GPC and JMP exchange accusations over elections [Archives:2006/926/Front Page]

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March 6 2006

SANA'A, Mar. 4 ) The General People's Congress (GPC) and the Joint Meeting Parties (JMP) exchanged sharp accusations after the latter decided not to take part in election management committees. The GPC accused the opposition of planning to boycott September's presidential elections.

Main opposition party leaders are due to hold a March 6 press conference to explain why they decided not to participate in the election committees and to announce conditions for standing in upcoming presidential elections, a JMP source told media.

He added, “We have completed all measures to ensure free and fair elections. These measures, considered the criteria for standing in or boycotting the elections, will be announced at the press conference.” He confirmed that the opposition will work hard to participate in elections, as such is the best option for them.

GPC Secretary General Sultan Al-Barakani said, “There are many parties who do not want to stand in the elections, but they want to hole the ship and then cover it. We will never pay the price for anyone attempting to blackmail us. Yemen will never fall if any party rebels against the law.”

Al-Barakani pointed out that his party is prepared to bring in lawmakers from around the world if JMP violations necessitate it.

A GPC official source indicated that the opposition has the right to boycott the presidential poll, but citizens nationwide will not be denied the right to vote. He says what the Supreme Commission for Elections and Referendum (SCER) did – regarding high school and university graduates revising and modifying voter registers after voter registration committee talks with the opposition reached a deadlock – is a matter of its concern. According to the Constitution and the law, this is part of SCER's responsibilities.

JMP spokesman Mohamed Qahtan demanded SCER members be punished for violations committed against the Constitution and the law, which ban the SCER's actions, he said in a statement to Nas Press.

He added, “Such acts imply that the SCER does not operate in compliance with the law, but according to higher directives, as it feels that higher directives are the source of its protection.”

According to Qahtan, the formation of the SCER is a matter related to misuse of majority while the Constitution stipulates that the SCER must be neutral and independent. The law reads: 'The SCER must be composed of seven members selected from 15 candidates.' Qahtan added “However, majority misemployment resulted in selecting five of the seven members from the authority. This destroyed all that the Constitution built.”

SCER officials renewed the commission's intention to continue forming voter registration committees from civil service job applicants. Abduh Mohamed Al-Janadi, head of SCER's Media and Election Awareness sector, said this method will favor the SCER.

Regarding media silencing and preventing opposition parties from presenting their electoral programs, Al-Janadi said television is responsible for such things, as the parties do not abide by the 15-minute specified time limit.

Media sources mentioned last week that the JMP is due to discuss necessary guarantees for conducting free and fair elections and ensuring neutrality of the SCER, media and government jobs.

The JMP held the SCER accountable for any constitutional and legal infringements, confirming their vision in bringing about an independent and neutral management election. Opposition parties refused to confine the matter to forming election management committees.
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