19^th September 2005

PRESS RELEASE ON AFGHAN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) is pleased that Afghan people were actively taking part in the parliamentary election on 18^th September 2005.

The AIHRC, as a national institution entrusted with monitoring human rights in Afghanistan, has observed the election process with 360 domestic observers across the country.  In comparison to the Presidential Election of 2004, it was observed that there were further logistical improvements and enhanced local capacities. A presence of national and international observers and FEFAs role resembling Afghan civil society is another positive development.

It was encouraging to observe that despite threats and isolated acts of violence, overall security was satisfactory for the elections, which remarkably took place in every district of the country.  The AIHRC notes with appreciation the prompt response by Army and Police as well as international security forces to threats and tensions.  The AIHRC observed that in most areas the JEMB staffs were able to professionally carry out their duties, behaving properly towards voters and party agents.

The voter turnout, however quite lower than expected, despite lack of security in many parts of the country, is still a favourable indicator of determination amongst the Afghan people to shape their own future and establish a stable and representative government. The election yesterday marks a vital step towards democracy, enhancement of peoples political rights and an active and engaging civil society in Afghanistan.

TECHNICAL PROBLEMS OBSERVED BY AIHRC

The AIHRC identified the following technical problems during the Election Day:

Delays in opening of polling stations, ranging from half an hour to two hours in some places, shows un-preparedness of JEMB staff, which caused frustration of voters. It was observed that, at least, in one polling station voters left the place without casting their votes.  

Electoral staff at many polling centres had not received sufficient training, and while some centres were found to be very well organised, others were disorganised and were staffed by people who were partly unaware of their duties and what steps to take when confronted with difficulties.

There were insufficient quantities of indelible ink provided to a few polling centres around the country and the indelible ink was found to be washable in a few polling centres.   Fortunately steps were taken to mitigate the effect of this problem on the outcomes of the election.

More importantly, information advising voters about disqualified candidates was not provided at the polling centres, so that some voters are likely to have voted for ineligible candidates. AIHRC observers reported that even JEMB staff did not know which candidates had been disqualified, and FEFA reported that none of its observers saw the exclusion list on the walls of Polling Centres, where it should have been placed for voters to see.

Closing of the polling stations was marred by confusion among JEMB staff as to what the final procedure was and whether  ballot boxes should be transferred, and where to.

In most areas the monitors and observers representing a political party or an individual candidate were not clear about their responsibilities and duties. Lack of understanding and co-ordination amongst them caused panic among voters, while in some other cases they were very provocative.

ELECTORAL OFFENCES OBSERVED BY AIHRC

The AIHRC observed a number of repeated electoral offences on Election Day.  These are outlined below.

There were several incidents observed and reported of voter intimidation, which took place in different ways.  Firstly the lack of security in certain regions resulted indirectly in intimidation of people in general, and women in particular away from polling centres.   Secondly women as a group were intimidated from voting in some districts.  Thirdly, there was direct intimidation by some JEMB staff and by party agents inside polling centres as offenders sought to influence outcomes or to disrupt the electoral process.  

At some polling centres in Logar,  Parwan, and Kabul provinces it was observed that some JEMB staff were violating voters freedom of expression by marking ballots themselves, claiming that as the voters are illiterate , they are helping them.

Polling stations were not provided in prisons, detention centres or hospitals, and polling opportunities were also not facilitated for people with some categories of disabilities with the result that the political rights of many Afghans were denied.  This was a systematic offence throughout the electoral process as JEMB ignored recommendations to address the needs of people with disabilities and those in prisons and detention centres.

There were observations that some JEMB staff were not impartial, and were entering polling booths allegedly to direct voters to vote for certain candidates, and were also directing children and women to vote for certain candidates.

Candidates were observed campaigning inside polling centres particularly in the south of the country, and candidate campaign agents and posters were seen at several polling centres. Large numbers of Candidate Agents were observed to be present at many polling booths.

Electoral Fraud

There were a number of isolated reports of electoral fraud.  For instance men were found to be voting several times on behalf of the female members of their family, and in one polling station the ballot box in a womens polling station was full of votes, despite very few women actually coming to the polling station.  In other polling centres, children were observed to be voting. At others, broken ballot boxes and irregularities in numbers of ballot boxes were recorded.