MEDIA REPORT ZIM PRESIDENTIAL POLL; HARARE

UNCLAS HARARE 000274 SIPDIS AF/PD FOR COX, ROBERTSON, SCHLACHTER, AF/S FOR KRAFT, AF/P/P, INR/R/MR, NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ZI PREL PHUM SUBJECT: MEDIA REPORT ZIM PRESIDENTIAL POLL; HARARE ¶1. UNDER HEADLINE "EARLY ARRIVAL OF OBSERVERS COULD END LOSS OF MORE LIVES," THE INDEPENDENT DAILY "THE DAILY NEWS" DEDICATED ITS JANUARY 28 EDITORIAL TO CALL ON THE GOVERNMENT TO ALLOW INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS TO COME INTO THE COUNTRY AT LEAST A MONTH BEFORE THE MARCH 9 AND 10 PRESIDENTIAL POLL. EXCERPTS FOLLOW: ¶2. THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECLARED ITSELF AGAINST VIOLENCE AND COMMITTED ITSELF TO ALLOWING INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS DURING THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. HOWEVER, IF IT IS SINCERE, IT SHOULD INVITE THESE OBSERVERS AT LEAST A MONTH BEFORE THE 9 AND 10 MARCH VOTING DAYS FOR THEM TO MAKE AN INFORMED OPINION OF THE POLL AND TO UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT IN WHICH IT WILL BE TAKING PLACE. AN EARLY ARRIVAL OF INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS WILL EITHER SEE A SUDDEN DE-ESCALATION OF VIOLENCE, LARGELY BY THE RULING PARTY SUPPORTERS AND MILITIAS, OR IF THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN, THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WILL THEN HAVE A BALANCED APPRECIATION OF WHAT WILL HAVE DETERMINED THE OUTCOME OF THE VOTE. . .IF THE GOVERNMENT IS GENUINELY COMMITTED TO ALLOWING INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS, AND IF IT IS NOT BEHIND THE CURRENT WAVE OF VIOLENCE, THEN IT SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEMS IN INVITING THEM TO COME INTO THE COUNTRY MUCH EARLIER SO THEY CAN SEE WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING. AND IF IT IS ASSURED OF WINNING, THE MORE REASON IT SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT ITS VICTORY NOT BEING TAINTED BY CHARGES OF INTIMIDATION, VIOLENCE AND FRAUD. . .IT IS ALSO IMPERATIVE THAT THE OBSERVERS DO NOT FLY OUT OF THE COUNTRY IMMEDIATELY THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION ARE ANNOUNCED. PAST EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN THE INTENSITY OF VIOLENCE THAT FOLLOWS AN ELECTION RESULT. INTERNATIONAL ELECTION OBSERVERS SHOULD BE UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 HARARE 00274 301319Z HERE AT LEAST FOR TWO MONTHS - ONE MONTH BEFORE, AND ANOTHER AFTER THE RESULTS. THIS IS CRITICAL BECAUSE IT WILL SAVE THE LOSS OF MORE LIVES." SULLIVAN UNCLASSIFIED >