By MICHELLE AUAMOROMORO in Wewak, ESP
PANGU Party and its coalition partners will not force members to join their camp in Wewak, East Sepik, says Pangu Party Leader, Hon. James Marape.
Marape said the team in Wewak would not deploy roughhouse tactics, kidnapping or going to the airport to pull away a member upon arrival.
He also said the members who belonged to a political party should reach out to them through their party leaders and not as individuals.
“We will not have people out there pinching elected leaders.
“We want to respect leaders who are elected to office; we respect your mandate given by the people.
“Those of you (contesting candidates) who win, you all know our numbers; if you need help for us to come and pick you up then we will come at your invitation,” he said in a press briefing yesterday.
Marape said the Wewak team would respect every individual elected member’s choice of association with the party because in 1975, under the leadership of late Great Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, the party did not choose dictatorship but democracy.
“That involves personal choices,” he said.
Meanwhile, Marape also pointed out that from his last count (on yesterday morning), about 19 members of Pangu Party were leading in the race from the progressing counting nationwide.
“The rest of our candidates are all within striking distance in the top five, top six and top seven.
“We are observing.
“Pangu will form a very strong base here (in Wewak), and, of course, National Alliance Party, United Resource Party and all our present coalition partners have given indication that they’ll be part of our team here,” he said.
So far, nine Pangu members have been elected and they are Hon. James Marape (Tari- Pori Open), Hon. John Rosso (Lae Open), Hon. Ian Ling- Stuckey (Kavieng Open), Mr. Daniel Tindipi (Komo- Hulia Open), Hon. Manasseh Makiba (Margarima Open), Hon. Philip Undialu (Hela Provincial), Mr. Graham Rumet (Rabaul Open), Hon. Rainbo Paita (Finschhafen Open) and Hon. Timothy Masiu (South Bougainville Open).
People’s National Congress (PNC) Party follows with 6 elected members.
