DRC ELECTIONS: CARTER CENTER COMMENDS "ORDERLY AND

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001692

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM CG ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: DRC ELECTIONS: CARTER CENTER COMMENDS "ORDERLY AND
PEACEFUL" VOTE

REF: A. KINSHASA 1673

B. KINSHASA 1677

C. KINSHASA 1683


1. (U) Former Canadian Prime Minister Joe Clark released a
preliminary statement by the Carter Center on the October 29
DRC elections at a press conference November 1 in Kinshasa.
The Carter Center congratulated the Congolese people for an
orderly and peaceful vote, and credited the Independent
Electoral Commission (CEI) for significant improvements since
the July legislative and first-round presidential election.
The Center's delegation, led by Clark and Associate Executive
Director John Stremlau, included 45 observers from 14
countries deployed in Kinshasa and the other ten DRC
provinces.


2. (U) The statement characterized the election as "a major
success," and praised poll workers for "very well executed"
administration of the process. The Carter Center noted a
significant improvement in the quality of electoral
administration since July and was pleased to find that the
CEI had adopted many of the Center's recommendations
following the first round. Although implementation of the
new measures wasn't universal, the Center said the personal
engagement of CEI Director Abbe Malu Malu ensured that most
poll workers were aware of the changes.


3. (U) The Center noted that the transparency and integrity
of the process were improved by new steps to ensure party
witnesses received official copies of the results of the
presidential polling. However, the Center reported that
party witnesses were fewer in areas of the opposing
candidate's greatest strength and that some witnesses did not
wait to receive copies of the results. During the press
conference, Clark replied to a question about the absence of
witnesses, saying "If someone did not have a witness in
place, they should not complain."


4. (U) Carter Center observers expressed concern about
negative campaign practices such as hate speech, inequitable
and politically-biased media coverage, the absence of formal
debate, and the sabotage of campaign materials and
communication assets. The statement said these problems
would need to be corrected for future DRC elections to reach
"internationally-accepted standards." The Center also
suggested that the absence of public campaigning may have
contributed to lower voter turnout. In the statement, the
Center called on candidates to take responsibility for the
actions of their followers and said an "unequivocal public
message" by political leaders calling for calm "would be
welcome now."


5. (U) On election day, Carter Center observers witnessed
well-informed elections officials, good coverage by party
witnesses, and fewer problems such as improper assistance in
the polling booth provided to illiterate voters. The
observers reported that an overwhelming majority of elections
officials performed their responsibilities in a
"satisfactory" or "very satisfactory" manner. Despite
infrastructural difficulties such as poor lighting or lack of
protection from the elements, most polling centers opened on
time, posted voter lists outside their doors, and more
closely perused voter identification cards than during the
July elections.


6. (U) The Center cited the serious incidents of violence
(reftels) in Bumba and Bikoro (Equateur province) and in
Fataki (Ituri District) and commended the CEI for responding
quickly and appropriately to them. It called the attacks
"isolated" and said they did not call into question the
"overall integrity of the polls." The Center also praised
police as being "visible, but not intrusive" at most polling
locations.


7. (U) Carter Center observers called vote counting
"consensual and properly implemented." The observers found
election officials "well-informed" about appropriate
procedures and what constituted a valid or invalid ballot.
The Center urged the CEI to provide timely access to official
results by polling stations and urged both sides to ensure
proper measures of verifying vote tabulations.


8. (U) Carter Center observers will remain deployed
throughout the DRC until tabulation is complete and hope to
remain in the country long-term. The Center will issue

KINSHASA 00001692 002 OF 002


further statements to complete their assessment of the
second-round presidential vote.


9. (U) A copy of the statement has been transmitted to AF/C.
MEECE