Republic of Fiji Welcomes UN Needs Assessment Mission for Upcoming Elections
The Fijian Government today accepted an offer from the United Nations to send a Needs Assessment Mission (NAM) to Fiji ahead of the planned Parliamentary elections.
Fijian Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum stipulated that the composition of the mission must be politically neutral and unbiased with regard to Fiji, so it can provide an objective technical needs assessment for Fiji to conduct free and fair elections.
The NAM, which will be conducted by the Electoral Assistance Division of the UN Secretariat in New York, is slated to take place in early March. It will provide technical assessment of Fiji’s needs, such as ballot boxes, staffing and logistical preparation, among other considerations.
The move follows the Fijian Government’s recent selection of the Canadian firm CODE Inc. as Fiji’s vendor for electronic voter registration (EVR).
Fiji continues to follow the recommendations of the European Union's report on Fiji’s 2006 elections, which cited irregularities with voter registration and voting practices, such as 101% voter turnout in one constituency, and the disenfranchisement of certain voter groups.
Fiji has sent out invitations to the international community to participate in the EVR process by way of financial assistance; however, so far no countries or multi-lateral agencies have opted to participate.
-ENDS-
7 comments:
Croz
Are you now suggesting the EU report recommended the overthrow of a legitimately elected government? you really are clutching at straws.
@ Spin ... I;m suggesting nothing. It's a government release and the mention of the4 EU report was clearly shown to be by Aiyaz. Are you suggesting there were no irregularities in the 2006 election? Why don't you say something on the UN offer which is the main part of the press release? Don't you want the UN to assist?
Let me say something positive.
This is perhaps the first real positive sign to date there will be an election in 2014.
With regard to financial asistance it will flow in due course. Countries will be happier to contribute once we have a clearer picture of what future may look like.
For example if PM sticks to his word and does not run in the 2014 election (and discounts all his interim government ministers) that would be a huge step forward in that it shows he won't be stacking anything to favour himself personally (like Qarase did).
Also if it becomes clearer who will be able to run in the election that would help. Some signs that the military will return to barracks and withdraw from civil service roles (or resign from RFMF) would also make people more comfortable. A election where the military run the show will make everyone sceptical.
Anyway a good start...let it continue.
Good news but they just can't help themselves with the little jibes about the past. Yes there where problems with the 2006 election but the Qarase government will always be more valid than a government that came to power by way of coup.
@ ABV
Let the people decide if they wanna vote Frank and his mob in. Frank should be encouraged to stand for elections. In that way will his popularity or otherwise will be put to the test.
I hope you all will remember that the next time there is a non taukei fijian PM.
@ Romeo
The problem with Frank running is it will never be seen as fair. He controls everything, has military people everywhere and will probably personally decide who can run against him. If Frank runs it will destroy what little credibility he has....remember all the claims of not wanting power, only doing the coup because he "had to" and that no one would benefit from this coup ???
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