Defense Minister Dominic Nitiwul says the government cannot be held responsible for the post-election violence being recorded in parts of the country.
Political party supporters have vandalized collation centers, EC offices, and other state property. The violence has been widespread, prompting calls for action by the outgoing government.
However, addressing parliament on the matter, the defense minister said the responsibility for maintaining security during and after the elections lay with the National Elections Security Task Force, headed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
Nitiwul went on to explain that in order to maintain impartiality, the government has always handled the security of the election process separately.
“On the day and after elections, it was the National Elections Security Task Force led by the Inspector General of Police that was in charge of security, and so if the Speaker thinks or the House thinks that they want to call the election security to come and brief this House, it cannot be ministers or government appointees, because they have no role.”
“And in fact, it was good that the Executive were not in charge of security. It has always been like that because you cannot be a judge of your own court. It is wrong. And so that is why if you are calling somebody, it can only be the IGP and his team,” Nitiwul added.
