PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) — The European Union has reportedly ruled out sending election observers to Papua New Guinea because it considers this month’s national poll to be too risky.
A statement from Port Moresby quoted an EU delegation visiting the island province of Bougainville as saying the plan had been scrapped, mainly because of security concerns.
The paper quoted the delegation’s head, Anthony Crasner, as saying PNG authorities had assured him they could handle the election alone.
The country’s Prime Minister Mekere Morauta last month successfully requested that a European Commission team visit Port Moresby to consider deploying observers.
But after EU member states were consulted, the team ruled out sending observers because it felt it was too risky for them, Crasner said
The move will anger many businesses and politicians who have been calling for independent election monitors since late last year.
So far there have been only isolated cases of election-related violence, but fears remain that the situation could deteriorate in volatile parts of the country.
It was revealed last month that former combatants involved in political campaigning on Bougainville had threatened to shoot people voting against their candidates.
A provincial peace coordinator, Peter Sohia, said he was concerned by the threats, which he said could jeopardize Bougainville’s move towards independence.
