Is there any hope for well conducted elections in Enga or will it be marred by violence like we have seen in the Kandep by-election. Beleive me that Kandep by-election was won by corrupt deals and not via educated voting by the people.
I have great fear that those of us who want to contest these elections without money, gang support, corrupted police support do not stand any chance. Though we may have the best ideas to develop and move our respective districts forward but the environment will be too hostile and not worth campaigning in.
Fellows what do you think are some ways we could improve this frightening trend in our beloved Enga and for me Kandep?
Good one Wetlanderl, can't say anymore. looks like its the trend in PNG politics. Somare was nearly ousted by Alan bird but lucky police corruption and money power came into play. Otherwise, he would be like Peter Lus. I was there in 2002 and witnessed the events unfolding.
This kind of politicking style was born and breed in Enga and slowly infected the country through so called political advisors from enga. All the current MPs won thru that tactic so we really can't point figures to one political leader. Obviously or secretly, they have done it. Deep down in their innocent heart bears that guilt. The Kompiam Ambum Electorate MP, Mr. Pundari, actually confessed that ...[quoted] "God blessed my corrupt dealings to win the contest while the others where cursed, ..." - (was actually said in tokples). This was in a public speech back in his electorate last year.Couldn't believe my ears God blesses such and nearly collapsed!!
Anyhow, the only way I think, personally, is thru awarness campaign and intensively educating the voters. There's nothing more. We need to tell the poor people back home about the realities and what is going to happen and is happening in the socioeconomic developments. People will listen when all the educated elites work as a team despite individual's political opinions.It is very common that if an educated elite from a village/community tends to support one candidate, majority of the people follow him/her. We should alert our poor brothers, sisters, parents and everyone to investigate and judge the intentions/objectives support a candidate. We have to be honest with our people when educating them. My immediate uncle contested for the last election, but i saw he had different motives so i didn't support or casted my vote to him so did majority of my tribesman. We have to do something and it is educating our illiterates - that includes, teachers, nursing officers, and some public servants who have little knowledge on the developments taking place but seems to play "big brother".
Get me right here...... I even need to get my self equiped.
If I don't, it's dictatorship from the big brother's side. The people's attitude being driven by money to do this and that....puppeteors do what they like to gain fame and rich...... it's a hell of a thing that came in too quickly during the last 10 years of politics in Kandep and may take a generation to cure.
Pyaren Pyaro lo wamb leo ong.... For the good of Kandep.
DO WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR ANOTHER GENERATION TO TAKE UP THE RESPONSIBILITY OR DO WE NEED TO DO THIS FOR OUR CHILDREN'S BENEFIT, STARTING FROM NOW?
DO WE NEED MONEY/GUN/CARS/5TH ELEMENTS TO LURE OUR POOR VILLAGERS TO UNDERSTAND US FOR SOMETHING THAT'S REAL OR DO WE NEED SOME CONSTRUCTIVE AWARENESS USING THE NATURAL MEDIUM - TOKTOK?
This is not only for Kandep or Enga but as for country as a whole.
Should help if the awareness comes in big ways and both attitudes (so called opposition + governmenr) will compromise.
The situation now is, like for Kandep as an example, Polye is buying guns left right centre for his people so that he maintains his strength to rule as the dictator of Kandep. His own tribesmen, the Kambereps now acting as heroes in Kandep because they are now fully equiped. Kaimbereps were a least on the list when talking about traibal warefares with bows and arrows by our fathers. But now that they have jumped the trend and we just saw it during the by-election about the road blocks at Kokas.
Am sorry if my statement hurts some one but I am only explaining the current situation that's driving hostility in people mind set.
Things were never like this during the reigns of Jimson Sauk. This is a big issue, unless the awareness comes in big ways and really convert the people into one peace.
Guys peace is a word that is not in the vocabulary of Don and supporters. Peace will come if Don leads from the front. MPs are always scared of their lives and they should be because they are number one thieves.
guys I know I started this thread but I just feel that peace is many miles away given the Kambereps with their high powered guns.
One day peace will be a word in the vocabulary of Kandepens but for now shelf it.
Guns do Taut peace initiatives but can a gunman live longer? I've seen so call rambos have never lived more than 4 years after they gain that "name". See the desert villages along the wapenamanda and wabag roads. Ask someone form those villages and see if all the so call RAMBOS are still living. The experiences are bad and I've seen entire tribes from laigam district living in moresby and causing ethnic tensions. Sorry but its a disgrace to enga in a bigger picture. I don't want my Kandepians to be the same.
If we do not initiate peace in our own villages, one has to be prepared to look after an entire tribe in the big cities like hagen, lae and mosbi. They'll come in loads or walk the kokoda track like the Taris, wapukins, ambulins, tirrs, wairins, ambushii, iraels, sanakins, sikins, itiokons, etc... have done.
another question is but its so controversial to reality but: "DO WE NEED GUNS FOR GUNS?"
I would tell my tribesman that I'm not buying you guns. Then, don't get yourself into trouble. If someone causes a trouble, send him to authorities. If the gun equiped tribe wants to raid, You know who has the gun so report to police and do a good raid. Lock up the culprits. Let the law take its cause. Not all law enforcing officers are aligned to political cronies or leaders.
We gotta stop this "gun stocking" culture before it goes worse. From experience, when you have gun(s), e.g. MP5 submachine, M16, pump, etc...the upper end, you think you the hero and immune from bullets or to say death. i tell you its crazy!!!!!! so lets not build this gun culture.
Even if Don looses and someone else wins, peace will be a dream "word" still. ONE CANNOT SHELF PEACE. IF YOU SHELF PEACE, HATRED, TRIBAL WAR, etc...WILL TAKE ITS PLACE. WHEN YOU WANT TO BRING PEACE BACK, IT CAN'T LAST LONG BECAUSE IT HAS LITTLE ROOTS IN THE COMMUNITY. PEACE IS SOMETHING THEY WILL START TO FEAR AND NOT GUNS!!
I KNOW ITS HARD FOR US BUT LETS DO IT FOR THE KIDS!!! YES, THE KIDS CAN CALL THEMSELVES ENGANS OR KANDEPIANS WITH ITS TRUE MEANING BUT IF OUR KIDS WILL NEVER KNOW THEIR OWN VILLAGE AND THEN PROUDLY CALL THEMSELVES ENGANS OR KANDEPIANS, ITS LOST OF IDENTITY AND CULTURAL CRISIS!!!
The point exactly..... Don Pomb Polye needs to do something right now. While I play my part at the village level. So what approach can we take here? Put it up on the Post/theNATIONAL editorials?
As a Kandep Turaon, urgency is required to sort this difference out. Polye must make peace with Alfred Manase, Peter Mission, Kenneth Andrew and Be Pepo.