Press release related to the concerns of FEFA over the undue prolongation of the post election day phases of the electoral process.
Considering the importance and sensitivity of the post-election process, the Free and Fair Election Forum of Afghanistan (FEFA) has been concerned about, the prolongation of the process, while the lack of coordination between the electoral commissions, the lack of providing the necessary awareness and clarity by the electoral commissions, the lack of sharing information to a number of candidates’ observers - Particularly nomadic (KOCHI) candidates – in the votes recounting or inspection of votes and allegations of about manipulation of votes in the National Tally Center (NTC). In addition to that, FEFA expresses its concerns regarding the failure of supplementary process of the biometric system, which fails to identify the repeated votes and the separation of clean votes from the fraudulent votes. While FEFA welcomes the efforts of the Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC) to ensure election justice and ensure the legitimacy of the process in a number of provinces, it nevertheless expresses its concern over the pressure and influence of the powerbrokers and the government on the work of the provincial commissions of the Electoral Complaints Commission. FEFA welcomes the decision of the IEC to recount the votes of Kabul and a number of other provinces and considers it a good step towards transparency and justice, but some of the changes made at the central and provincial headquarters of the commission in the lack of a clear mechanism for stakeholders is questionable. FEFA remains concerned about the prolongation of 2018 post- parliamentary elections process and its adverse effects over the presidential calendar of the year 2019. Meanwhile, FEFA also monitors the activities of politicians inside and outside the system, which considers the progress made in some cases, to be contrary to the rules of the game in accordance with the rules and principles of free and fair elections. The early campaigns and the abuse of government resources and authority is an explicit electoral violation. Election team formation should be relevant to the constitutional provisions. Whenever candidates want to form an inclusive Election team, they can introduce it as part of their work plans.
FEFA
• Media
• FEFA wants the Electoral Complaints Commission not to toughly deal with complaints, considering in the inadequate understanding of complainants. At the same time, FEFA encourages the Independent Complaints Commission to act cautiously in dealing with these complaints, contact plaintiffs and make decisions requesting supplementary evidence documentation. • FEFA asks the Independent Election Commission to ensure that all details of these stages are coordinated with the candidates for the sake of transparency and fairness, and provide observers with the opportunity to monitor - especially for observers of the nomads (KOCHIES) candidates who are highly dissatisfied with the situation. • Since the Kabul votes are to be recounted, we ask the Commission to pave the way to the observers of the candidates, along with the observers of the observer bodies for monitoring. • FEFA calls on both commissions so that their central and provincial offices to act in an open and professional way to welcome candidates and their representatives. • Because biometrics devices are not as effective in preventing repetitive votes, so the serious attention of both commissions is helpful in handling complaints and protests. • FEFA calls upon the electoral commissions to publically post the names and lists of powerbrokers and the government officials that anyhow have pressurized them, and in line with the existing laws charge them with violations and electoral fraud. • FEFA calls on the Commission to refer all cases brought to the attention by the high ranking and low ranking staff of the Commission to the Election Complaints Commission (ECC) and deal with them on the basis of the country's prevailing laws. • FEFA strictly asks the IEC to pave the ground for direct observation of political parties and observer entities in all stages of vote summing process. • Since we are on the verge of holding the presidential election, FEFA is asking all factions and political groups to regulate their behavior, in particular, forming up electoral teams in accordance with the constitution, and to refrain from early campaigns and the abuse of government resources and authority.
Based on the provisions of the Constitution, the establishment of administrative units, their modification and abolition is the authority of the National Assembly. Therefore, any change in the composition of the election team must be in accordance with the constitution. Therefore, considering the existing anomalies, the following points are presented to the responsible authority. 1. Despite, both commissions, have promised to work together, it is required that this cooperation must be further strengthened in this sensitive phase, and to intensify this cooperation, especially at the provincial level, in order to ensure the electoral justice and the legitimacy of the process. At the same time, FEFA wants the Electoral Complaints Commission not to toughly deal with complaints, considering in the inadequate understanding of complainants. FEFA encourages the Independent Complaints Commission to act cautiously in dealing with these complaints, contact plaintiffs and make decisions requesting supplementary evidence documentation. 2. Considering the massive complaints and protests that the FEFA has received from candidates intended to this institution, they expressed concern about the lack of sharing information by election commissions to their observers during recounting, quarantine, and auditing stage. FEFA asks the Independent Election Commission to ensure that all details of these stages are coordinated with the candidates for the sake of transparency and fairness, and provide observers with the opportunity to monitor - especially for observers of the nomads (KOCHIES) candidates who are highly dissatisfied with the situation. 3. Since the Kabul votes are to be recounted, we ask the Commission to pave the way to the observers of the candidates, along with the observers of the observer bodies for monitoring. In order to avoid congestion, it's better to have a timetable arranged and share it with candidates' offices so that candidates can send their observers accordingly. 4. FEFA calls on both commissions so that their central and provincial offices to act in an open and professional way to welcome candidates and their representatives. At any rate which their legitimate worries and concerns and their legal protests are not addressed, to that extent does the level of dissatisfaction and the cost of not accepting the final outcome of the election rise. 5. Because biometrics devices are not as effective in preventing repetitive votes, so the serious attention of both commissions is helpful in handling complaints and protests. The employees who take this task out there should be strictly under surveillance and transparently accountable to the departments. Provide sufficient information for both candidates and their observers. 6. FEFA calls upon the electoral commissions to publically post the names and lists of powerbrokers and the government officials that anyhow have pressurized them, and in line with the existing laws charge them with violations and electoral fraud. 7. FEFA considers recent changes accrued in the Commission although a part of the Commission's administrative competencies. But considers it inadequate measure for ensuring the reward and punishment principle. FEFA calls on the Commission to refer all cases brought to the attention by the high ranking and low ranking staff of the Commission to the Election Complaints Commission (ECC) and deal with them on the basis of the country's prevailing laws. FEFA strictly emphasizes on the principle of punishment and reward, deems the implementation of this principle necessary not only of low ranking staff and employees, but also considers implementing it necessary on the members of the commission. 8. Regarding the claims of manipulating figures of votes in the National Tally Center (NTC), we strictly ask the commission to recount and inspect the votes of Kunduz province as well. At the same time, there should be a monitoring program on the function of the staff of the National Tally Center (NTC) by the Independent Election Commission shall be strictly done. FEFA strictly asks the IEC to pave the ground for direct observation of political parties and observer entities in all stages of vote summing process. 9. Since we are on the verge of holding the presidential election, FEFA is asking all factions and political groups to regulate their behavior, in particular, forming up electoral teams in accordance with the constitution, and to refrain from early campaigns and the abuse of government resources and authority. At the same time, we ask both electoral commissions not to remain as bystanders (audience) when faced with such conditions, and to act in accordance with the law, using their legal powers. Free and Fair Election Forum of Afghanistan (FEFA)
11/12/2018
20
1 Day
Kabul
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