CREDIBLE GENERAL ELECTION, SAYS COMMONWEALTH OBSERVER GROUP

(May 19th, 2006 No. 147)

The Commonwealth Observer Group believes the 2006 general election had conditions that existed for a free expression of will by the electors and that the results have reflected the wishes of the people.

Chairperson of the Observer Group, K.D Knight said in a statement today that this was a credible election.

“In coming to that judgment we taken into account not only our direct observations of the campaign, the state of the register, polling, counting and results process but also the electoral environment as a whole,” he said.

Being present at all four counting centres, Mr Knight said there overall assessment is positive.

The counts, he said were generally careful, thorough, orderly and professional and security was good.

“With their openeness to party agents, observers and the media, they were also transparent. Abover all, we believe that they produced accurate results.

”There were some administrative problems at all the centres. There were also minor variations in practice from counting room to counting room. However, the problems we encountered were not so serious as to threaten the reliability, integrity and credibility of the whole operation as a whole,” Mr Knight said.

However, he said they were concerned with media reports of the missing 15 ballot boxes at one count centre adding this should be thoroughly investigated and its results made public.

And with the high proportion of invalid votes, Mr Knight stressed the Groups’s urgent proposal that there be a thorough review of the relevant arrangements so that voters are taught clearly how to vote - whether it be with a tick above the line or listing numbers to indicate their preferences below the line.

A full report will be completed by Monday according to Mr Knight and it will be sent to the Commonwealth Secretary General and copies will then be provided to Government, political parties and Commonwealth countries.

In their report he said they will be making recommendations on the independence, powers and capacity of the Electoral Commission and the Office of the Supervisor of Elections, the voter registration process, voter education, the postal ballot, the electoral system, the results arrangement and the financial rules.

“We urge the Government to give serious and urgent consideration to these recommendations and to those of other observer groups. The problems highlighted at this election and in 2001 need to be addressed,” Mr Knight said.

On the outcome of the general election, Mr Knight said there are procedures for challenges to particular results and political parties and others should use them if they have serious grounds for complaint.

However, he stresses that from their observation this has been a credible election.

“We therefore urge every institution and individual in Fiji Islands to accept the overall outcome and then to work together to create a culture of consensus and cooperation in the interests of all the people of this country.”

The team’s concluding message to citizens is to focus on the overall democratic architecture of this country as at its heart is the communal system of representation.

Fiji, they said need to move away from ethnic representation adding this will be a major political challenge.

“We venture the view that it will need focused, constructive and flexible dialogue amongst all stakeholders if a solution acceptable to the people is to be found.

“We trust that the State, political parties and the people will not ignore that challenge but will face up to it before Fiji Islands goes to the polls again.”

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