LIFTING TERM LIMITS: CENI READY FOR REFERENDUM

UNCLAS NDJAMENA 000887

SIPDIS


SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR AF, AF/C, INR, LONDON AND PARIS FOR
AFRICAWATHERS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM CD
SUBJECT: LIFTING TERM LIMITS: CENI READY FOR REFERENDUM

REF: NDJAMENA 863


1. (SBU) Summary: As the ruling party goes all out to drum
up votes and opposition parties call for a boycott,
Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) President
Djimtibaye Lapia Neldjita is confident that the public
referendum to amend the constitution, including lifting
presidential term limits, will run smoothly. Despite a few
financial difficulties and material shortages, CENI is
completing the delivery of electoral materials for the vote
on June 6, which has been declared a public holiday. The
results of the referendum will be made public on June 21
after CENI presents them to the Constitutional Court for
validation. The date for the municipal and communal
elections, originally set for June 26, will take place after
the rainy season, most likely in October. The current
registration will be revised in early 2006 to register those
Chadians who have turned 18 and those that did not register
in 2005. End Summary.


2. (SBU) Djimtibaye Lapia Neldjita, the President of the
Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI),told
Ambassador and P/E officer on June 2 that the logistical
arrangements for the public referendum on the constitutional
amendments are in place. There were some financial and
material shortages, but these have largely been overcome. He
noted that the rains have already started in the south,
resulting in several accidents with the materials. The
hand-written lists have been computerized. CENI's N'Djamena
office only has five members and the rest of CENI's staff is
located in its sub-offices. The majority of the government's
ministers are traveling throughout Chad campaigning for a
"yes" vote.


3. (SBU) The Ambassador asked Djimtibaye about the
criticisms of the voter registration exercise and results.
Djimtibaye acknowledged the criticisms, but noted that the
previous registration was done in 1993, twelve years ago. He
said that the margin of discrepancy is not as high if one
takes into factors such as the birth rate, the number of
Chadians registering overseas, and irregular events, such as
the return of some 300,000 Chadians from Libya to the north,
particularly Faya and Kanem. He pointed out that over 520,000
Chadians are registered to vote overseas. Djimtibaye deftly
explained the discrepancies between the high number of
registered voters in the north versus the lower numbers in
the south. He pointed out that most southerners are members
of the opposition parties and probably adhered to the calls
for a boycott of the registration. There are no opposition
parties in the north so there were no calls for a boycott of
the registration. This explains why the numbers of
registered voters in the north is higher than the south,
according to Djimtibaye.


4. (SBU) Djimtibaye responded to the Ambassador's question
as to whether this electoral list will be used for the 2006
elections by explaining that each election year, the
electoral registration list is revised. Voters who have
turned 18 and those that are not registered will be
registered in early 2006. There will be a one month revision
period. This will give those voters who did not register for
the referendum another opportunity. Their registration will
be added to the current one. The presidential and
legislative elections will take place sometime between March
and May, prior to the rainy season.


5. (SBU) The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has
not yet distributed a report prepared by a consultant who
visited Chad in April to assess electoral preparations.
Djimtibaye said that the consultant relayed concerns about
the blockage in the political dialogue between the opposition
and the government. Since promoting this dialogue is not
CENI's task, Djimtibaye said that another entity, perhaps
UNDP, will need to facilitate the dialogue. He also
expressed the government's willingness to work on any of
UNDP's recommendations, but is waiting for them. Djimtibaye
acknowledged that most opposition parties will boycott the
referendum.


6. (SBU) Djimtibaye responded positively to the Ambassador's
request to permit embassy personnel to stop by polling
stations. He asked the embassy to give the CENI a list of
names and they would prepare badges to allow embassy
personnel entry into polling places. The Ambassador said
that the U.S. is following the referendum with great interest
and hopes it transpires transparently. He expressed support
for more open dialog between the ruling authorities and the
opposition parties. He added that the U.S. would like to
explore ways to support the upcoming electoral process to
ensure transparency and acceptance by all political parties.

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COMMENT
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7. (SBU) Djimtibaye was relaxed and confident in CENI's
preparations for the referendum. He was nonplused about the
widespread criticism of the referendum process. Embassy
personnel will informally monitor the voting process on June

6. We will report on the turn-out and any other problems
that materialize, but note that the certified results will
not be available until June 21.
WALL


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