Polye’s win set aside

Source:The National, Tuesday May 3rd, 2016

 By DEMAS TIEN 

 THE National Court has set aside Kandep MP Don Polye’s victory during the 2012 general election ‒ pending the counting of votes in five ballot boxes initially rejected.

Justice Joseph Yagi in a ruling yesterday gave 30 days to the Electoral Commission to have the five ballot boxes counted.

Luke Alfred Manase, who was the runner-up in 2012 to Polye, the current Opposition Leader, in the Kandep Open seat, had sought four orders from the court including the recounting of votes in the five boxes.

Three were earlier in favour of Polye.

Yagi ordered yesterday that the candidate scoring the absolute majority after the counting of votes in the five boxes would be declared the Kandep MP.

The five boxes rejected were from the polling stations at Lungutenges No 1, Kombros No 1, Kambia No 1, Maru and Imipiaka in Kandep. 

Manase named Polye as the first respondent and the Electoral Commission as the second.

He disputed the election of Polye, questioning the conduct of election officials during the counting of votes.

The substance of the complaint by Manase in the petition was related to allegations of errors and omissions by the officers, servants and agents of the Electoral Commission. 

The court was satisfied with one of the grounds raised by Manase in his petition relating to the five boxes which were rejected. The votes in the five boxes were not scrutinised and counted. The other three grounds were dismissed because the court was not satisfied that the allegations stated in the grounds had been sufficiently proven.

Meanwhile, Polye said yesterday in response to the court ruling that he was the victim of an error made by the returning officer for the Kandep Open seat.

Polye said he had won the seat by a big margin but this had been set aside because of an error by the Electoral Commission and its agents.

“I am just a victim of an error by the Returning Officer,” Polye said.

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Court order costly

Source: The National, Wednesday May 4th, 2016

By MALUM NALU

 

ELECTORAL Commissioner Patilias Gamato says it will cost about K850,000 to count the five disputed ballot boxes for the Kandep Open seat in Enga, as ordered by the National Court on Monday.

He said the five boxes contained 3248 ballot papers were from the Lungutenges No 1 (479), Kombros No 1 (635), Kambia No 1 (520), Maru (772) and Imipiaka (842) polling stations. They were excluded by election officials from the counting process during the 2012 general election. 

Don Polye won the seat with 23,952 votes. Luke Alfred Manase, the petitioner, was second with 11,418 votes.

Gamato told The National last night that Polye was no longer the Kandep MP. A new declaration of the winner will be made after the counting of the five boxes.

Gamato said the K850,000 was the figure reached following a consultation with his management team, “in case the five boxes changed the absolute majority and we go into the elimination process”.

“It means we have to count all eliminations until we find the winner. Once we start counting the five boxes, we cannot stop and go back to ask the Government to give us (more) money,” he said.

“They have to make money available at the first instance so when we start, we flow. We may not use the full K850,000.”

He said figure included costs for the petitioner as ordered by court, plus the lawyer representing the commission.

Justice Joseph Yagi ordered on Monday to have the five boxes counted, as one of the four orders sought by Manase in the petition. Three were ruled in favour of Polye. 

Gamato said the five boxes would be brought from Wabag and the counting done at the commission headquarters in Waigani within the 30 days as ordered by the court.

Gamato will write to Chief Secretary Isaac Lupari and Finance Secretary Dr Ken Ngangan to secure the funding.

In 2012, Polye was declared winner of the Kandep seat on primary votes because the total votes he polled after the last count reached the absolute majority required under the LPV system.

The total allowable ballot papers was 47,713 and the absolute majority was 23,858. 

Meanwhile, he said the commission had only received K600,000 out of the K2.5 million allocated for the Samarai-Murua by-election in Milne Bay.

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Poll officials to face probe

Source: The National, Thursday May 5th, 2016

 By MALUM NALU

THE election manager and returning officer for the Kandep Open seat in Enga during the 2012 general election will be referred to police to be investigated over alleged corruption, an official says.

Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato told The National that he wrote to Police Commissioner Gari Baki yesterday to have election manager Henry Kyakas and returning officer Naepet Keae investigated.

Kyakas is employed by the commission while Keae is employed by the Enga provincial administration.

The National Court on Monday set aside Kandep MP Don Polye’s victory during the 2012 general election pending the counting of five ballot boxes which were initially rejected by election officials. The five boxes rejected were from the polling stations at Lungutenges No. 1, Kombros No. 1, Kambia No. 1, Maru and Imipiaka in Kandep.

The substance of the complaint by petitioner Luke Alfred Manase was related to allegations of errors and omissions by the officers, servants and agents of the Electoral Commission.

Gamato said the electoral processes were not followed in the Kandep election.

He said it was important that election managers and returning officers avoid corrupt practices during the election process.

Gamato said the court on Monday concluded that there was a lot of “foul play” involved.

“What the judgement and the court order said was that there was a lot of foul play,” he said.

“The evidence the petitioner (Manase) and his supporters gave was strong and based on that the judge made a ruling. We at the Electoral Commission must be strong in upholding the Constitution and the laws that govern elections.”

Polye won the seat with 23,952 votes.

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Minister hails road completion

Source:The National, Wednesday August 5th, 2015

WORKS Minister and Imbonggu MP Francis Awesa has welcomed the completion of the Mendi-Kandep Road last week by Chinese company COVEC.
The road will for the very first time link Southern Highlands to Enga.
“It’s a very important project as far as this Government is concerned,” Awesa told The National.
“It’s one of the projects we have funded - well over K250 million - which has opened up Kandep in Enga to Mendi in Southern Highlands.
“It opens up Laiagam and Porgera in the Enga.
“Now you can travel from Porgera to Laiagam to Mendi in two to three hours.
“Previously, there were no road connections. It’s all ready to go and I’m looking forward to the opening.It’s now just one hour from Kandep to Mendi.
“We spent about K300 million, and for the first time, I’m very happy to report that we’re going to open this important road.
“This is a very important access, shorter in terms of getting flights for people from the Western end of Enga to come to Mendi and catch flights to Port Moresby and other places.”
Awesa said plans were afoot to connect Tari in Hela with Mendi.
“We are spending about K90 million on that,” he said.
“It will be about one-and-a-half hours from Tari to Mendi, short-cut from Kandep, Laiagam and Porgera into Mendi.
“We have the Mendi Airport coming up.”
Awesa said these major impact projects will open pto link the two provinces.
“These services will help improve the delivery of basic services at the village level,” he said

Mendi-Kandep Road Construction ends @ a Cost of K166m

K166m road work ends

Source:The National, Friday July 31st, 2015

THREE years of work on the K166 million 50km Mendi-Kandep Road linking Enga and Southern Highlands have come to an end.
The road, through rugged and mountainous terrain was completed by Chinese contractor COVEC (PNG) last week under Asian Development Bank funding. An official opening date is yet to be confirmed.
Leaders such as Works Minister Francis Awesa and Kandep MP and former treasurer Don Polye had been pushing hard for this project since 2012.
COVEC (PNG) acting general manager and project manager Tony Liu said it was the first time for a  direct road connection between Southern Highlands and Enga.
“I’m very, very happy that this road has been completed on time,” he said.
“We built this road to a very high quality and the local people will benefit.”
Liu commended the local people for their understanding and help, the Government, sub-contractors, and landowners.
“This is teamwork, not only one party could have completed this road,” he said.
“We will continue to maintain the road and we look forward to more opportunities to contribute towards the development of this country.”

More Photos of the Current Mendi-Kandep Road in the Photo Gallery on this blog; Refer LINK HERE!

Polye admitted with malaria

Source:The National, Wednesday July 29th, 2015

OPPOSITION leader Don Polye is in Cairns, Australia, seeking treatment for malaria.
A spokesman for the Kandep MP told The National last night that Polye was admitted at the Port Moresby General Hospital last week with malaria.
He did not attend Parliament last week because of it.
He said Polye was medically evacuated to a Cairns hospital last weekend for treatment and was now recovering.
He said Polye was expected back in Parliament this week

K10m to Light up District

Source:The National, Wednesday July 8th, 2015

KANDEP MP Don Polye plans to spend K10 million to light up the district in Enga.
Polye revealed that when presenting the district’s services improvement programme report to the Department of Rural Implementation.
He said officials from a consultancy company were sent to Kandep last Friday to do a feasibility study.
On the completion of the study, the Yonki power grid will be pulled along the Kandep-Mendi Highway from Southern Highlands to the district.
“The project will raise the profile of the district as there are many projects nearing completion or under construction like the Kandep-Laiagam/Porgera Road, police barracks and rural hospital,” Polye said,
“We are still waiting for the implementation of an overdue electricity project generated by Hides gas which was announced by the past government but to date nothing tangible has taken place.
“The gas project was to cover the entire Highlands region but it has been delayed.”
Meanwhile, Polye said the people of Hela and Kandep had been deprived of the only road access by the Government when K39 million allocated for the proposed bridge to link Hela and Enga was diverted to other projects outside the district

Polye responds to claims on Kandep

Source: The National, Monday December 2nd, 2013

IN response to a letter by Kandep Bush Mangi titled “Polye’s 12-year reign in Kandep shows nothing” (Nov 18), I welcome his comments.
However, I see it as a political statement and not based on facts.
Firstly, he claimed that there is an accumulative fund over K150 million for Kandep since my reign, which is not true.
This is deliberately misleading and meant to create instability and confusion.
I urge him to go to the Office of Rural Development to verify the facts.
Furthermore, the K10 million of DSIP fund during Somare’s government is also not true; there was only one K10 million DSIP fund while the others were below K5 million and only K2 million for two years.
The following are facts: Kandep to Laiagam road (DSIP K12 million in addition to ADB loan 1709), district buildings (K6m), rural health centre (K5m - a work in progress and may increase further), Kandep school labs (K1.2m), Kandep agricultural centre (K6m), Wasa Bridge (K4m), all road links within Kandep (K7m), sealing of Kandep Town road (K2.7m), youth and labour employment (K3m), support to smallholders employers / SME (K5m), power and telecommunication (K1m), transportation costs (K2m) and church support (K2m).
Total project cost during the last 10 years in Kandep is over K50 million, not K150 million as the writer claimed and official records are there for him/her to verify.
The writer should not play politics to create rivalry and conflict.
If he is sincere about the development of Kandep, he should support me in bringing services back to our people.
That is why I have initiated major projects in Kandep.
The Kandep people want a sincere, honest, humble and hardworking leader, who is committed to serve them and this desire has been shown clearly in the past general elections and one by-election.
I am the only MP to win by primary vote counts since the 2002 general elections.
This clearly shows the desire, trust and value the people of Kandep have in my leadership.
I challenge the writer to forget politics and work to develop Kandep, not destroy it through false claims that may incite unrest.
At this moment, more than four projects are in progress and the writer should visit Kandep, if he has not, to see them.
I remain committed to developing Kandep for a better tomorrow and urge all critics to stop spreading lies and work in partnership with me if they truly are concerned about transforming Kandep.


Don Pomb Polye
Kandep MP, Minister for Treasury & World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund Board of Governors Chairman

Polye’s 12-year reign in Kandep shows nothing

Source: The National, Monday November 18th, 2013

I REFER to the advertisements in the two dailies on the development boom in Kandep (Nov 8).
I have no grudges against the writer or leaders, but I want to air my honest view as a citizen.
I do not know how other Kandepians feel, but to me, the advertisements were misleading, deceptive, deceitful and a mere cover-up to the heaps of problems in Kandep.
I would appreciate if the advertisements were about the work done from mid-2012 to 2013.
In reality, local MP Don Polye, the minister for treasury and current IMF and World Bank chairman, got elected in 2002.
The then Somare government introduced the annual K10 million DSIP funds for all districts.
Thus, these funds for Kandep alone from 2003 to 2013 amounts to K110 million, excluding RESI funds, the K33 million given by the then Somare government during NEC meeting in Wabag and other development funds.
The total is about more than K150 million in Polye’s 12-year reign.
Compared to the projects advertised and what I see on the ground, the road-sealing within the vicinity of Kandep Station is about 2km, so should cost less than K3 million.
The administration office is worth less than K2 million, the laboratory for Kandep High School should cost about K300,000, the hospital should cost K3 million and the Lagaip Bridge under construction is part of the K480 million road project from Mendi to Kandep and Porgera, which is funded by the national government.
So, the truth is, the people of Kandep are suffering from the lack of basic services, but leaders and educated people like the writer Wanpis Ako are covering it up for personal gains.
More than 100 people died from 2002-3 just in election-related fights and many have been displaced.
In my view, only less than K30 million was spent in the district in the past 12 years, most of which were handouts.
We can be rich overnight at people’s expense, but remember, we came naked and will leave naked.
God raises leaders, but they fall when they do not do the right thing like King Nebuchadnezzar.
Only the good Lord knows who speaks the truth and will judge accordingly.
This time, we can say and do what we want for our own good.

Kandep Bush Magi
Wabag

Mendi to Kandep Road Construction

Source: Post Courier, Highlands Region

Thursday 23rd May 2013

Govt: Be patient
BY PEARSON KOLO
CONSTRUCTION firm COVEC has started work on the Mendi-Kandep Highway which would link Southern Highlands and Enga Provaince. “The road construction work is very slow though it was started a year ago,” Southern Highlands Provincial Chamber of Commerce President Berry Mini told Treasury Minister Don Polye on Saturday in Mendi and called for local contractors to be given major part of contracts for future road developments in the area and region. This Johnny Poiya picture shows part of the road works further at Tente near Mendi.

THE National Government has asked certain Southern Highlands landowners to be patient with their claims while they sort out pressing issues.
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and his team were in Mount Hagen this week and Wita Group Clan (WGC) of Hela, Southern Highlands province wanted to use the opportunity to meet with the leaders about their demands.
WGC said they owned 57 percent of the well heads at Hides PDL 1 and that they were owed K29.8 million set aside as Business Development Grants.
The landowners are claiming that the National Government had an agreement with the clan leaders after they (WGC) had demanded the payment of K29.8 million in October 2012 under the Business Development Grants scheme.
They are also claiming that K18 million had already been paid out to certain individuals and companies without their knowledge which the clan leaders David Uriabu, Andiria Keta, Thomas Kurubu, Engepe Igibe, Mathew Tombena, luke Hare and Chief Ekawi asked the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and Finance Minister James Marape in writing to put to light.
In November 24th 2012, in a negotiation between relevant government bodies and the Clan leaders; the government bodies agreed to look into the request made by the Wita Clan leaders, after they had laid down a ‘stop work’ on the site.
But Chief Secretary’ office advised this paper the matter was better discussed in a roundtable and advised they were aware of the situation and urged the landowners to give them time.

Polye has done the country proud

Source: Letters, The National, Monday September 23rd, 2013

ON behalf of my family, tribe,and Kandep people, I would like to congratulate Don Polye on his appointment as chairman of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.
This came at a crucial time in the world economy.
This is a time which requires national governments and international institutions to display great calmness, courage and farsightedness.
Now, more than ever, PNG citizens are asking for a new democratic commitment capable of overcoming the crisis by restoring economic growth and jobs in PNG.
I am sure that with Polye as the chairman, PNG, in accordance with its traditions, will make decisive contributions to economic growth around the world, particularly among the emerging countries.
With his background in treasury and innovative ideas, he will surely contribute to economic growth at national and international levels.
I cannot think of anyone more worthy of this prestigious position and feel certain that the committee has made an excellent choice.
This award also brings honour to his home, Kandep, as well as the country.
Kambirip Kiap
Wabag

Kandep Peace move applauded

News	Tuesday 11th June 2013

A LAE based Engan businessman Mr Kandaso Napi has applauded the positive move by Enga Governor Peter Ipatas and his administration in trying to negotiate peace amongst the warring tribes of the Kandep district.
He has also appreciated the positive gestures made by Treasury Minister Don Polye.
“It is quite reassuring if that is any indication of future political cooperation between our two prominent leaders of the province and the immediate need for their bipartisan approach to end the bloodshed and sufferings of the many innocent people in that district.
Mr Napi, who is an ardent nationalist and one who also concerns himself with the developments and events in his home province, has called on Governor Ipatas and Minister Polye to put their political and personal differences aside and work towards lasting peace for the good of Kandep and Enga as a province.
He said if they had done that one year ago at the start to quell the troubles that flared up after the elections, it would not have gotten out of hand and the deaths could have been avoided.
Mr Napi said supporters of Mr Polye and Alfred Manase had been waging war against each other and described the reports of more than 100 people who have lost their lives as disturbing and unnecessary since most of those poor souls would never have benefitted in one way or another through the winnings of either candidate.
He said in reality, the war belonged to them and if these two educated Kandepians had also shown their true leadership at the beginning, all those innocent lives would have been saved.
He said they must discuss peace through the established Engan customary system of brokering peace and bringing normalcy to the area so that people may go about their daily lives without any hindrance and fear of retaliation.
Mr Napi called on the people of Kandep, especially those groups and individuals whose lives have been affected in one way or another by tribal war to forget and forgive if they want genuine lasting peace.
This self-made businessman who is a strong supporter of local participation in spin-off businesses, envisages a booming Kandep as a border district when the Mendi-Kikori highway opens up in the near future.
He said when this happened, all Engan businesses, including the giant Porgera gold mine and the upcoming Mt Kare gold mine would be using the now upgraded Kandep-Mendi highway and connect with the Mendi-Kikori highway as a short-cut alternative to freight their equipment and materials.
“I reckon the people of Kandep would benefit immensely if they can stop fighting now and prepare to cash in on the opportunities of a lifetime”, he added.

Prosecutor: Report on case wrong, misleading

Source:The National, Thursday July 11th, 2013

THE deputy police commissioner operations did not submit the 15-page letter that was tendered in the Mt Hagen District Court on Tuesday, prosecutor John Korowa said yesterday.
The letter was on the delay in serving the court summons on Treasury Minister and Kandep MP Don Polye.
Korowa said part of the report on the case as reported yesterday was wrong and misleading.
He said he submitted a two-page letter from police legal officer, Chief Supt Hodges Ete, on the legal opinion on the case to presiding Magistrate Jeremaiah Singomat as requested by the court.
He said the letter was not written by the deputy police commissioner operations nor did it come from his office as stated in the newspaper.
The case will return to the District Court on Aug 6.
The case came about after a police raid on Polye’s house at Avi Block, Jiwaka, on Oct 4, 2011 and found unlicensed firearms and ammunition in his house

Police top brass told not to meddle with court

Source: The National, Wednesday July 10th, 2013

 

By ELIAS LARI
Western Highlands district magistrate Jeremiah Singomat has called on the police commissioner, his deputy and other senior offices not to interfere with any case before the courts.
Singomat said this yesterday in the Mt Hagen District Court after seeing a 15-page letter from the office of the deputy police commissioner, operations, regarding the delay in serving a court summons to Treasury Minister and Kandep MP Don Polye for alleged possession of firearms.
The letter allegedly asked the court do away with the case but Singomat called on police not to interfere with the case.
“This letter has no author and dates so I do not know why the Police Department is so interested in it,” Singomat said.
“This is my court and my business and not a police matter so I do not want police to interfere with any case before the court.”
Singomat said police could not use such tactics to withdraw the case because once it was registered it became a court matter.
A police team had obtained a summons against Polye after searching one of his homes in Jiwaka on October 4 last year and found firearms and ammunition.
Singomat ordered police investigators Ronny Mitau and Michael Wells to write affidavits and explain why the case was not going ahead.
“The court does not happen that way where police using tactics to make this case go without judgment.”
Singomat said as long as he was in charge the case would go ahead until a judgment was made.
He asked why the summons had not been served on Polye, adding he would not allow police to withdraw the case.
“No man is above the law, including the police and political leaders, and once a case is registered it has to proceed.”

Polye: Enga needs new leadership style

Source: The National, Wednesday 5th June 2013

KANDEP MP Don Polye says Enga needs a new style of leadership to address lawlessness because tribal fights are caused by an “Engan political leadership culture”.
He said in a statement yesterday the province wants a “new style of leadership driven by admiration, result-orientation, modernisation, collectivity, humility, conscientiousness, principles, progression, democracy, respectfulness, professionalism and quality-orientation” to address lawlessness effectively.
“The former, which has decayed our moral standards, is the one that is motivated by jealousy, egoism, militant and pugnacious, narrow-minded, suppressive, belligerent, undemocratic, unadaptive, and destructive mentality.
“Enga needs that change in all sectors and levels of leadership,” he said.
He thanked Governor Peter Ipatas for addressing the much-publicised tribal fight between Akul-Mas-Torom and Kamberip tribes in Marient area of his electorate which started last August after his election victory.
He urged Ipatas to facilitate a meeting between him, lawyer Alfred Manase and other rival candidates as a follow-up to the peace treaty.
He said although there were more than 15 tribal fights in happening in the province using high-powered guns, the fight in his electorate had attracted the attention of the provincial government and others

War-torn Kandep aim for peace

Source: Post Courier, Monday March 18, 2013

Feature

Monday 18th March 2013

By Daniel Kumbon in Wabag

Kandep people will now begin to see decent peace upon their beautiful valley because government authorities have taken positive steps to stop an ongoing election related tribal warfare that has claimed over sixty lives.
The fighting between the Akul and Kambrip tribes which started after the declaration of results of the Kandep Open seat in 2012 has affected the whole district, forcing people to flee to many parts of the country while property worth millions of kina was destroyed.
Two prominent figures in PNG and arch political rivals, Alfred Manase and Treasury Minister, Don Polye belong to these two tribes and their political allies took sides to engage in a prolonged guerrilla–type tribal warfare.
Now, there are positive signs that peace will be restored. New Provincial Police Commander, Supt Philip Weila went to Kandep on March 7 to assure people that police will come in full force to bring normalcy. Not many people were present to receive the good news because they were at funerals at Lagalap and Kambia after four young men were killed that same week – two on each side.
Then on Monday March 11, Provincial Administrator, Dr Samson Amean and Rural Police Commander, Senior Inspector Martin Kelly travelled to Kandep and told the people that 60 policemen will definitely come today, March 18, and will divide into two groups – one to be based among the Kambrip and the other to operate on the Akul side.
In addition, 15 regular policemen will be based permanently in Kandep under the command of Senior Sgt Jim Panao who had already moved there on Sunday March 10, with an advance party. The war-torn district has had no police presence in the last ten years.
Dr Amean told the people that as part of the government’s over-all peace initiative he had appointed a senior public servant, Mr Ben Besawe as acting District Administer to mobilise and restore the public service machinery in the district. And he will accord him full support to ensure essential services begin to flow to the people.
“Bougainville was destroyed due to problems that started like this. Twenty years of conflict there has seen a whole generation of people deprived of formal education. Many people were killed in that conflict and all services stopped,” Dr Amean said. “And Kandep people must be warned: the same thing can happen here. You must lay down your arms and think of your children’s future.”
He said he will travel to Port Moresby to plead with Don Polye and Alfred Manase to ask them to encourage their people to stop fighting and support government initiatives to bring peace and normalcy to their district.
Leaders from other tribes who actively fought in the fight assured the Provincial Administrator, police and senior public servants from key divisions who had accompanied Dr Samson Amean - that they will withdraw their support and leave it to the Akul and Kambrip tribes to carry on with fighting if they wished.
Mr Moe Yari, a Pao clansman of the major Ambarep tribe said his men had been supporting the Kambrip tribe mainly to take revenge after Apai Kelape Sapala, was gunned down at Alawaip village by Akul tribesmen for no apparent reason. But now he said, his people will withdraw and support the government.
All the people present appreciated steps the government was taking and thanked Dr Amean for appointing Mr Ben Besawe as acting District Administrator. As soon as taking office, Mr Besawe has engaged people to clean Kandep town overgrown with tall grass. He was also encouraging 35 public servants who fled to return to their posts.
But urgent maintenance is required on government houses after opportunists had completely dismantled six houses and left others in skeletons by removing doors, window frames, furniture, etc. Five public servants who had stayed behind during the conflict could do nothing to save the houses. Even the Ima and Alitip people, the original landowners on which Kandep town sits had escaped to other parts of the country.
In other positive developments, two schools in the vicinity of the fighting zone — Marient Primary School and Kandep Primary School have resumed classes. The only problem is that while enrolment increased, teaching staff was minimal. For instance, Kandep Primary School currently has over 400 students enrolled in all grades but only ten teachers are available when it should have fifteen.
Over at Kandep High School, Provincial Administrator, Dr Samson Amean ordered an immediate investigation into allegations that K750,000 may have been misused last year. Only K120,000 was left in the school account. And office equipment worth thousands of kina is believed to be held by former headmaster, Mr Iminj Kaipas in his village.
“I am giving priority to restore services back to the war-torn Kandep District and such allegations only jeopardise my team’s efforts,” Dr Amean said. “The school was closed mid-way last year amidst serious law and order problems when the lives of the students, teachers and their families were in danger.”
As such, all school funds should have been left untouched, he said and ordered internal auditors to find out how this huge amount was used and report to him within two weeks. Despite the financial drawbacks, the school is beginning to pick up with 10 teachers on active duty with about 300 students enrolled. And gradually government services will be restored as police begin operations and key government agencies begin work.
Official figures of the total number of people killed in the fight on both sides is 57 but unconfirmed reports indicate that over seventy people have perished. Many more sustained serious injuries and innocent women were subjected to sex attacks.
This fight has seen almost all schools including the only high school, health centres and other government services shut down or destroyed. The Murip High Altitude Rice project funded by the Chinese government was reduced to ashes.

 

Kandep District Development Programe 2009-2012

Source: The National, Friday March 1, 2013

Enga forms group to tackle tribal fights

News	Thursday 07th March 2013

By Paeope Ovasuru

THE tribal fights in Kandep District have been going on for too long
and the authorities have done nothing but watch innocent lives being lost.
Enga Governor Grand Chief Peter Ipatas raised this concern in a media conference yesterday where he announced that his provincial government was now taking actions to stop the tribal fighting.
Governor Ipatas said there was now a provincial law and order committee in place with him as the chairman to bring peace and normalcy back into the district.
“We are now taking steps to restore peace and normalcy back into the district, innocent lives have been lost and the majority of people are suffering because of the actions of a minority who are power hungry,” he said.
The actions that the committee has taken include the appointment of an acting district administrator Ben Pesawe and the directing of the Provincial Police Commander Philip Welia to visit Kandep
District and talk to the tribes involved.
“I want to assure the people of Kandep and Enga Province that the situation will be returned to normalcy and we are now moving in to address it, we have left it for so long,” he said.
However, he added that the provincial government needed the support of Kandep MP Don Polye.
He said that he had spoken to the member but had yet to get any feedback.
He praised the new provincial police commander for his efforts in addressing the tribal fight in Kandep.
Governor Ipatas said that the people were using high powered guns and money.
“If you carefully look at the situation, there are some people with money involved in these fights; they are the ones funding the high powered guns to be used in this fight,’’ he said.
“From reports that we have had, over 60 people have been killed in the fights already and I cannot go on letting this happen.’’
He stated that the fights had caused many people to miss out on basic services.
“The district administrator has abandoned his duties and the people have suffered for too long,” said Governor Ipatas.
Meanwhile, in some of the media reports, it has been said that women and children were not part of the tribal fights traditionally, but they were now among the innocent people being killed. 

Top cop vows to end Kandep tribal fights

Source: The National, Wednesday 06th March, 2013

By PHILIP KEPSON

NEW Enga police commander acting Supt Philip Welia has made a firm undertaking to put an end to the continuing tribal fighting in the Kandep district.
He told a police management meeting last Friday that urgent action was needed to bring peace and harmony to Kandep and other trouble-torn areas of the province.
Welia was instrumental in resolving a number of tribal and ethnic conflicts in Lae city and Wau-Bulolo recently in his capacity as a senior police officer in the two electorates.
He was recently appointed to the police command in Enga to replace Chief Supt Martin Lakari who had been transferred to Western Highlands.
Welia said it would require a wide consultation among parties involved in the conflict to ensure normalcy
in the district.
“My priority is to return peace to Kandep. To achieve this, it will require serious consultation among relevant parties including the provincial administration which will be represented by its law and order section, two local level governments in the district (Kandep and Wage LLGs), Kandep district administration, district education and health divisions, churches, women, the political leaders (of the district), educated elites from the district and the leaders of the warring tribes,”
he said.
Welia said a peace negotiating team comprising the various factions had been formed and he was ready to divide them into two groups and send them to the tribal zones to start negotiating for peace.
“However, before sending the two groups, I will send a police scout to the two main tribes to inform them about the work of the peace negotiating team,” he said.
The widespread conflict started when two tribes known as Kuporop and Kambirip of two political rivals, prominent lawyer Alfred Manase and Kandep MP Don Polye, started accusing each other of foulplay during a by-election in 2010.
The by-election was conducted after a successful petition by Manase against Polye in the Court of Disputed Return in Mt Hagen.
When Polye was re-elected in light of fierce fighting and killing of at least five people, the tension between the two tribes continued into the 2012 general election.
Kandep district administrator Ben Besawe said more than 80% of the people had fled to nearby Southern Highlands and other parts of Enga

Polye wins challenge

Source: The National, Tuesday 05th March, 2013

By ADRIAN MATHIAS

DEPUTY Chief Justice Gibbs Salika dismissed an election petition against the Treasurer and Kandep MP Don Pomb Polye yesterday for non-compliance of court directions by the petitioner.
The petition was brought before the court of disputed returns in Port Moresby by lawyer and losing candidate Alfred Luke Manase after the elections last year.

Manase and Polye were candidates for the Kandep open electorate in Enga. Manase, who was represented by Christine Copeland, said there were errors and omissions during the counting of votes at Wabag, Enga’s capital.He alleged that returning officer Naipet Keae and counting officials had manipulated figures polled during the counting which had resulted in Polye winning the Kandep seat.Manase also claimed that some ballot boxes were not counted.
However Polye, the founder and leader of the Triumph Heritage Empowerment (THE) Party, filed an objection to competency of the petition through his lawyer Palus Doa to dismiss the petition.
The case went into directions hearing twice in the court of disputed returns in Port Moresby, the first being on Nov 26 last year and then on Feb 7, when the court issued directions to the parties to file and serve affidavits on each other.
Salika, while dismissing the petition in its entity yesterday for non-compliance of court orders, on Feb 7 had directed the Electoral Commission’s lawyer Ray Williams to file affidavits by Feb 11 and Copeland by Feb 15.
When the matter came before him yesterday, he found that Williams had filed accordingly but Copeland had not as she was on on leave.
Salika refused her reason and said the non-compliance of court orders was three months since Nov 26, adding that it was not a day or two.
He told Copeland that she should have advised another lawyer from within the firm to step in for her while she was on leave.
Salika said court orders and directions were meant to be complied with and failure to do so, as in the case of election petition, resulted in dismissal.
He then upheld the objection to competency filed by the treasurer and dismissed the petition in its entirety. The petitioner will pay the costs