EMBASSY CONGRATULATES ANGOLA ON PEACEFUL, ALBEIT FLAWED,

UNCLAS LUANDA 000715 SIPDIS ¶E. O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM PHUM AO SUBJECT: EMBASSY CONGRATULATES ANGOLA ON PEACEFUL, ALBEIT FLAWED, ELECTIONS ¶1. (U) The Ambassador on September 9 released a statement on the September 5-6 legislative elections, as observed by the U.S. Embassy Election Observation Team. The statement congratulated the Angolan people for their peaceful participation in the election, pointed out the ruling party's advantage during the campaign, noted that the elections were peaceful and without observed intimidation, detailed the logistical and other problems that impeded voting, namely in Luanda, and expressed hope that the lessons learned from these elections would be applied to next year's presidential race. The statement received prominent coverage in state and private media. ¶2. (U) The Embassy's statement follows: DECLARATION BY THE UNITED STATES EMBASSY ELECTORAL OBSERVATION TEAM September 9, 2008 The United States Embassy in Luanda wishes to thank the National Election Commission for the invitation to observe Angola's 2008 legislative elections. Resident in Angola, members of the U.S. Embassy observed the electoral campaign in Luanda and in many of the nation's provinces. On Election Day, the U.S. Embassy fielded 37 observers in Benguela, Bie, Huambo, Luanda and Uige Provinces. The United States Embassy congratulates the people of Angola, who took seriously their role in the democratic process of choosing their representatives to the National Assembly. Overcoming fears and uncertainties engendered by Angola's last elections 16 years ago, millions of Angolans turned out to vote, many for the first time. The Embassy Observation Team recognizes the enormity of organizing over 12,000 polling stations in a country still recovering from a long period of civil conflict. Over a half million Angolans participated directly in the Election Day process as polling station workers, political party poll-watchers, and domestic observers. The electoral campaign period was generally peaceful throughout the country. The advantages of incumbency provided the ruling party preferential access to resources. Although each party was daily allotted 15 minutes of dedicated nationwide television and radio time, state control of major media gave the ruling party an advantage in campaign media coverage. On Election Day, the country was peaceful. The Embassy Observation Team observed no acts of voter intimidation. According to reports of the Embassy Observation Team, the voting process outside Luanda proceeded in a generally timely and efficient manner. At many polling stations in Luanda, however, voting supplies were delivered late or not at all, resulting in long delays in opening these stations, if, indeed, they opened. Embassy Observers witnessed many citizens casting ballots without reference to voter registration rolls, either print or electronic. This situation was compounded by conflicting interpretations of how to utilize tendered ballots. Inking of a finger was the only control against multiple voting. The U.S. Embassy believes the logistical and other problems of these elections offer valuable lessons for Angola's future elections, beginning with next year's presidential elections. Again, we congratulate the people of Angola on their participation in this important step in strengthening their democracy. End Embassy Statement. MOZENA