SIERRA LEONE 2007 NATIONAL ELECTIONS: SETTING THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 FREETOWN 000079 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/W, INR E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM PHUM ELECTIONS SL SUBJECT: SIERRA LEONE 2007 NATIONAL ELECTIONS: SETTING THE STAGE REF: 06 FREETOWN 776 Classified By: Ambassador Thomas N. Hull for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) This is the first in a series of cables intended to set the context for the July 28, 2007 Presidential and Parliamentary elections, only the fifth multiparty elections in Sierra Leone since its independence in 1961. Post welcomes any comments or suggestions. -------------- POLITICAL PARTIES AND CANDIDATES -------------- ¶2. (U) Eight officially-registered political parties will contest the July 28, 2007 national elections. Candidates from the three main political parties, the ruling Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP),and two opposition parties, the All Peoples Congress (APC),and the newest party, the Peoples Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC),will contest the presidential elections. They are Vice President Solomon Berewa for the SLPP, Parliamentarian Ernest Koroma representing the APC, and Charles Margai for the PMDC. Margai, who defected from the SLPP to form the PMDC after the September 2005 SLPP Party Convention, is the nephew and son of Sierra Leone's first post-independence prime ministers. None of the candidates has named a running mate. -------------- NEC LEADS THE WAY -------------- ¶3. (U) The National Electoral Commission (NEC),created in 2000, is responsible for the conduct of national elections and is led by a very capable and respected Chairperson, Dr. Christiana Thorpe. UNDP is providing the NEC with financial, planning, technological, and logistical assistance. Recently, concerns have emerged about alleged internal improprieties, which Dr. Thorpe has talked about openly in the news media to keep the process transparent. ¶4. (C) Victor Angelo, Executive Representative of the Secretary General (ERSG) for the UN Integrated Office in SIPDIS Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL),recently told the Ambassador that he was concerned about allegations of embezzlement of funds by some NEC commissioners. Media reports stated that the NEC has launched an internal investigation. Angelo said that the allegations did not include Chairperson Thorpe. Angelo also said that the British would fund a financial controller position for the NEC to prevent possible improprieties. Thorpe held a press conference on January 30 where she stated that the results of an ongoing internal investigation would be delivered soon, but according to Angelo this is a separate investigation about possible staff wrongdoing. -------------- THE PLAYING FIELD -------------- ¶5. (U) Signing of Political Code of Conduct: On November 23, eight officially-registered political parties signed a political parties code of conduct pledging that their leaders, officials, candidates, members, agents, supporters, and representatives would adhere to existing electoral laws. Election law stipulates that the National Electoral Commission (NEC) prepare a political party code of conduct. The NEC recruited the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC) to organize a workshop in October 2006 to seek input from political parties and civil society on language for the code. ¶6. (SBU) NEW PPRC Chairperson: Parliament recently swore in Justice Sydney Warne as the new Chairperson for the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC). Formed in 2005, the PPRC is responsible for the registration of all political parties in Sierra Leone. Lawyer Roland Ade Caesar had been the acting Chair following the resignation of retired Chief Justice Abdulai Timbo in August 2006 reportedly for health reasons. ¶7. (U) Return to Constituency-based Elections: On November 30, Parliament approved the NEC's report to Parliament on the Electoral Constituency Boundaries Delimitation Process. The report, which NEC submitted to Parliament in August 2006, stipulates that parliamentary elections once again be constituency-based contests. Due to the lack of reliable FREETOWN 00000079 002 OF 004 population data for delimitation and a lack of access to areas controlled by the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) during the 11-year civil war, Parliament passed a constitutional amendment before the 1996 and 2002 parliamentary elections that changed elections from constituency-based to district block representation. ¶8. (SBU) It was anticipated that Parliament would ultimately approve the new constituency boundaries in advance of the next national elections anticipated for 2007. Nonetheless, there was considerable reluctance from SLPP Parliamentarians to approve the constituency report and recommendations because redistricting would automatically eliminate some SLPP members' seats. After five hours of contentious and often raucous debate, Parliament passed the measure 54-14 with three members abstaining. Members of Parliament will now be more accountable and representative of their constituencies after the election. Currently, many members of Parliament do not reside in the district that they represent, and residence requirements may become a campaign issue. The electoral campaigns are certain to become more personality-driven as a result. ¶9. (SBU) Constitutional Referendum: The GoSL also announced in late 2006 that it would hold a constitutional referendum on July 28, but has not clarified what amendments will be put to voters. The Office of the President issued a press release on October 24 stating that it had created a Constitutional Review Commission to review the 1991 Sierra Leone Constitution to recommend amendments. The Commission was officially launched on January 29 and will consist of 38 members representing a cross-section of government and civil society. Most observers rightly feel that a constitutional referendum would unnecessarily complicate the national elections and that it would be better if it was held at a later date. NEC Chairperson Thorpe has said that the referendum will not take place this year, and major donors providing technical advice concur. President Kabbah, however, appears determined to have the referendum, setting up a possible confrontation. ¶10. (C) Voter Registration: Voter registration will be held from February 26 - March 18. The NEC has developed a voter registration operational plan and has recruited 266 registration center monitors, who are not allowed to serve in their home districts to reduce political pressure on them. It is also in the process of hiring 12,000 election staff. However, there are serious concerns about how election monitors were selected, and if the selection process was fair and transparent. There are allegations that the selection process was not properly advertised and that some NEC commissioners manipulated the distribution of application forms. ¶11. (SBU) Vehicle Transportation Procurement: With voter registration less than one month away, the NEC will be hard-pressed to procure enough functioning vehicles to monitor voter registration and electoral activities. It has reportedly reached agreements with the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) and Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) to repair 35 RSLAF vehicles and 25 SLP vehicles. Nevertheless, the UN reports that the vehicle shortage is still critical. ¶12. (U) Funding Shortfall: There continues to be a funding shortfall of an estimated $3.7 million for the elections. Donors are funding the election through a "basket" for electoral support, in addition to the GoSL tranching out money quarterly. The Ministry of Finance is not fully funding the GoSL commitment this quarter, claiming insufficient revenues, which compounds the shortfall problem. Some think that this is a ploy to pressure the UN Peace Building Commission to release funds to Sierra Leone. USG assistance is not part of the "basket" of contributions, and is instead funneled from USAID through the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and International Foundation for Elections Support (IFES) to NGOs to provide assistance for voter education, local monitoring, and assistance to the PPRC. USG assistance will also go towards municipal elections in 2008. ¶13. (C) Security: Security preparations are ongoing. The Sierra Leone Police (SLP) will be responsible for elections security and will work closely with UN police (UNPOL) advisors, the UK Department for International Development (DFID),and UK Metropolitan Police to continue training its ranks in crowd control and other security measures. According to the SLP 2007 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections Security Plan, the SLP plans to deploy at every polling FREETOWN 00000079 003 OF 004 location and will provide around the clock police coverage at NEC locations where voting materials are stored. ¶14. (C) The UN Security Council has approved another ten police advisors and five military advisors for UNIOSIL. The British have added another eight police officers as advisors, who are being stationed upcountry to provide training and monitor the elections process. ¶15. (C) Election Monitors: A Carter Center representative told PolOff January 30 that it looks likely that the Carter Center will send 6-8 long-term election observers to Sierra Leone. He said that the Center was discussing funding with DFID and could possibly be on the ground in time for the voter registration period at the end of February. USG assistance will support local monitors while support from DFID will support international monitors. -------------- SLPP CONFIDENT ABOUT CHANCES -------------- ¶16. (C) SLPP presidential candidate Vice President Berewa is concentrating most of his time on the July 28 presidential election. In discussions with ruling party members, most express confidence that the SLPP will easily secure the necessary 55 percent needed for victory. Contributing to this confidence is the appearance that the opposition parties are in disarray due to legal issues and leadership struggles. Parliamentary elections may have a slightly different outcome as it appears that the SLPP majority may shrink significantly due to the approval of the constituency boundaries report by Parliament in November. -------------- ALLEGATIONS OF POLITICAL INTIMIDATION -------------- ¶17. (C) There continue to be allegations of political intimidation by the ruling SLPP against opposition parties, as previously reported reftel. During a recent trip upcountry to Bo and Pujehun, community members reported to PolOff stories of political intimidation perpetrated by paramount chiefs loyal to the SLPP against PMDC supporters. Reports continue that the SLPP has "bought" the loyalty of many paramount chiefs. Paramount chiefs wield considerable influence and political parties must secure their approval to hold political rallies under the Public Order Act. A UN political advisor reported this week that during a recent trip to Bo, Pujehun, and Kenema, election stakeholders related similar stories of intimidation and SLPP inappropriate use of government resources. PMDC supporters are registering complaints with the NEC. The UN reported that the SLP has remained neutral. -------------- HINGA NORMAN TO JOIN PMDC? -------------- ¶18. (U) Sierra Leonean news media recently reported that former Internal Affairs Minister, Chief Hinga Norman, and other indictees of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, have deserted the SLPP to join the PMDC. The reports state that the PMDC claimed that Hinga Norman had signed a press statement conveying his support for the party. A few local newspapers ran what appears to be a statement signed by Norman. The SLPP has refuted the story and stated that Norman would have notified the SLPP and resigned if it was his intention to leave the SLPP. Hinga Norman is currently in Senegal receiving medical attention. -------------- EMBASSY OUTREACH -------------- ¶19. (SBU) In November, Pampana Communications Productions launched a Krio-language play entitled, "Udat for Vot For?" with funding assistance from the Embassy's Democracy and Human Rights Fund. Designed to educate voters, the play's characters summarized electoral procedures using storytelling. All three major political parties - SLPP, PMDC and APC - were invited to speak at the launch. Only the APC accepted the invitation. Following the play, NEC Chairperson Christiana Thorpe led a discussion, which elicited considerable feedback. One point audience members emphasized was the need to more broadly promote the play to include rural communities during the electoral process. The play will FREETOWN 00000079 004 OF 004 tour 25 towns, but additional funding is needed for further performances. ¶20. (U) On December 8, the Ambassador, USAID Country Program Manager, and NDI Country Director launched two voter education programs that will provide support to Sierra Leonean NGOs to design and promote civic education programs. NDI will implement both programs, which are funded by USAID and the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) for $500,000. ¶21. (SBU) On December 18, USAID signed a cooperative agreement with the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS) to implement a two-year $2.2 million electoral assistance program through NDI and the International Foundation for Electoral Support (IFES). NDI and IFES are working with local NGOs and consortia to build institutional capacity to conduct and monitor registration and elections, promote voter education, strengthen civil society organizations, promote compliance with election laws, encourage conflict mitigation, and promote media responsibility. ¶22. (SBU) In his many speeches, radio interviews, and meetings with GoSL officials, the Ambassador continues to stress the importance that all elections be conducted fairly and freely, and that all political parties be given a level playing field upon which to compete. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶23. (SBU) Election stakeholders feel fairly confident that preparations for the July national elections are on track. Campaigning has taken center stage, although the NEC has not officially announced when political parties can begin campaigning, and the intensity of rhetoric between the parties continues to increase. Although the ruling SLPP has the power of incumbency, the PMDC, which has been referred to as the "child of the broken home of the SLPP," will attract some SLPP supporters. It now appears that the run-up to the elections will be fairly peaceful. However, there is concern about voters' reactions in the aftermath of the elections. It is relatively certain that there will be serious implications if voters feel that their voices were not heard and they perceive that the election results are not credible. END COMMENT. HULL