Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08LUANDA194
2008-03-10 09:44:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Luanda
Cable title:  

"THE ANGOLAN" -- ELECTORAL BULLETIN VOL. I

Tags:  PGOV PHUM PREL AO 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO0069
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHLU #0194/01 0700944
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 100944Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY LUANDA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4645
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL AO
SUBJECT: "THE ANGOLAN" -- ELECTORAL BULLETIN VOL. I


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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LUANDA 000194

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TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL AO
SUBJECT: "THE ANGOLAN" -- ELECTORAL BULLETIN VOL. I


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1. (U) SUMMARY
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This is the first of a series of updates by Embassy Luanda as Angola
prepares for parliamentary elections in September 2008. Key points
include:

-- The National Electoral Commission (CNE) holds managerial
conference

-- Election stakeholders call for political tolerance

-- Supreme Court advises it intends to uphold the electoral laws

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CNE debates location of polling stations
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1. (U) The CNE on January 29, 2008 gathered its 18 provincial
directors to Luanda for an intense electoral planning session, which
included discussion of the number and location of polling stations
and booths required for September's legislative elections. CNE
officials are considering many options, including utilization of the
registration centers used by the Inter-Ministerial Commission for
the Electoral Process (CIPE) during voter registration.


2. (SBU) Prior to this meeting, many Provincial Electoral
Commissions (PNE) developed proposals for polling locations that
balance the legal requirement to assign 1000 voters per polling
booth with the practical reality of servicing hundreds of small,
rural communities without requiring excessively onerous travel or
saddling large urban populations with excessively long lines.
Bengo's provincial director announced his intention to have 286
polling stations for slightly over 113,000 registered potential
voters - an average of 395 voters per polling station in a province
the size of Vermont. In contrast, Moxico's PNE intends to use 200
polling stations to service 222,437 potential voters - an average of
1112 voters per station in a province the size Minnesota, and a
province that UNITA claimed had too little coverage in 1992.


3. (SBU) COMMENT: The extent of the PNE's actual decision-making
authority is unclear, especially given CIPE's tendency to announce
that it is also busy determining the number and location of polling
stations. Given the many logistical hurdles to be overcome,
including demining for safe access and the selection and training of
staff, electoral observers, etc, it is one decision the CNE knows it
needs to make quickly. END COMMENT

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Calls for political tolerance
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4. (U) UNITA on January 31, 2008 reiterated its concern over what it
characterized as an increasingly tense political climate, and
requested that the CNE and the National Assembly take charge of the
situation and put a stop to what UNITA considers political
intolerance and harassment of citizens. This call insinuates the
government is not doing enough to curb the problem, but Interior
Minister Roberto Monteiro responded by telling journalists that acts
categorized as political intolerance are nothing more than common
vandalism and should be dealt with as such, with the police taking
strong measures against perpetrators.


5. (U) Nonetheless, on February 4, 2008 Prime Minister Dias dos
Santos called for political tolerance and mutual respect to be the
"mast flag" of September's legislative elections. He reminded his
audience of the utmost need to organize the elections under
peaceful, secure and cordial conditions, without redress to verbal
or physical violence.


6. (SBU) In addition, on February 5 Ramos da Cruz, Huila's
Provincial Governor, admitted that there is political intolerance in
Huila and pleaded for tolerance in a province that he believes will
be strongly contested, asking that all battles be only verbal.
Huila is the second largest electoral center after Luanda.

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Supreme Court cautions stakeholders
--------------


7. (U) President of the Supreme Court Cristiano Andre has again
cautioned stakeholders in the electoral process to strictly observe
the electoral laws, as the Court is the arbiter in all electoral
matters, including determining who the participants in the
legislative elections will be. In the same light, the Interior
Minister promised to enforce the observance of the electoral law
with no exceptions, assuring neutrality on the part of State
institutions.


8. (SBU) COMMENT: UNITA often complains that government institutions
are partial in favor of the MPLA, and insists that this partiality
is what grants MPLA the liberty to violate the law. It remains to

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be seen whether the Interior Ministry will live up to its word. END
COMMENT

MOZENA