JUNE 2 2022
PRIME Minister and the Leader of Pangu Pati, Hon. James Marape is appealing to all supporters of Pangu throughout the country to refrain from retaliating against supporters of opposing parties who are perpetrating violence upon Pangu candidates and property.
The Prime Minister said since it was Pangu that ushered in Independence and gave the country its sovereignty, more responsibility is now upon Pangu members, candidates and supporters to uphold every facet and tenet of Democracy in Papua New Guinea.
“We are like the mother of the country. PNG is the child of Pangu Pati. In 1975, it was Pangu Pati, used by God through the Founding Fathers, who ushered in the sovereignty we have today.
“Key within this sovereignty is the democratic values that our country has been gifted with by our party’s founders who were also the founders of this country. So the greater responsibility lies with Pangu Pati.
“I appeal to our party supporters and candidates throughout the country to practice restraint on violence, threat and intimidation.”
The Prime Minister said under his leadership where Pangu led as custodians, he wished to pass into the future a secured democracy where all its tenets and facets remained intact.
“We will campaign hard and fair. We will dwell on our past deliveries. We talk on our policies and we talk about what we will do for the future.
“I note the burning of our party flags and merchandise in Southern Highlands by PNC supporters. I call upon our supporters, do not resort to these sorts of tactics by repaying evil with evil.
“These are the people who have no comfort in their policies, therefore resorting to violence, threat and intimidation. But this country will do so much better without threat, intimidation and violence.”
What Papua New Guinea needed now, Prime Minister Marape said, was love and peace – the founding building blocks that built this country in the first place.
“The greatest need for this country right now is love, tolerance to opposition views, humility, patience, grace, and forgiveness of one and other.
“Pangu Pati supporters in the country must reflect these noble virtues. These are Christian virtues as practiced by our Founding Fathers and Mothers in the building of PNG at the start.
“This country must remain united. This country must continue to be tolerant to diversity in opinion.
“I do not approve of violence as an answer to solve disputes, and Pangu supporters must do the same. Show kindness, love, mercy, tolerance and humility. Campaign and rally support behind our candidates and to also look out for the next best candidate in the constituency you are in, since this is the LPV sytem.
“If someone is next best as your candidate then give him or her your second or third votes. Preferably for me at the coalition level, I have many coalition partners whose members can also be within your consideration.
“I appeal to our candidates and supporters throughout the country to refrain from illegal activities violence threat and intimidation. Respect other parties and their merchandise, their candidates and their convoy of supporters.
“At the end of the election period, we will still live as one people, one nation, one country.”
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