PM O'Neill's PNC party says, student early campaign illegal

THE People’s National Congress (PNC) party president, Gareth Kising, has expressed grave concern over what he says is early election campaigning by university students against Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and the PNC. 

He said the students had broken the law by engaging actively in early election campaign.

“Instead of returning to classes after presenting their petitions, students have now decided to travel to a number of provinces to continue their protests,’ Kising said in a statement yesterday.

“Under the guise of creating awareness on the issues they have raised, they are actively campaigning for the removal of the prime minister, to vote the prime minister and PNC Party out in the 2017 general elections.

“This is against the law and I call on the Chief Electoral Commissioner and the police commissioner to look into this.

“The law makes it clear that campaigning for a seat in Parliament, for the removal of a member of parliament or a political party only starts when the writs for a general elections are issued, which sets out the campaign period.

“Such illegal and unlawful early election campaigns have the potential to provoke anger and violence among opposing political party supporters.

“Angry parents and relatives who expect their child to be in class and not playing politics may take matters into their own hands as well, and create mayhem.

“I call on the police to act now to prevent potentially chaotic situation in some of the towns where such illegal campaigning is taking place.

“I also call on students to make every effort to return to classes now, to work closely with the university administrations to save the academic year.

“You have exercised your democratic rights to raises several issues of national importance, and the country has taken note.

“Your parents and relatives now expect you to return to classes. By extending your boycott of classes into election campaigning, your parents and the public have the right to be suspicious about your motives.

“Remember, we all have a right to free speech. But the law makes it an offence to engage in early election campaigns,” Kising said.