The brutal attack and threats to officials from the PNG Electoral Commission as they went about their work in the Southern Highlands should be condemned by all of us.
This was the statement made by Chairman for Transparency International PNG (TIPNG), Lawrence Stephens.
“It is also the opinion of TIPNG that the actions of the attackers reflect a deeper issue. We see far too many examples of leaders behaving as if they are not accountable to the law.
“When people holding high offices are not held accountable for offences against their people, members of the public are encouraged to believe that they are justified in using force to achieve their own goals,” said Stephens.
Stephens said there were now reports heard of threatening behaviour by people in the Southern Highlands against officials, mainly women, doing their work.
“It is wrong and we call on all members of the community to refuse to accept this and other examples of attacks on the agencies created to protect the rights of us all,” said Stephens.