim Skru
Operation".
"Christians are praying for honest leadership ... they are praying and
raising their awareness on the government and the leaders in the
process. They will have a major impact on the results of this
election," social worker Peter Kamis said.
The other positive aspect of the election so far has been the calibre
of candidates contesting the elections.
According to the provincial electoral offices, nearly three quarters
of the people who are contesting are professional people with first
degrees in various disciplines or prominent business people who
understand the economic, political and social issues in the world, PNG
and their villages.
"I guess this trend will continue as we go into more elections in the
future but the signs are good. We need more educated people who can
play politics at the international, national and local level. Voters
must realise that we are in the 21st century," a senior public servant
in Mount Hagen said.
Many political observers view these changes as positive signs that
will influence the voters to pick the right people to represent them
in the next Parliament.
In the Highlands, there are 934 candidates - 122 for the five
provincial seats and 812 for the 34 opens seats.
Eastern Highlands leads the count with 270 candidates - 234 for the
eight open seats and 36 for the provincial seat and Chimbu is a close
second with 247 candidates - 208 people from the six open seats and 39
for the provincial seat.
Enga has 129 candidates for the five open seats while 20 people have
nominated to contest the provincial seat, Western Highlands has 139
candidates - 124 for the seven open seats and 15 for the provincial
seat. Southern Highlands has 129 candidates - 12 for the provincial
seat and 117 for the eight open seats.
The Highlands is the home of three major political party leaders,
Paias Wingti (Peoples Democratic Movement), Paul Pora (National Party)
and lawyer and aspiring politician, Rimbink Pato (United Party).
It is also the home of Pangu Party National President, Pate Wamp and
People's Progress Party National President, Glen Kundin.
These political parties are the major players in this election along
with the National Alliance, headed by Sir Michael Somare.
The National Alliance, PPP and PDM are going in a big way for Southern
Highlands seats, United Party and PDM are the main contenders in Enga,
the National Party and PDM in Western Highlands, PPP, PDM, the
National Alliance and National Party in Chimbu and PPP, PDM, Pangu and
the National Party in Eastern Highlands.
Minor political parties are also endorsing candidates while the
"independents" comprise a big portion of the candidates.
Three-time Prime Minister Paias Wingti has made clear his desire to
become Prime Minister again and his party has endorsed 77 candidates
in the country.
When he addressed a rally at the Queen Elizabeth's Park in his home
city, Mount Hagen, on April 18, he told thousands of supporters that
no-one except Sir Michael Somare, Sir Rabbie Namaliu, Sir Julius Chan
and himself - all former prime ministers - were capable of becoming
the next Prime Minister.
Mr Wingti is defending his seat against 15 men including National
Party strongmen Lukas Roika and Philip Kapal and outspoken critic and
catholic priest, Fr Robert Lak.
Fr Lak is one of two Catholic priests who are contesting in the
Highlands, the other is Fr Louis Ambane in Chimbu who is challenging
David Mai for the Chimbu provincial seat.
Mr Mai, a PPP heavyweight in the current coalition government, has
opted to contest the election as an independent and he is pitted
against 39 candidates.
Apart from Fr Ambane, there are others like John Nilkare, the MP for
Gumine, former Chuave MP, Brown Sinamoi and young educated men like
Anton Goiye who will give the Minister for Agriculture and Livestock a
good run for his money.
Constitutional Lawyer, Rimbink Pato takes on the race for the Enga
seat with 20 other men, all proven leaders in their own right like
acting Governor, Peter Ipatas, former Administrator Andersen Aipit,
Mathew Parep and the rest.
Southern Highlands Governor Dick Mune has a tough battle on his hands
as he fends off 12 challengers, the biggest being his deputy and
former premier, Francis Awesa who is contesting on a National Alliance
ticket.
Eastern Highlands Governor, Aita Ivarato faces 36 challengers but the
man he must fear most is former premier, James Yanepa who is endorsed
by the People's Democratic Movement.
There are 14 women in the fray in the Highlands, two for the regional
seats and the rest for the open seats. Seven of those women are
contesting in Chimbu and the other seven are in Eastern Highlands
province.
"Political parties must show their support and commitment to women in
the country by endorsing women candidates. Leadership in the Highlands
is no longer a men's game, women must play an active part," Veronica
Kawage, one of two candidates in the race for the Chimbu provincial
seat told this newspaper last month.
The campaign has been generally quiet so far in the Highlands except
for three deaths in Chimbu resulting from a fight that developed from
an argument between two candidates in the Sol/Nomane area at the end
of March.