Peter O'Neill

The rally was led by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and his PNC Hela candidates, with the incumbent member for Tari-Pori and Finance Minister James Marape.

Reports on the ground say the Prime Minister was quickly whisked to safety when the crowd started throwing stones at each other, forcing the police to fire teargas.

The Hela Provincial Police Commander, Michael Welly, has confirmed the reports.

However, the PM’s officials say it is a minor incident between supporters of rival candidates.

This is the third reported disruption from the public at PNC rallies.

He said the people of Papua New Guinea need to know what happened to the fund.

“Eight billion Kina that belongs to the people of Papua New Guinea went missing,” claimed the PM.

“When we took over, there was almost zero balance in Government accounts. That is why we had to go into deficit budget to build new infrastructure around the country, to pay for our school fees, and to pay for our hospitals that our people deserve.”

Pruaitch in a statement said the deportation proves that the government has no respect for the rule of law and for due processes.

He said the Government ignored a stay order from the Kokopo National Court and a prohibition on any airline from carrying out the deportation of the New Zealand citizen.

Tennent, the Administrator of the Catholic Archdiocese of Rabaul and a former law lecturer at the University of PNG, was deported for reported involvement with landowner issues in East New Britain.

Eastern Highlands Provincial Police Commander, Alex N’Drasal, confirmed that the incident was caused by a minority of people, who were chased by those attending the rally.

A stone throwing fight soon broke out but police intervened.

Prime Minister and PNC Party leader, Peter O’Neill, was on ground to show support for his PNC party candidates in EHP on Tuesday.  

O’Neill told Loop PNG that disturbance was caused by a few people under the influence of alcohol.

“People sat down and listened for over 45 minutes of my speech,” said the PM.

Speaking before a large crowd in Popondetta, Oro Province, with PNC candidates Delilah Gore for Sohe Open, David Arore for Oro Regional and Sheldon Deilala for Ijivitari Open, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, called for honesty in the opposition.

“Elections are not a time to play politics, elections are a time to stand up and tell the people what you would deliver for our country,” O’Neill said.

“The budget allocation is very straight forward and people need to understand the facts.

“This year our budget is 13 billion Kina.

Pomat is contesting the Manus Open seat while Benjamin is running to retain his seat as Manus governor.

The Prime Minister was received at Momote airport by Governor Benjamin, Manus Provincial Administrator Andrew Posong, PPC Manus Chief Inspector David Yapu and other senior officers of Manus Provincial Administration, Heads of National Government Agencies, Provincial Executive members and other Community Leaders.  

PPC Yapu said the joint Security Forces provided a full escort for PM O’Neill to the NBC beach at Lorengau town.

Among them were 49 females.

Eight hundred and eighteen of these candidates are contesting as independent while 502 were affiliated to a party.

Eastern Highlands Province tops the list of candidates contesting with 396, followed by Chimbu (320), Enga (162), Jiwaka (136), Southern Highlands (117), Western Highlands (117) and Hela (92).

The lowest number of candidates contesting is from Prime Minister Peter O’Neill’s electorate.

It has only 10 candidates putting their hand up to challenge the Prime Minister and leader of the People’s National Congress party.

Polye said the disruption at the PNC rally for EHP Governor Julie Soso speaks volumes.  

He challenged Prime Minister Peter O’Neill not to water down people’s anger.

“It is only a representation of common public resentment our people have had against him and his government,” said Polye.

“Their resentment will be translated into votes."

Meanwhile, PM O’Neill told Loop PNG that the disturbance was caused by a few people under the influence of alcohol.

“People sat down and listened for over 45 minutes of my speech.

Reports from Goroka stated that local police had to intervene and use force in a campaign rally yesterday (Tuesday) after the crowd became disruptive while the prime minster was speaking.   

The rally was for PNC candidate and Governor Julie Soso.       

PM Peter O’Neill told Loop PNG that disturbance was caused by a few people under the influence of alcohol.

“People sat down and listened for over 45 minutes of my speech,” said the PM.

“Police present were the only ones allocated to PM’s office.