Voters destroy bridges in PNG

Papua New Guinea has deployed troops and Police to quell election violence in Enga Province.

POLICE and military reinforcements have been deployed after election violence in Enga Province, Papua New Guinea.

A State of Emergency has been declared in the area because of ongoing outbreaks of tribal fighting linked to a by-election in the Porgera Paiela district.

Enga’s police commander Fred Yakasa said polling in and around Porgera township was peaceful, but two bridges were destroyed by a candidate’s supporters in Mulitaka, the site of a deadly landslide last year.

Extra police and soldiers were deployed for the voting in Enga Province, and all vehicles were ordered off the roads to try and prevent election-related violence.