Aloysius Laukai
BUKA (New Dawn/ Radio New Zealand/ Pacific Media Watch): In the aftermath of the Bougainville elections, many losing candidates are now talking to their lawyers in the hope of
challenging the results of the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) election through the Court of Disputed Returns.
John Momis won a huge majority in the elections, easily defeating the eight men running against him.
But New Dawn FM have received reports from such candidates since the results were declared earlier this month.
The seat of the president won by President Momis, the seats of Taonita Teop and Tsitalato (constituencies in North Bougainville), Makis (constituency in South Bougainville) and ex-combatant and women's seats are being disputed.
The latest seat being disputed is the seat of Tonsu (North Bougainville), won by the former Vice-President, Izekiel Masat.
The Court of Disputed Returns is the avenue for any disgruntled candidate to get redress.
Alleged tampering
Radio New Zealand reported that one unsuccessful candidate for the position of president said he is taking legal over the election result, alleging ballot boxes were stuffed with fake votes.
Sam Kauona, a former leader of the Bougainville Revolutionary Army, said he and four other candidates and people who contested for constituency seats want a legal inquiry into the conduct of the poll.
"It looks like their votes have been thrown out and, what is it?, fake votes have been inserted," he said.
“The true ones have been extracted out and the insertion of fake votes into the ballot paper, and all funny things happened during the counting.”
Kauona said there was strong public pressure with people claiming the results did not reflect their votes.
He said they were also planning legal action to ensure the people did not take the law into their own hands.
Electoral Commission
The acting Electoral Commissioner in Bougainville, George Manu, said he was satisfied with the way the recent election had been conducted.
He said aggrieved candidates could take any concerns to court but he stood by the process used.
Manu dismissed Kauona’s allegations about ballot tampering and said it would have been impossible.
“I think every losing candidate has the right to say anything that they see.
I, as the head of the election process, am satisfied with the whole process," he said.
“I believe we have delivered the election successfully."
Manu said any interference with the ballots would have not been glossed over by the scrutineers and international observers watching the vote count.
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Pacific Media Watch
