DRC ELECTIONS: BALLOT COMPILATION UNDERWAY WITH

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001683 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KDEM CG ELECTIONS SUBJECT: DRC ELECTIONS: BALLOT COMPILATION UNDERWAY WITH MINOR DELAYS IN KINSHASA REF: A. KINSHASA 1677 ¶B. KINSHASA 1673 ¶C. KINSHASA 1674 ¶D. KINSHASA 1485 ¶1. (U) Summary: AF DAS Yamamoto emphasized to the Congolese press strong U.S. interest in working with a freely-elected Congolese government after heading the U.S. observer team for the October 29 DRC elections. One of two Kinshasa television stations owned by Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba is again broadcasting. Collection and compilation of ballots is well underway. Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) President Malu Malu warned against premature announcement of results. The CEI is conducting re-votes in Bumba, Equateur province and Fataki, Ituri District because of disruptions caused by crowd violence on election day. The CEI and MONUC are investigating allegations by Human Rights Watch of irregularities in Nizi, Ituri District. End summary. ¶2. (U) AF Deputy Assistant Secretary Donald Yamamoto, who headed the U.S. Mission observer team for the October 29 DRC elections, received wide coverage in the October 31 Kinshasa press. DAS Yamamoto praised the conduct of the elections and reiterated strong U.S. interest in working with a freely-elected Congolese government. He and the Ambassador also met with Antoine Gizenga, whose party will provide the prime minister in the event of a Kabila victory, and with other political figures. Gizenga said that he had high expectations for cooperation with the United States if his party enters the government. ¶3. (U) One of two Kinshasa television stations owned by Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba is again operational after having its transmission interrupted October 29. CCTV information director Patrick Palaka said the station's technicians were able to re-establish their signal, attributing the problem to "technical difficulties." The other Bemba station, Canal Kin TV, had its signal interrupted October 27 and remains off the air, although a senior MLC official, Thomas Luhaka, told us October 30 that Canal Kin's problem was also a technical fault. ¶4. (SBU) Collection and verification of ballots and tally sheets has begun at the DRC's 62 compilation centers, the CEI's Director of National Operations Flavien Misoni told a meeting of international donors in Kinshasa October 31. No major problems have been reported in the transport of documents to the centers. ¶5. (U) Misoni said that in Kinshasa, collection of material from the capital's 8,500 polling sites has been slow but orderly. PolOffs observed a much improved process during an October 30 visit to Kinshasa's collection and compilation centers. They saw hundreds of waterproof bags neatly organized in a giant warehouse according to locality, unlike the first-round process which was characterized by disorganized piles of ballots and paperwork. Dozens of CEI workers were at the center to verify the contents of the bags and to process and collate voting materials. MONUC, EUFOR and Congolese police provided visible security at the site. ¶6. (SBU) CEI and MONUC had originally estimated three to four days for collection and transfer of all material to a central compilation center, but the process has started more slowly than anticipated. The first deliveries of voting material arrived several hours late, and CEI workers appeared unfamiliar with their tasks. A MONUC logistics coordinator told us they do not expect the collection process in Kinshasa to be completed until November 5. We will continue to monitor progress at these centers. ¶7. (SBU) Misoni reiterated the CEI intends to announce provisional presidential results no later than November 19, but noted this could happen sooner depending on how quickly ballots are tabulated. He said that preliminary results from some electoral districts may be ready for publication within the next two days. ¶8. (U) In a press conference the same day, CEI President Apollinaire Malu Malu said he was concerned about premature publication of election results and about false results which may be circulating. He emphasized the CEI alone is authorized to announce results, and called on media outlets to refrain from announcing any partial figures. He stated that such actions would create confusion and tension. KINSHASA 00001683 002 OF 002 ¶9. (U) Malu Malu said that the Ituri District city of Fataki will hold a re-vote November 1. An enraged mob there destroyed 43 polling stations after two CEI workers were shot dead the morning of October 30 by a Congolese soldier (ref A). Malu Malu said the soldier has already been found guilty by a military court and sentenced to death. ¶10. (U) Misoni reported voting restarted October 31 in Bumba in Equateur province at 30 polling sites closed because of election day violence (ref B). Misoni said a CEI delegation had arrived in Bumba October 30 with election kits and other replacement materials and would be monitoring the operations. ¶11. (SBU) MONUC and CEI officials said they are investigating allegations by Human Rights Watch that elements of the Congolese military prevented voters in Ituri District from going to the polls October 29 (ref C). MONUC Electoral Division director Ali Diabacte said MONUC was surprised to hear of the report and is investigating it seriously. He said that MONUC has so far not found evidence to support the allegations. ¶12. (U) Several international organizations and donors issued statements praising the conduct of the October 29 elections. The International Committee to Accompany the Transition (CIAT) congratulated the Congolese people for their civic spirit and CEI officials for their efforts in organizing the elections. European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana called on all political actors to respect the election results. MONUC and the Belgian government also declared their satisfaction with the organization of the electoral process. MEECE