From: Tsegai Emmanuel (emmanuelt40@gmail.com)
Date: Fri Mar 19 2010 - 18:23:37 EST
Carter Center says Sudan elections process at risk
Friday 19 March 2010.
March 19, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – The Carter Center issued a preliminary
statement on the final stages of Sudan’s electoral process saying the
process "remains at risk on multiple fronts including the ability of
candidates to campaign freely" and the potentially negative impact
from delayed logistical preparations.
The statement is notable for its recommendation to the National
Elections Commission (NEC) that this body consider exercising its
power to delay the election.
Aside from a newly deployed European Union mission, the Carter Center
is the only international elections observation mission in Sudan. It
has 12 long-term observers in-country and is expecting to deploy more
for the polling period. It had sent several dozen observers for the
roughly month long registration period.
"Logistical preparations are straining the limited capacity of the
NEC," the US-based observer mission said in a public statement. "With
a series of delays and changes in polling procedures, a minor delay in
polling for operational purposes may be required."
The Center’s statement urged the NEC to make a decision as quickly as
possible about any delay in the election date "so that all
stakeholders have time to adjust plans." Given the onset of the rainy
season in Darfur and South Sudan in the months after the April 11
polling date, however, only a minor delay may be possible or
advisable.
In a dramatic statement, the Carter Center said "it is increasingly
unclear if the NEC can deliver a successful election on time," citing
limited NEC and UN transportation capacity, the massive volume of
materials to be deployed, the re-packaging of materials necessitated
by changes in the planned number of polling stations, voters per
polling station, and delays in ballots production.
Among other logistical concerns, the Center related that there will be
10,320 polling centers accommodating 17,914 polling stations
throughout Sudan, a "dramatic reduction from the originally planned
number of approximately 21,000 stations." The statement warned that
this might lead to lack of access for voters in remote areas.
The observers also noted the widespread absence of any civic or voter
education efforts – three youth activists from the Girifna
organization were even arrested for raising civic awareness of the
campaign process and charged with ‘public noisiness’.
“The Sudanese election has a highly complex balloting process, in a
country where the population has little experience participating in
elections. Thus far Carter Center observers deployed in the regions
and the capitals have only observed marginal efforts on civic
education surrounding the polling process, which, unless escalated
dramatically and rapidly, will weaken the quality of this election,"
said the Center.
As to media freedom, there are serious deficiencies. At least two
newspapers have had editorial staff summoned by the National Press
Council over comments made by the publications on Omar al-Bashir.
Radio broadcasts of political candidates are pre-screened. Two radio
stations in Juba were closed temporarily by security forces. "State
agencies should not dictate acceptable subjects for publication. The
NEC should ensure that all media can freely comment on issues related
to the campaign," stated the observers.
The Center also voiced concerned about lack of transparency for the
planned post-polling procedures, such as how and when the results will
be released from polling stations.
(ST)
----[This List to be used for Eritrea Related News Only]----