First Observation Report on Campaign Process of 2014 Presidential
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First Observation Report on Campaign Process of 2014 Presidential Election (February 2, 2014-March 4, 2014) Table of Contents Executive Summary: ................................................................................................................. 3 Methodology: ............................................................................................................................ 4 General Situation: ..................................................................................................................... 4 Violation ................................................................................................................................... 6 1. Threats............................................................................................................................ 7 2- Using government resources in the electoral campaign ................................................... 8 3 Negative Campaign and fanatical statements: ................................................................. 10 Breach of Electoral rules for campaign: ................................................................................. 10 Presence of National & international observers and media .................................................... 11 Recommendations:.................................................................................................................. 12 2 Executive Summary: The Free & Fair Election Forum of Afghanistan (FEFA) as the largest election observer institution in Afghanistan observed Presidential Elections’ campaign since it kicked off on 2 February 2014. FEFA’s Long Term Observers are watching the Campaign period in all 34 provinces. This exercise is aimed to gage the electoral environment if its conducive for a free and fair elections and it seeks to promote transparency of the electoral process. The observation findings of FEFA from 34 provinces of Afghanistan show that the security condition of some provinces negatively impacted the campaign programs of some presidential candidates. The findings show that majority of presidential candidates considered the insecurity as a major challenge for their open and much regular electoral campaign. The reports show that the campaigns of presidential candidates are mostly centered in major cities e.g. Kabul, Herat, Balkh and Kandahar. However, campaign activities through direct engagement of the candidates have been significantly limited in provinces like Helmand, Nuristan, Konar and Zabul, Oruzgan, Paktika and Khost. In addition to challenges caused by security issues, the cold weather was another problem in conducting electoral rallies within the first month of electoral campaigns. The reports also show that due to cold weather and problems in highways the level of candidates’ campaign was low in cold climate provinces comparing to warm climate provinces. Some candidates could not establish their campaign office in cold climate provinces including: Bamyan, Daikondy, Badakhshan and Ghor. FEFA’s observers have so far observed 123 campaign events of the presidential candidates. Among 123 events, FEFA’s observers have reported violations including threats, abuse of public resources and negative campaigns in 26 events. FEFA’s observers have also reported 300 cases of trespass of the Independent Election commission’s procedures of posting campaign materials The Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC) handled three complaints on the presidential candidates in an open session on February 16, 2014 and issued decisions. The IECC fined a candidate 5000 Afghanis, introduced another candidate to the Attorney General to present information on complaint against him and send a warning letter to another presidential candidate for using government resources in his campaign. Likewise, the Independent Election Commission issued warning letter to the three candidates for ignoring the campaign finance procedure and not providing to IEC their campaign banking information. Not having their finance representatives introduced to the IEC. The IECC urged them to observe the campaign finance procedure. Similarly, Ministry of Interior Affairs dismissed 8 of its officials as they were considered to have been violating principle of impartiality in while they announced they are in the process of investigating four others who are accused of interfering in the process. While FEFA 3 welcomes these measures by IECC and MoI, but it feels that further measures in terms of meaningful process of investigation in to the complaints by IECC is required. Provincial Council campaign will kick off on 5th of March and campaign activities are expected to expand significantly, therefore, FEFA presents the following recommendations to the related institutions for improvement of the electoral environment in the second and last month of the campaign. 1) Ministry of Interior Affairs in cooperation with the National Directorate of Security must adopt effective and coordinated measures to maintain security of candidates and members of their campaign teams. Specific measures must be taken to maintain the security of female candidates. 2) The electoral commissions should publish the list of candidates who abuse government resources and to prevent using government resources, they must take the necessary measures. 3) The Independent Election Commission should publish the list of candidates who ignores the campaign financing procedures. 4) The Independent Electoral Complaints Commission should sanction the candidates who campaign negatively and express hate statements. 5) Government of Afghanistan and international community must help the Independent Electoral Complaints Commission in establishing its provincial offices and creating the necessary capacity for observing the campaign financing. Methodology: The Free and Fair Election Forum of Afghanistan (FEFA) observes the presidential elections campaign throughout the country since 2 February 2014. FEFA deployed 200 long-term observers in 34 provinces of Afghanistan. FEFA’s LTOs are trained and are provided with standardized questionnaires. A data base that helps in data analyses is designed. FEFA’s observers focus on implementation of electoral rules &procedures and candidates & voters equal access to their political rights. Records of observers monitoring are reported to FEFA’s reporting office for compilation and analyses of the data. Most of the reports are verified further by sharing the findings with IEC and other stakeholders General Situation: FEFA’s LTOs from the provinces reported an increased level of security concerns among campaign workers, mostly driven from Taliban’s statement that they will disrupt the electoral process. The observation findings of FEFA show that number of security incidents occurred within first months of the campaign period of 2014 Presidential elections. Those included assassination and attacks on campaign workers. But data suggests that level of violence and 4 security incidents related to the elections is lower comparing with the 2009 presidential elections, LTOs reported that most of the campaign offices were not open in major part of the country with first offices that opened and campaign related activities started only after the first week of the campaign period., Absence of campaign activities are observed specially in number of districts of east and south of the country that are considered insecure almost three weeks after the campaign kicked off. The election related activities and campaigns has largely focused to the center of major provinces like: Kabul, Herat, Balkh, Kandahar and Nangarhar. However the level of campaign programs was low in Helmand, Nuristan, Konar, Zabul, Oruzgan, Paltika and Khost due to security problems. The observation findings show that since beginning of the campaign process 5 members of the campaign teams of presidential candidates are killed in different provinces of Afghanistan. FEFA’s observers have reported that occurrence of security events have negatively impacted the process. Below is the list of security events that occurred within first month of the process. Number Province Kidnap Number of Injured Assassination Threat murdered attempt 1 Kabul 0 0 0 1 0 2 Herat 0 2 0 0 1 3 Samangan 0 0 0 0 2 4 Sar-Pul 0 1 0 0 0 5 Oruzgan 0 0 0 0 1 6 Baghlan 0 1 0 0 0 7 Paktika 0 0 0 0 1 8 Kandahar 0 0 0 0 1 9 Faryab 0 1 0 0 0 Total 0 5 0 1 6 The above chart shows that two members of the campaign teams were killed in Herat province, one in Sar-Pul, one in Baghlan province and one in Faryab province. At the same time one case of direct attack against a presidential candidate and one case of threatening a presidential candidate is recorded. The observation findings show that within first and second week of the campaign process no electoral gathering was held in provinces of Bamyan, Diakondy, Badakhshan and Nuristan and no campaign materials like posters and billboards were seen on public displays in the mentioned provinces. Based on reports, the security condition of Kamdish, Bargmatal and 5 Mandol districts of Nooristan province was concerning and the Taliban active presence on Konar- Nuristan highway hindered most of the planned activities of different campaigns. Likewise, in Farah province the Taliban were checking people to find electoral documents. LTOs reported that provinces like Bamyan, Daikondy, Badakhshan and Ghor was also quite in terms of election campaign related activities and the cold weather affected the rallies. FEFA’s LTOs also reported that civic