PORT MORESBY (Papua New Guinea Post-Courier, The National/PINA) — Two women, including a young pregnant mother, were pack-raped in election-related incidents in Papua New Guinea’s Western Highlands.
The two women from the tribe of former Anglimp South Wahgi member Kuk Kuli were raped by supporters of another candidate in Kindeng.
There have been a number of incidents in the Highlands ahead of this month’s elections.
The women, who are married to the rival candidate’s Menga tribe, were reportedly heading for Kuli’s home with several other people when they were attacked and raped.
Relatives from the women’s husbands’ Momblge sub clan early on Sunday morning raided the rival candidate’s village, burned down several houses, including his campaign house, and chopped a man with axes and bushknives.
Following the raid, the rival’s men mobilized, retaliated and seriously wounded another man from the Momblge clan. The man is believed to have later died.
The raped victims were alleged to have lured votes from their husband’s clan for Kuli. The rival’s supporters, in an attempt to prevent people going out from their tribe, were said to have raped the women.
Meanwhile, Kuli urged candidates and their supporters not to turn to unlawful acts in their campaigns.
