ESTIMATED TWO MILLION SIERRA LEONEANS REGISTER TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 FREETOWN 000202 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/W E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL SL SUBJECT: ESTIMATED TWO MILLION SIERRA LEONEANS REGISTER TO VOTE Classified By: Ambassador Thomas N. Hull for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (U) On March 18 Sierra Leone concluded a three-week voter registration period for the national elections to be held July 28, 2007. Deemed a success by the United Nations Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL),preliminary results estimate that between February 26 - March 18 nearly 2 million of approximately 2.7 million anticipated eligible voters registered. There were isolated incidents of electoral fraud mostly involving double or underage registration. Cases of political intimidation by the ruling party were also reported. However, there was no discernible pattern of fraud or intimidation during the process. ¶2. (C) The three major political parties complained there was an insufficient number of voter registration centers (VRCs) and long distances between centers discouraged people from registering. The parties also expressed concern about a 2,000 registration cap on VRCs. Centers that registered 2,000 people closed and referred applicants to nearby centers. National Electoral Commission (NEC) officials explained this was done to avoid creating mega-polling centers on election day. Registration observers, including a delegation hosted by the National Democratic Institute (NDI),noted that the electoral process in Sierra Leone still faces many challenges, including the potential for political tension, logistical difficulties and competition for limited resources for key institutions. It appears the Government still plans to move forward with a constitutional referendum on election day, which will add to the already considerable logistical challenges. END SUMMARY. INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY CALLS REGISTRATION A SUCCESS -------------- -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The independent National Electoral Commission (NEC) conducted voter registration from February 26 - March 18 for the upcoming Sierra Leone national elections on July 28. UNIOSIL called the process a success given the considerable technical and logistical challenges the process faced. UN and NEC officials said that preliminary results estimated that nearly 2 million of 2.7 million anticipated eligible voters registered at 2,740 registration centers. Forty-seven percent of those who registered were women, and 50 percent were below the age of 27. In comparison, during the 2002 national elections approximately 2.3 million Sierra Leoneans registered at 5,278 centers over two weeks. During the current process, there were isolated incidents of electoral fraud, primarily involving double or underage registration, and alleged attempts to register non-Sierra Leoneans. The Sierra Leone Police (SLP) also reported allegations of political intimidation by the ruling Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP). However, there were no discernible patterns of systemic abuse. These cases of alleged electoral fraud are currently under investigation. NEC PERFORMS WELL DESPITE CONSIDERABLE CONSTRAINTS -------------- -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The 2007 national elections are the reconstituted NEC's first experience organizing elections. In 2005, the NEC underwent major changes in structure and personnel and selected a new chairperson to revamp the organization. The NEC receives targeted technical assistance and significant financial support from the international community. The NEC's performance has been encouraging despite the considerable logistical and technical challenges it faces. UN officials commended the NEC for its efforts to curb registration fraud and address the many issues that arose during registration, including underage or double registration, political parties attempting to conduct parallel registration, fighting between political party observers, and the difficulty of delivering registration materials to all centers on time for the opening of registration. The NEC also had to contend with inaccessibility of many registration centers in remote areas and registration officials who threatened to strike over salary disputes. One center reportedly closed for one day after an altercation between a deputy minister who belongs to the ruling SLPP party and registration officials. (See par. 7) MAIN COMPLAINTS: DISTANCE AND NUMBER OF VRCS -------------- ¶5. (C) During the three-week registration period, there were steady complaints about distances people had to travel to register. Political party leaders expressed concern that a combination of insufficient numbers of VRCs and long FREETOWN 00000202 002 OF 003 distances discouraged registration and fed voter apathy. (Comment: The three major political parties disputed the NEC and UN's claim that five to seven miles was the greatest distance between centers. End Comment) Moreover, they said that elderly and physically-challenged individuals were negatively impacted. Vice President Berewa, the SLPP presidential candidate, told the Ambassador the registration process was not uniform because there more readily accessible registration sites available in urban centers than in rural areas. This perceived inequality of access gave an unfair advantage to parties that derive political support from urban over rural areas. Berewa also expressed concern that this would be a critical issue on election day, particularly as voters will have to slog to centers during the rainy season. (Comment: This is of great concern to the SLPP which draws much of it support from rural areas, whereas Freetown is an opposition APC stronghold. End Comment.) ¶6. (C) Charles Margai, the presidential candidate for the SLPP breakaway party, the People's Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC),has been very critical of the NEC, both publicly and privately. He says the NEC has no power to enforce electoral law and is a pawn of the ruling SLPP. During a meeting with PolOff March 22, he claimed the NEC has ignored the numerous registration irregularities reported by his party. He also argued that the registration period should have been extended to account for irregularities during the process. He expressed grave concerns about the NEC registration officials and accused them of being SLPP sympathizers. ISOLATED INCIDENTS OF ELECTORAL FRAUD AND INTIMIDATION -------------- -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The international community's assessment of the process was mainly positive, especially given the numerous challenges the process faced. Election officials said that most cases of registration fraud, primarily either underage or double registration, were mostly a product of ignorance. They reported there were isolated reported incidents of political intimidation and violence. In Kenema district in the Southern Province, there were 19 cases of electoral fraud reported. One case involved a deputy minister who had supporters attack registration officials after he was not allowed to &butt in line8 to register. All were under investigation by the SLP and four have been charged to court. OBSERVERS ASSESS REGISTRATION -------------- ¶8. (SBU) The National Democratic Institute (NDI) hosted a pre-election delegation March 12-19, funded by the UK's DFID. This is the first of two (NDI) delegations to assess the pre-election environment in advance of the July 28 national elections. Comprised of experienced political and civic leaders and elections experts from Africa, North America, the Middle East and Asia, the delegation met with Embassy staff, Sierra Leonean political and civic leaders, electoral authorities, GOSL officials, and representatives of the media and international community, including UN electoral technical advisors assigned to the NEC. The delegation also traveled to Bo, Bombali, and Kenema districts to observe registration centers and meet with local political and civic leaders. ¶9. (SBU) The NDI delegation reported that the NEC was making progress toward the conduct of credible elections and viewed it as gaining credibility as an effective institution operating independently of the GoSL. However, the NDI delegation noted significant challenges that are emerging in the run up to the elections. The final report cited substantial political tension, logistical difficulties and the limited resources which are hampering the work of key institutions, such as the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC). The delegation emphasized that the NEC must devote more attention to and improve communications with the political parties and the media. WILL THERE BE A CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM? -------------- ¶10. (SBU) In January 2007, the Government appointed a constitutional reform committee, in line with recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee (TRC). However, there has been little information available concerning the scope of their work. With only four months remaining until the elections, observers had judged that the referendum would not occur at the same time as the national elections. ¶11. (C) However, it now appears that the GoSL still plans to hold a constitutional referendum on election day. It is still FREETOWN 00000202 003 OF 003 not known what the scope of the referendum will be. The NEC is trying to dissuade the Government from holding the referendum, arguing that it would add considerable costs and logistical difficulties to an already challenging process. There is little time to move forward on proposed changes; Parliament will be dissolving possibly in June, and voters would need time to be educated on the proposed reforms. The time for a constructive public debate in advance of a referendum is simply running out. COMMENT -------------- ¶12. (C) Overall, the international community is satisfied with conduct of the registration process. UN officials working with the NEC were encouraged by the high registration numbers and the fact that nearly 47 percent were women. The process was also relatively violence-free. However, the three major political parties continue to voice considerable reservations about the process. The PMDC and APC, the two main opposition parties, have leveled numerous accusations against the ruling SLPP and appear to be making a case that the process is not credible in the event they lose at the polls. While the APC appears more moderate in its willingness to work with the NEC and PPRC, the PMDC's attitude is worrisome. The PMDC's founder and Presidential aspirant, Charles Margai, has consistently declared that the NEC is totally untrustworthy, which bodes ill for how he and his party might pursue post electoral challenges. Margai is the son and nephew of prime ministers and arrogantly views the presidency as his birthright. The opposition parties, claim that Sierra Leoneans are fed up with the current administration resonates with many voters, and the opposition and its supporters may not accept the results as credible if the ruling SLPP wins at the polls. ¶13. (C) Although the NEC has not yet announced the official start of the campaigning season, which will most likely begin in June, all parties are in full campaign-mode, which they blithely refer to as "political sensitization." As we move closer towards July, we are seeing indications that tensions are mounting. While things may be relatively calm through the actual elections, there is a possibility of unrest if the parties are not happy with the announced electoral results. END COMMENT. HULL