Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KABUL1210
2008-05-17 14:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kabul
Cable title:
ELECTIONS UPDATE
VZCZCXRO6875 OO RUEHBW RUEHIK RUEHPW RUEHYG DE RUEHBUL #1210 1381404 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 171404Z MAY 08 FM AMEMBASSY KABUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3934 INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
UNCLAS KABUL 001210
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/FO, SCA/A,
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG
NSC FOR WOOD
OSD FOR SHIVERS
CENTCOM FOR CG CJTF-101 POLAD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV AF KDEM
SUBJECT: ELECTIONS UPDATE
UNCLAS KABUL 001210
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/FO, SCA/A,
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG
NSC FOR WOOD
OSD FOR SHIVERS
CENTCOM FOR CG CJTF-101 POLAD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV AF KDEM
SUBJECT: ELECTIONS UPDATE
1. (SBU) Although Karzai and the opposition United Front
agreed April 9 to separate presidential and parliamentary
elections, the National Assembly's lower house has yet to
pass the elections law, which would provide the necessary
legal basis for an elections calendar. The National Assembly
recesses from June 4 until July 21. We continue
to press the lower house leadership to pass the elections law
prior to its recess. The Independent Election Commission
(IEC) has begun planning for mid-August 2009
presidential elections, which would allow for a run-off, if
necessary, before winter weather. The IEC has set, rather
vaguely, summer 2010 as the window for National Assembly
and district council elections.
2. (SBU) Next to passage of the elections law, voter
registration is the most pressing elections preparation
challenge. A struggling UNDP has not yet released a donor
support request to fund registration. UNDP tells us it plans
to augment its elections support staff. The IEC hopes to
register voters in the northern half of the country from
August 1 to September 30 and, in the southern provinces, from
October 1 to November 30. The Policy
Action Group's (PAG) Security Operations Group approved this
schedule on May 3. That decision will have to be endorsed by
the president. Karzai may worry that inadequate security in
the south would deny his Pashtun base sufficient opportunity
to register.
3. (SBU) Karzai appointed May 15 five new commissioners to
the seven-person IEC board. The commissioners' mandates had
expired January 18 and their lack of legitimacy threatened to
undermine the IEC's authority. We are watching the National
Assembly to see if it will assert a right of review over
Karzai's IEC appointments, which might distract them from
elections planning and preparations.
WOOD
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/FO, SCA/A,
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG
NSC FOR WOOD
OSD FOR SHIVERS
CENTCOM FOR CG CJTF-101 POLAD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV AF KDEM
SUBJECT: ELECTIONS UPDATE
1. (SBU) Although Karzai and the opposition United Front
agreed April 9 to separate presidential and parliamentary
elections, the National Assembly's lower house has yet to
pass the elections law, which would provide the necessary
legal basis for an elections calendar. The National Assembly
recesses from June 4 until July 21. We continue
to press the lower house leadership to pass the elections law
prior to its recess. The Independent Election Commission
(IEC) has begun planning for mid-August 2009
presidential elections, which would allow for a run-off, if
necessary, before winter weather. The IEC has set, rather
vaguely, summer 2010 as the window for National Assembly
and district council elections.
2. (SBU) Next to passage of the elections law, voter
registration is the most pressing elections preparation
challenge. A struggling UNDP has not yet released a donor
support request to fund registration. UNDP tells us it plans
to augment its elections support staff. The IEC hopes to
register voters in the northern half of the country from
August 1 to September 30 and, in the southern provinces, from
October 1 to November 30. The Policy
Action Group's (PAG) Security Operations Group approved this
schedule on May 3. That decision will have to be endorsed by
the president. Karzai may worry that inadequate security in
the south would deny his Pashtun base sufficient opportunity
to register.
3. (SBU) Karzai appointed May 15 five new commissioners to
the seven-person IEC board. The commissioners' mandates had
expired January 18 and their lack of legitimacy threatened to
undermine the IEC's authority. We are watching the National
Assembly to see if it will assert a right of review over
Karzai's IEC appointments, which might distract them from
elections planning and preparations.
WOOD