INDEPENDENT ELECTION COMMISSION ANNOUNCES AFGHAN

UNCLAS KABUL 000217 SENSITIVE SIPDIS KABUL FOR COS USFOR-A STATE FOR SCA/FO, SCA/A, S/CRS STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG NSC FOR JWOOD OSD FOR MCGRAW CG CJTF-101, POLAD, JICCENT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KDEM PGOV AF SUBJECT: INDEPENDENT ELECTION COMMISSION ANNOUNCES AFGHAN ELECTIONS FOR AUGUST 20 REF: KABUL 0181 ¶1. (SBU) Dr. Azizullah Lodin, President of the Independent Election Commission (IEC),on January 29 told the media that the date for Afghanistan's presidential and provincial council elections will be August 20, 2009. Flanked by his fellow Commissioners as well as Chief Technical Officer Dr. Daoud Ali Najafi, Lodin told a full representation of domestic and international television and print media organizations that the Commission arrived at this decision under the authority of both the constitution and the electoral law. With a copy of the constitution aloft, and with several quotes from both texts, Lodin emphasized the IEC's authority to set the election date. ¶2. (SBU) Lodin also highlighted the constitutional right to a universal franchise in his remarks, noting that the August date allowed the IEC time to organize a free, fair and transparent process and to mobilize donor funding. He reported that the Afghan national security forces recommended a late summer or fall date, to allow time to stabilize the security situation. ¶3. (SBU) In a departure from earlier prickly and erratic media appearances, Dr. Lodin deftly fielded a range of questions. He referred inquiries on security and the possible impact of the reported increase in US forces to the security organizations, while noting that the IEC enjoys close cooperation with the police, army, and ISAF. He told journalists that the IEC is not the government institution empowered to resolve possible questions about the President's authority during the time between the May 22 date stipulated in the constitution (REFTEL) and August 20. Lodin added that the constitution's much-quoted Article 61 ("The presidential term shall expire on the first of Jowza (May 22) of the fifth year after elections. Elections for the new president shall be held within 30 to 60 days prior to the end the presidential term.") contains the clause "after elections," which he as an individual took to mean the constitution intends the president to serve until new elections are held. One journalist asked if the "Independent Election Commission" is really "Karzai's Election Commission." Lodin replied that the IEC is exactly like other independent commissions, such as the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission, established under the guidelines of the constitution and the law. WOOD