FREE AND FAIR ELECTION FORUM OF AFGHANISTAN
15 YEARS OF CIVIC SERVICES
Press Release on commencement of Parliamentary Elections
We congratulate the people of Afghanistan on the occasion of elections. This election is a historic and important opportunity for Afghanistan. This election has a direct link with the future of democracy in the country, rule of law and development. Successful conducting of this elections can rebuild public trust in the democratic process and positively impinge upon implementation of national projects, implementation of the provisions of law and realization of citizens’ basic rights. However, the Independent Election Commission (IEC), the government and the stakeholders made efforts to rectify the electoral shortcomings but unfortunately, there are still some shortcomings and several electoral violations have been noted during the electoral campaigns. Hope the IEC and other relevant institutions legally rectify the shortcomings and address the violations legally on-time. Citizens’ inclusive participation in the process, proper and well management of the process by the IEC and accurate observation can decrease the shortcomings and pave the ground for conducting free and fair elections. The Free and Fair Election Forum of Afghanistan (FEFA) as the largest domestic election observer organization calls on all election relevant bodies to cooperate with the IEC and IECC in conducting a transparent, free and fair election. Therefore, it is necessary to share the following points with the electoral commissions, citizens, candidates and security forces: 1. We call upon all the electoral stakeholders including the security institutions, local governance, electoral staffs and national observers to retain the principle of impartiality and focus on transparency and intactness of election. 2. We request the Afghan citizens to widely take part in the elections and positively use this opportunity to deliver their message, practice the sovereignty of the people and prove that believing in democracy, right and citizenship responsibility can draw and make a bright future for our country. The people must believe in the ability and commitment of the Afghan security forces and widely participate in the elections. The citizens can closely cooperate with the security forces in the detection and neutralization of security threats and play a positive role in enhancing the security of elections.
FEFA
Press Release on commencement of Parliamentary Elections
• We call upon all the electoral stakeholders including the security institutions, local governance, electoral staffs and national observers to retain the principle of impartiality and focus on transparency and intactness of election. • We request the Afghan citizens to widely take part in the elections and positively use this opportunity to deliver their message, practice the sovereignty of the people and prove that believing in democracy, right and citizenship responsibility can draw and make a bright future for our country. • The Independent Election Commission is requested to provide the facilities and resources needed for conducting an inclusive, free and fair election and manage the polling day well in order to protect people’s vote. • We request the commission to pave the ground for meaningful observation of the process. • We call on Afghan security forces to plan and act accurately in order to provide security for the citizens. • We call on the candidates to refrain from illegal campaigns on the polling day and tell their campaign members and observers to prevent from such an action too.
Free and Fair Election Forum of Afghanistan congratulated the people of Afghanistan on occasion of election of Friday, October 19th 2018 and calls on people to vote for the future of democracy in the country, rule of law and development as successful conducting of this election can rebuild public trust. But unfortunately, there are still shortcomings nevertheless of Independent Election Commission efforts. However, we request the Afghan citizens to widely take part in election, due to the commitment of Afghan security forces and electoral commissions. In the meantime, the IEC is requested to provide the facilities and resources needed for conducting an inclusive, free and fair election and manage the polling day well in order to protect people’s vote, and the IECC must handle the violation cases in presence of observers and candidates’ agents’ on-time. However, a brief report of the silent period has been attached to this declaration. Although the silent period hasn’t been ended yet, the report includes the information which was gathered until 3 pm, 10/19/2018.
1. The Independent Election Commission is requested to provide the facilities and resources needed for conducting an inclusive, free and fair election and manage the polling day well in order to protect people’s vote. It is also requested to rectify the shortcomings and handle the electoral violations on time. Additionally, the commission must be ready for handing the suspicious cases, serious electoral violations, and the issues which require audit and recount of the votes. 2. We request the commission to pave the ground for meaningful observation of the process. It must allow the observers to have access to the information related to biometric devices and the statistics inserted into the database. The observers must be present at the time of connecting the bio-metric devices with the central servers at the commission. It can pave the ground for rebuilding public trust on the performance of the commission, helps to enhance transparency of the process and prevents potential meddling in the affairs related to elections. After the terrorist attack in Kandahar province, the commission decided to conduct elections in this province with one week delay. It is necessary to accurately monitor the electoral status in Kandahar province in order to prevent potential violations and misuses of the election postponement by the candidates or other people and groups. Additionally, it is important to prevent misuse of Kandahar incident in favor or against anyone. 3. Role of the Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC) is very critical in the transparency of the elections. It is clear that presence of IECC’s observers in the polling stations is a good opportunity for assuring transparency of the process but the IECC must handle the violation cases in presence of observers and candidates’ agents’ on-time. 4. The Afghan security forces have the most important role in the process. We call on them to plan and act accurately in order to provide security for the citizens. They must undertake the necessary measures on-time in order to contain the attacks and minimize the civilians’ causalities and collateral damages. They must actively respond the threats, instead of showing reaction afterwards. Furthermore, the security forces must put all efforts together to provide security of temporary electoral staffs who have been recruited among civil servants. Security forces must undertake measures to protect them after the polling day. Additionally, given the possibility of interferences in the process and its interruption or forcing the citizens to cast their votes in favor of specific candidates, the security forces are recommended to undertake precautionary measures and take preparation to control and contain destructive elements who intend to disrupt polling day. Therefore, the security forces must prevent the presence of irresponsible armed people near the polling centers. 5. We call on the candidates to refrain from illegal campaigns on the polling day and tell their campaign members and observers to prevent from such an action too. We have witnessed several violations in the previous elections. The candidates are expected to abide by the rules and procedures in order to institutionalize a new political culture and improve sound political competition in the country. We call on the commission to seriously handle the violations on-time. 6. The candidates and their observers are recommended to keep calm in case they face any shortcoming related to the election process and cooperate with the commission to find a fair solution. The efforts to find fair solutions can assure transparency of the elections and prevent from disruption of the process. The candidates can play an active role in the transparency of the process by identifying and reporting the cases which are considered as electoral violations. FEFA has monitored the electoral campaigns. The detailed report of the campaign process will be shared with the Independent Election Commission, the Independent Electoral Complaints Commission, election stakeholders, and the citizens soon after completion of the information. However, a brief report of the silent period has been attached to this declaration. The silent period hasn’t been ended yet. The report includes the information which was gathered until 3 pm, 10/19/2018. Hope for the institutionalization of democracy, rule of law and development of Afghanistan. The Free and Fair Election Forum of Afghanistan
10/19/2018
FEFA
Press Release
Election
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