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ABC News
ABC News
National
PNG correspondent Natalie Whiting in Port Moresby

With Papua New Guinea's election in full swing, Annaisha went to cast her ballot. But when tensions flared, she was shot dead

It is believed Annaisha Max was holding her baby son, Eddiean, in her arms when she was shot in the back.  (ABC News: Natalie Whiting)

Annaisha Max took her one-year-old son with her when she went to her nearest polling station to vote in Papua New Guinea's national election.

A few hours later, she would be lying dead in a dusty marketplace, allegedly shot by police. 

She was just 22 years old. 

After more than two weeks of staggered voting, PNG's election is winding towards a close, with most areas now counting ballots and new MPs being declared each day.

However, the election has been marred by violence.

In some areas, it is so severe it threatens to completely derail the democratic process.

Ms Max was among hundreds of people who gathered to vote at the ATS Settlement in Port Moresby.

Polling had already been deferred three times and they were keen to cast their ballots.

She went with her good friend, Anna Koip, the two single mothers were planning to vote and, hopefully, make a few dollars.

"We sisters were struggling mothers, we survive by running little stalls," she said, tearing up at the memory.

"We thought we'd go and make our living, she brought her water and juice, I got my lollies to sell, and we were at the market."

Annaisha Max popped down to her local polling booth with her baby boy, Eddiean, to cast her ballot and was shot dead by police.   (Supplied)

However, after almost four hours, people were still waiting for ballot boxes and a polling team to arrive, and some became suspicious and agitated.

"We stopped the police and told them to wait, because our ballot boxes [hadn't] come yet, so we want our ballot boxes to come first before you all leave," another resident, Pendhi David, said.

Witnesses told the ABC that police called for reinforcements and, when they arrived, they opened fire.

Ms Koip said Ms Max was carrying her son and running up a hill to try to get out of the marketplace when she was hit in the back.

"She ran a bit further up the hill, but the bullet had already hit, and she couldn't keep going," Ms Koip said.

"She fell over and gave her baby to the boys who were coming behind her, telling them … to take her baby.

"She fell and died instantly." 

Her one-year-old boy, Eddiean, is now an orphan.

"The baby — how will we look after him?" Ms Koip asked. 

Violence 'intertwined' with election issues

Homicide detectives are now investigating the shooting of Ms Max. 

"Police reinforcements went to restore order when a rowdy and quarrelsome crowd threatened to harm election officials and disrupted polling at the ATS settlement," police said in a statement. 

"Rocks were hurled at police and gunshots were fired to disperse the unruly crowd."

Port Moresby police say an "unruly" crowd was threatening to harm election officials, and rocks were thrown at officers.   (Supplied)

Mobile phone vision shows people already running away as the heavily armed police arrive, before they lifted their weapons. 

Police say detectives are gathering vision and witness statements as part of their investigation.

Violence and unrest are not uncommon during PNG's elections.

During the last election in 2017, more than 200 people died.

There were fears of violence this election as well because of delays to polling schedules and the expectation that one million names were missing from the common roll.

While polling has happened peacefully in many parts, there has been unrest in several areas, along with dozens of allegations of ballot box fixing and vote-buying. 

Several arrests have been made, including some election officials. 

Peter Aitsi from Transparency International said the violence was "very much intertwined and very much connected" with the electoral issues.

"Members of the public, when they lose confidence in the process, when there is suspicion cast in terms of the conduct of election officials, this will generate anger within the community, and it results in violence," he said.

"You've also got candidates who trade on that suspicion and trade on that chaos, particularly in our Highlands region."

Election in one province at risk of being declared 'failed'

The worst of the violence seen, so far, has been in Enga Province, in PNG's Highlands. 

There were outbreaks of hostility during voting a fortnight ago, with vision of people fighting over ballot boxes quickly circulating on social media.

Things have escalated since, with groups burning down properties, including a school, shops, homes and four bridges. 

Enga Province in PNG's Highlands has been beset with violence during the country's national election, with ballot boxes hijacked and buildings burned down.  (Supplied)

Elsewhere in the province, an old tribal grudge has reignited, with both sides taking advantage of local police's preoccupation with the election. 

Eighteen people — 13 men and 5 women — were massacred yesterday as that fight in Porgera escalated.

Photos of the victims are spreading on social media. 

The local hospital remains closed after staff fled when many of their homes were looted or burned.

More than 100 extra soldiers have been sent to area. 

The total death toll from the unrest is unclear but police have said there are "unconfirmed reports of widespread killings" in the province. 

A special joint taskforce of military and police personnel is being deployed to try to restore law and order and 15 candidates are being investigated for potential involvement in election violence in the province.

"It is frustrating, and sickening, to note that known candidates and their supporters have deliberately attacked opposing candidates and their supporters to influence a favourable outcome," PNG's Police Commissioner David Manning said. 

"God help us if this is the calibre of the leadership that is being put forward for the people of Enga."

There have been numerous accusations of ballot-box hijacking in Enga, which has prompted much of the violence.

Five people have so far been charged for the offence.

The Governor of Enga, Sir Peter Ipatas, has called for a commission of inquiry into the electoral crimes, the violence in the province and the response by authorities.

"If we allow the level of corruption in this country, in all these agencies, God save this country," he said. 

"If we are not serious in addressing the issues that we have now, in the next five years, you can lose a country.

Commissioner Manning has said that, if the violence persists, he will be recommending the election in Enga be declared a failure. 

That would mean the province would have to go back to the polls some time after the national election period had ended.

Ballot boxes were smashed and ballots were burned in an outbreak of violence in the PNG province of Morobe.  (Supplied)

Parts of Morobe Province, on the country's northern coast, may also be forced to go back to the polls.

Two counting centres there have been attacked, with completed ballots burned before they could deliver a result.

Election officials at one of the sites claimed a disgruntled candidate organised the attack after not receiving the number of votes he expected from an area, which made him suspicious and angry.

PNG's incumbent Prime Minister, James Marape, has announced an extra 500 security personnel will be deployed to hot spots to protect key institutions and public assets.

'We have been deprived of our democratic rights' 

After Ms Max was shot and killed, her community at the ATS Settlement never got to cast their votes. 

Annaisha Max's community has been left shocked by the outbreak of violence. (ABC News: Natalie Whiting )

"We wanted to elect a good leader for us," Pendhi David said.

"We live very hard lives, with no water, we carry containers all over the place. There is no good service.

"We're talking about our rights." 

Despite the issues and suspicions, most people in PNG are still passionate about voting in their elections, and many are willing to line up for hours to have the opportunity. 

The people at the ATS settlement also wanted that chance and tried to organise for polling to be rescheduled, but it did not happen.

"We have been deprived of our democratic rights, even though we call ourselves a democratic nation," local leader Emmanuel Kiangu said.

ATS Settlement leader Emmanuel Kiangu (centre) is frustrated his community did not get to vote in the election.  (ABC News: Natalie Whiting)

With counting continuing in many areas and the majority of results legally required to be delivered by the end of the month, Mr Aitsi is urging everyone to work together to try to ensure the election succeeds.

"Unfortunately, it hasn't been a successful or a peaceful or a safe election, but I encourage all stakeholders to support the process to try to conclude the election as best we can," he said.

Many people are calling this the worst election the country has seen, a suggestion the Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai dismisses.

"Back in 2002, we failed some of the elections. [In] 2012 we had issues. In PNG, that's normal. There's always problems in the country," he said.

"Last election, 2017, they said, 'It's the worst election'. This election they will say, 'It's the worst election'. So, I don't know, when is the good elections going to come?"

He maintains the Electoral Commission has done the best it could with the time and resources it was given.

Several political candidates are now committing to reforming the electoral process and providing better funding if they're elected.

It will be too late for Annaisha Max.

But her community hopes maybe her son will, one day, see a better system.

Anna Koip fears what will happen to Annaisha Max's baby son, Eddiean, now that he has been left an orphan.  (ABC News: Natalie Whiting )
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