Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SANSALVADOR512
2006-03-01 20:35:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy San Salvador
Cable title:
EL SALVADOR ELECTIONS: OAS PRE-ELECTION REVIEW AND
how-toVZCZCXYZ0002 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHSN #0512 0602035 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 012035Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY SAN SALVADOR TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1201 INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
UNCLAS SAN SALVADOR 000512
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PTER OAS ES
SUBJECT: EL SALVADOR ELECTIONS: OAS PRE-ELECTION REVIEW AND
PRE-ELECTION VIOLENCE
UNCLAS SAN SALVADOR 000512
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PTER OAS ES
SUBJECT: EL SALVADOR ELECTIONS: OAS PRE-ELECTION REVIEW AND
PRE-ELECTION VIOLENCE
1. SUMMARY: With 11 days remaining until the election, the
Organization of American States (OAS) election monitoring
mission has certified voter registration rolls, but still
notes problems with the new digital advance vote count
system. On a separate front, Farabundo Marti National
Liberation Front (FMLN) front organizations have been holding
frequent demonstrations, stopping traffic, and occasionally
engaging in violence. To date, the police have exercised
restraint. END SUMMARY.
2. Although the OAS has declared that the voter registration
roll is &suitable8, they estimate that five percent of
voter registrations are erroneous. Two significant
shortcomings are the failure to eliminate the names of the
deceased, and the (apparently-inadvertent) inclusion of
several children. The OAS has recommended that the GOES
engage in an audit of voter registrations before the 2009
elections; Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) President Walter
Araujo has promised to audit the rolls before then.
3. The TSE had planned to introduce a new digital advance
vote count during these elections. The system was originally
designed to scan the faxed results from polling stations
automatically, preventing alteration of data by precluding
data-entry staff from having physical access to the faxed
documents. However, the computerized system for distributing
the scanned documents is not working, so the TSE has decided
to print the scanned documents and manually distribute them
to the data-entry staff. The failure of the planned system
may likely result in longer processing times, but due to the
inherent safeguards of the archived scanned document, will
probably result in an equal measure of fraud prevention.
4. Pre-election violence and misconduct has been a regular
feature of El Salvador, and unfortunately this year is no
exception. The FMLN and Nationalist Republican Alliance
(ARENA) regularly accuse each other of destruction of
campaign materials, violent acts, and intimidation of
campaign workers. In one particularly serious incident on
January 28, fifteen campaign workers in Apopa were injured in
a rock-throwing fight between the FMLN and ARENA. In another
incident February 11, activists of the Christian Democratic
Party (PDC) and ARENA fought over campaign propaganda.
Leaders of all political parties have called for activists to
avoid confrontations.
5. Violent protests are forbidden by Salvadoran law, but
orthodox-hardliner groups affiliated with the FMLN regularly
engage in street blockades, tire burning, and armed seizure
of public buildings. On February 28, widespread protests
were held, nominally in opposition to the March 1
implementation of CAFTA. Four police officers and two
civilians were injured by rocks and homemade bombs thrown by
a crowd which included members of the Salvadoran Institute of
Social Security Workers Union (STISS),General Association of
Public and Municipal Employees (AGEPYM),and Revolutionary
Union for Social Justice (URJS). Additional protesters
associated with the Salvadoran Revolutionary Student Brigade
(BRES),National Association of Health and Social Assistance
Workers, National Association of Educators (ANDES),and
National Vendors Coordination Group (CNV) blocked traffic,
damage to property and burned tires, but did not result in
serious injuries. Although the FMLN claims they are not
behind the protests, banners in memory of Schafik Handal and
FMLN promotional apparel are clearly visible in photos of
marchers.
6. COMMENT: Additional protests occurred March 1; post
expects demonstrations to occur regularly until the March 12
elections. Although protests may nominally be staged in the
name of CAFTA or healthcare privatization, they appear at
heart to be a method of mobilizing the FMLN faithful.
According to the Anti-Terrorism Law now pending before the
Legislative Assembly, these protests could be labeled as
terrorist activities, which is why the FMLN will fight
passage of the bill. END COMMENT.
Barclay
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PTER OAS ES
SUBJECT: EL SALVADOR ELECTIONS: OAS PRE-ELECTION REVIEW AND
PRE-ELECTION VIOLENCE
1. SUMMARY: With 11 days remaining until the election, the
Organization of American States (OAS) election monitoring
mission has certified voter registration rolls, but still
notes problems with the new digital advance vote count
system. On a separate front, Farabundo Marti National
Liberation Front (FMLN) front organizations have been holding
frequent demonstrations, stopping traffic, and occasionally
engaging in violence. To date, the police have exercised
restraint. END SUMMARY.
2. Although the OAS has declared that the voter registration
roll is &suitable8, they estimate that five percent of
voter registrations are erroneous. Two significant
shortcomings are the failure to eliminate the names of the
deceased, and the (apparently-inadvertent) inclusion of
several children. The OAS has recommended that the GOES
engage in an audit of voter registrations before the 2009
elections; Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) President Walter
Araujo has promised to audit the rolls before then.
3. The TSE had planned to introduce a new digital advance
vote count during these elections. The system was originally
designed to scan the faxed results from polling stations
automatically, preventing alteration of data by precluding
data-entry staff from having physical access to the faxed
documents. However, the computerized system for distributing
the scanned documents is not working, so the TSE has decided
to print the scanned documents and manually distribute them
to the data-entry staff. The failure of the planned system
may likely result in longer processing times, but due to the
inherent safeguards of the archived scanned document, will
probably result in an equal measure of fraud prevention.
4. Pre-election violence and misconduct has been a regular
feature of El Salvador, and unfortunately this year is no
exception. The FMLN and Nationalist Republican Alliance
(ARENA) regularly accuse each other of destruction of
campaign materials, violent acts, and intimidation of
campaign workers. In one particularly serious incident on
January 28, fifteen campaign workers in Apopa were injured in
a rock-throwing fight between the FMLN and ARENA. In another
incident February 11, activists of the Christian Democratic
Party (PDC) and ARENA fought over campaign propaganda.
Leaders of all political parties have called for activists to
avoid confrontations.
5. Violent protests are forbidden by Salvadoran law, but
orthodox-hardliner groups affiliated with the FMLN regularly
engage in street blockades, tire burning, and armed seizure
of public buildings. On February 28, widespread protests
were held, nominally in opposition to the March 1
implementation of CAFTA. Four police officers and two
civilians were injured by rocks and homemade bombs thrown by
a crowd which included members of the Salvadoran Institute of
Social Security Workers Union (STISS),General Association of
Public and Municipal Employees (AGEPYM),and Revolutionary
Union for Social Justice (URJS). Additional protesters
associated with the Salvadoran Revolutionary Student Brigade
(BRES),National Association of Health and Social Assistance
Workers, National Association of Educators (ANDES),and
National Vendors Coordination Group (CNV) blocked traffic,
damage to property and burned tires, but did not result in
serious injuries. Although the FMLN claims they are not
behind the protests, banners in memory of Schafik Handal and
FMLN promotional apparel are clearly visible in photos of
marchers.
6. COMMENT: Additional protests occurred March 1; post
expects demonstrations to occur regularly until the March 12
elections. Although protests may nominally be staged in the
name of CAFTA or healthcare privatization, they appear at
heart to be a method of mobilizing the FMLN faithful.
According to the Anti-Terrorism Law now pending before the
Legislative Assembly, these protests could be labeled as
terrorist activities, which is why the FMLN will fight
passage of the bill. END COMMENT.
Barclay