NDI calls for more electoral reforms, criticizes ruling party violations [Archives:2007/1045/Front Page]
By: Moneer Al-Omari
SANA'A, April 25 ) The National Democratic Institute recently published its report on last September's presidential and local elections, wherein, despite shortcomings, it commended Yemen's electoral experience, but maintained that major challenges remain ahead.
Although it achieved a lot during the last elections, many things remain to be done by the Supreme Commission for Elections and Referendum, including deleting duplicate names on voter registries. The institute called for adopting a mechanism to correct the voter registry by eliminating the names of dead and underage voters. It also called upon the commission to provide an electronic copy of the registry to all political parties.
Further, the report requested the election commission upgrade the performance of its media sector and shrink the wide gap between the different political parties regarding election campaign expenses, thus ensuring transparency and equality between all parties, and affirming that the existence of observers is a must in order to gain people's trust. It also called upon the commission to continue preparing for all elections and not just confine itself to seasonal work.
In this regard, the report stressed the importance of all parties participating in making political decision, including Parliament, in order to take the necessary measures to reinforce the election commission's authority. It also called on the commission to ease measures related to election administration and control.
Moreover, the report demanded training security committees on how to play their role and act according to the authority granted them in a way ensuring both voters' and observers' rights. It also requested holding more training courses for election commission members and employees.
Regarding women, the report criticized political parties' attitudes concerning women, as they failed to commit to their promises to empower Yemeni women by allowing them to participate in the electoral process as party candidates and designating them a certain number of seats in local and parliamentary elections.
The report added that there was no indication that parties would allow women to join the political process; thus, it asked the election commission to give more support to women and adopt effective and positive steps to ensure that Yemeni women receive equal chances with men, especially the right to nominate themselves in upcoming elections.
The report commended the experience of the Joint Meeting Parties coalition, suggesting that such a coalition enabled them to stand against the ruling party, the General People's Congress.
However, according to the report, neither the Yemeni Socialist Party nor Islah Party took advantage of available resources. Further, those in charge of campaigns for the two parties' candidates lacked sufficient training and organization, which prevented opposition candidates from achieving success.
It also attributed the failure of opposition candidates to the voter registry and a series of violations and infringements committed by the ruling party, including exploiting state resources, terrorizing opposition candidates, interfering with security committees and incidents of violence.
Despite political tension before the elections and during the electoral campaigns, election day witnessed minor incidents of violence, with only three deaths, as compared to 47 cases in 2001 and seven cases in 2003, according to the report.
It also criticized army and security personnel interference during the elections, which sought to be impartial. It indicated that such personnel displayed a clear bias toward President Ali Abdullah Saleh and ruling party candidates, maintaining that efforts by the election commission's security sector weren't up to par.
Meanwhile, the report recorded numerous violations, mostly by the ruling party, including exploiting public funds and media in the interest of General People's Congress candidates. Another gross violation by the ruling party was resorting to a fatwa issued by a Sulfi scholar from Marib, which forbade rivaling the ruler and was telecast on the Yemeni satellite channel.
The National Democratic Institute is a non-profit organization aiming to spread and enhance democracy. Working via an international web of volunteer experts, it provides assistance to those civil society organizations interested in democracy, as well to political leaders.
The institute's main goals include supporting civil society organization initiatives, assisting electoral bodies to ensure conducting impartial elections, enhancing public participation and encouraging transparency and accountability in rule, together with democracy and an independent judiciary.
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