Election violence victims demands Cash and 3000 votes as compensation

Papua New Guinea officials said on Tuesday that aggrieved relatives of three locals killed in election-related ethnic violence on an eastern island have made the unusual demand of cash and 3,000 votes to the candidates of their choice as compensation.

According to police, the clash took place on Thursday in Kimbe, the capital of West New Britain, between the supporters of two political opponents from rival ethnic groups.

Three people were killed and several others were injured.

Provincial police commissioner Jim Namora told the local Post-Courier newspaper on Monday the relatives have now demanded 3,000 votes each to two candidates of their choice contesting in the local seats.

They have also asked for 200,000 kina (61,000 U.S. dollars) in compensation.

“It is illegal for people to demand and hold voters at ransom for their votes,” Patilias Gamato, the chief electoral commissioner, said, according to local Post-Courier newspaper.

Police have arrested 31 suspects in the incident and the situation in the capital continues to remain tense, with markets still closed.

Papua New Guinea is set to hold two-week-long national elections for 111 seats in the parliament in the months of June and July.