ELECTORAL COMMISSION SAYS NO TO UDPS DEMANDS

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000039

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SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KPKO CG ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: ELECTORAL COMMISSION SAYS NO TO UDPS DEMANDS

REF: KINSHASA 00023


1. (U) The Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) announced
January 7 that it would not reopen registration centers for
the convenience of UDPS members who boycotted the
registration process from June to December 2005. CEI
Director Abbe Malu Malu noted that the time constraints of
the electoral calendar made a nationwide reopening
impossible. (Note: Approximately 15 registration centers in
Bandundu and Equateur remained open through January 9.) Malu
Malu did indicate, however, that the CEI would allow those
who did not register to vote (such as UDPS President Etienne
Tshisekedi) to enroll as candidates.

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2. (U) UDPS Secretary General Remy Masamba petitioned CEI on
January 5 to reopen registration centers to facilitate the
inclusion of UDPS members in the forthcoming elections.
Tshisekedi had chosen not to register during the registration

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period and instead called for a boycott of the process. In a
January 1 public statement (reftel),he reversed himself and
said the UDPS would participate in the electoral process.


3. (SBU) Comment: Tshisekedi and the UDPS have begun to
realize they are not in a very strong position to be imposing
conditions on the CEI. A general reopening of the voter
registration process would be problematic in any case in view
of the very tight timelines to prepare final voter lists
prior to general elections. It is also clear that with over
25 million registered voters, the vast majority of eligible
citizens have already registered, including presumed UDPS
supporters. In response to UDPS demands, the CEI has echoed
the sentiment of the CIAT, the Transitional Government, and
others not disposed to reopen registration to accommodate
Tshisekedi and the UDPS. In effect, Malu Malu has called the

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UDPS President's bluff. Permitting him to run for office
without registering to vote takes away his pretext for
claiming he and his party are being excluded from elections.
End comment.
MEECE