US monitor urges reforms to Sudan’s election plans

May 9, 2009 (WASHINGTON) – An election monitoring organization founded
by former US President Jimmy Carter this week recommended reforms to
the planned election process in Sudan but welcomed the recently
announced official electoral calendar.

The Carter Center, which says it conducts election observations in
accordance with a UN declaration of principles, urged Sudan’s National
Elections Commission (NEC) to “urgently conclude policy decisions
affecting the formation of the subsidiary state and regional elections
High Committees.”

Though the Elections Commission appears “appears to be close” to
appointing the subsidiary committees, even if formed now these bodies
would be left with a little less than a month to prepare for an
extensive voter registration process, noted The Carter Center report.

Furthermore, the NEC has yet to articulate what powers will be
devolved to the subsidiary High Committees, and to clarify the
delineation of responsibilities between the national regional, and
state election bodies.

“During its initial months in operation, the NEC has needed to focus
on its internal arrangements. As the process moves forward, however,
greater transparency in the day-to-day workings and periodic meetings
of the NEC will allow citizens to better understand the NEC’s
electoral preparations, and will build confidence in the legitimacy of
the electoral process,” said the report.

The monitoring organization also called on the NEC to make policy
decisions related to constituency delimitation and voter registration
– a process begun yesterday, according to an announcement by chairman
of the delimitation committee Mukhtar Al-Asam.

Observers from The Carter Center will be present across the country to
witness the registration process. However, the group predicted that
registering voters in Darfur and other regions will be difficult due
to security concerns. The report thus concluded that the Sudanese
electoral officials may need to consider “special accommodations” and
additional resources for registering voters and administering
elections there.

“Given widespread skepticism in Darfur concerning the operation of
national political processes, the NEC and the Government of National
Unity should make concerted efforts to build confidence in the
electoral process among the region’s population,” stated the report.

Alluding to massive repression of free press alleged by journalists
and human rights investigators, the US organization also encouraged
“respect for constitutionally guaranteed freedoms” as an important
prerequisite for conducting a fair election.

These recommendations follow the announcement of a delay of the 2009
elections until the end of February 2010, pushing back the timetable
established by the country’s 2005 peace treaty which ended two decades
of civil war.

(ST)