Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06FREETOWN630
2006-08-03 19:17:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Freetown
Cable title:  

PRESIDENT KABBAH ANNOUNCES JULY 28, 2007 FOR

Tags:  PGOV SL 
pdf how-to read a cable
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FM AMEMBASSY FREETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0110
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UNCLAS FREETOWN 000630 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV SL
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT KABBAH ANNOUNCES JULY 28, 2007 FOR
ELECTIONS

REF: FREETOWN 499

UNCLAS FREETOWN 000630

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV SL
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT KABBAH ANNOUNCES JULY 28, 2007 FOR
ELECTIONS

REF: FREETOWN 499


1. (U) On August 3, President Kabbah announced Saturday, July
28, 2007 as the date for presidential and parliamentary
elections.


2. (U) Citing constitutional requirements for presidential
and parliamentary elections, Kabbah has selected July 28,
2007 as a date on which both presidential and parliamentary
elections can be held simultaneously. Kabbah's address
highlighted Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC)
preparation of a code of conduct for political parties and
National Electoral Commission (NEC) development of approved
topics to be debated. The topics, Kabbah said, will be "only
on national development issues and issues which will promote
national cohesion" that will in turn "help create a healthy
campaign environment for discussion of subjects relevent to
national development." Such an issues-based dialogue, Kabbah
said, will allow voters the "opportunity to choose candidates
according to the respective party programs."


3. (U) Kabbah also appealed to voters to help the government
maintain a safe environment for the elections. "I would like
to appeal to all Sierra Leoneans...to see the forthcoming
elections not as a warfare between warlords but purely as a
friendly contest." In this way, political differences can be
resolved through dialogue, he said.


4. (U) The official campaign period will be announced by the
NEC. Kabbah emphasized that the declaration of the election
date does not mean the start of political campaign
activities. In a separate public statement, NEC Executive
Commissioner Christiana Thorpe buttressed this, saying that
she intends to work with the Chief Justice to punish
political parties who are violating the PPRC code of conduct
by campaigning before the official campaign period begins.


5. (U) Comment: President Kabbah has been under pressure from
political parties and donors (especially the UN) to announce
an election date. The July date should allow the NEC
sufficient time to complete preparations, including the
creation of a permanent voter's registry. We had heard that
the NEC would not be able to complete all of its preparations
by May 2007, which is the date Kabbah had favored earlier
(see reftel). The elections will come in the middle of the
rainy season, a concern for voter turnout, but logistically
and financially it will be easier to hold presidential and
parliamentary elections simultaneously.


6. (SBU) Comment, cont: Clamping down on on early campaigning
will be a challenge for the NEC, especially since the ruling
SLPP is widely viewed as the most blatant violator, using its
incumbency for political advantage. SLPP presidential
nominee, Vice President Solomon Berewa, will travel to the
U.S. on September 4 to raise funds from Sierra Leonean
Americans and, no doubt, do a little early campaigning as
well.
HULL