Opposition demands SCER change [Archives:2006/924/Front Page]

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February 27 2006

SANA'A, Feb. 26 – At a press conference last Saturday, the Supreme Committee for Elections and Referendum (SCER) declared that it will appoint job seekers on the Civil Services Ministry's list to check local and presidential election voter lists, which was to be the job of committees formed from political parties.

Headed by Khalid Al-Sharif, SCER members confirmed that they made their decision following lengthy debate, assuring that they provided dialogue opportunities to the parties. Yet, the deadlock they reached with the parties led them to form these committees instead of partisan ones, confirming that their decision is in conformity with the law and the Constitution.

Speaking to journalists, Al-Sharif expressed his sorrow at the refusal of the Joint Meeting Parties (JMP) to meet them Saturday. He continued, “We were surprised that the JMP is holding the SCER accountable for failure to reach a compromise.” Al-Sharif said the committee made its decision after ensuring that it is its legal and constitutional responsibility to carry out the elections, as it is a supervising body.

Al-Sharif confirmed that the SCER met with the General People's Congress (GPC) and the National Opposition Council (a small portion of the opposition, accused of backing the ruling party) following its invitation to the political parties. The SCER confirmed that the Saturday meeting failed due to JMP absence (a collection of the largest opposition parties, including Islah, Socialist and Nasserite parties).

The SCER confirmed that it refused forming the committees by the ruling GPC party and other parties attending the meeting. The JMP accused these parties of being GPC affiliates.

It disclosed that the SCER presented representation alternatives according to the percentage of votes each party obtained in previous 2003 elections. Another alternative was based on each party's parliamentary representation. However, all of these suggestions were rejected.

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The JMP issued a statement last Friday demanding the SCER change and suggesting it be replaced by a neutral independent committee trusted by all political parties. The statement expressed surprise at allegations of SCER neutrality, accusing the SCER of contradicting the Constitution and oppressing national parties.

The JMP held the SCER legally and constitutionally accountable for any election delay or obstruction, accusing the SCER of stalling to execute its legal and Constitutional duties. It said the committee gave up its political job of carrying out demands of the political forces to guarantee supremacy of the law.

Opposition confirmed the necessity of guaranteeing neutrality of media, public funds official posts and local authority, security and army institutions, thus paving the way for free and fair elections.

The JMP asked the GPC to take a clear stance on all the issues and guarantees presented in the previous period, topped by changing the SCER.

A GPC source accused the opposition parties of not responding to SCER efforts to solve the committee's problems. It accused opposition parties of exerting pressure to hinder the electoral process in order to reach a compromise outside the law and the Constitution.

A GPC statement confirmed that the ruling party works with the SCER because it is an independent legal and constitutional body responsible for all electoral procedures. It said it considers all that is issued by the SCER a must that should be abided by, concluding by inviting opposition to abide by and respect the law.
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