A student died after he was beaten up during a General Election 2022 (GE22) campaign in Lae – taking to 30 all election-related deaths so far as reported by the media.
Metropolitan police commander Chief Supt Chris Kunyanban has warned campaign rally organisers to plan their gatherings wisely in regards to timing and security, to minimise law and order issues.
We cannot stop political rallies as the candidates, supporters as well as political parties have the right to host them. But they have to try as much as possible to avoid crimes being committed there.
Kunyanban
Kunyanban said the grade eight student attending a primary school in Lae was beaten to death during a rally camp at the Papuan Compound last Sunday afternoon.
He said the student, who was allegedly drunk, had an argument with a vendor when he tried to steal a packet of cigarette.
He (also) had an argument with youths at the Papuan Compound who were also (drunk).
Chief Supt. Chris Kunyanban
He was bashed up and placed at a rally house.
Later when people realised that he had stopped moving, they alerted police who took him to the Angau Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The public at the moment will always blame the rally for the law and order problems that may occur, but some of the crimes are not connected.
Kunyanban said some attended such rallies to listen to candidates while others were “opportunists”.
The other 29 who died included:
- ON June 10, a clash between rival supporters of candidates in Kainantu, Eastern Highlands resulted in two men being shot dead, several were critically injured and four vehicles torched;
- ON June 12 a truck full of campaign supporters plunged down a cliff on the Tomba Freeway in Western Highlands’ Nebilyer. Sixteen people died. They were on their way to Tambul-Nebilyer MP Win Bakri Daki’s campaign base with food;
- ON June 4 two brothers rowed over the construction of a rally grandstand resulting in one stabbing the other to death in Southern Highlands;
- ON June 2 a man died after he fell off a vehicle full of political campaign supporters in a rally in Wau, Morobe;
- ALSO in June, East Sepik commander Superintendent Albert Beli said seven people were killed in a fight between Murik settlers and Mengar; and,
- ON May 26, two men were shot dead in a clash between supporters of two political parties in Morobe’s Huon Gulf.