Cablegate: Drc Elections: Eu Mission Declares Vote Managed

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PP RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #1233/01 2160858
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 040858Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4530
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001233

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KPKO CG ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: DRC ELECTIONS: EU MISSION DECLARES VOTE MANAGED
EFFICIENTLY

1. (U) The European Union's Election Observation Mission
(MOEUE) released August 2 its preliminary statement on the
DRC's July 30 elections, noting that the Independent
Electoral Commission (CEI) managed the vote "efficiently"
despite political tension and certain inequalities observed
during the electoral campaign. MOEUE observed that the
elections took place in an peaceful and relatively calm
climate which resulted in a remarkable level of participation
by the Congolese. On the whole, the Observation Mission gave
a positive evaluation of voting operations. The Mission
noted, however, that many last-minute changes to voting
procedures were not consistently followed by poll workers,
which could as yet have an undetermined effect on results.
The MOEUE noted as well the unequal access to media and the
monopolization of resources by members of the transitional
government to the detriment of their opponents. The MOEUE
encouraged the CEI to redouble its efforts to explain fully
and clearly the entire electoral process so as to avoid
further misunderstandings and confusion among voters. The EU
Observer Mission, which deployed some 300 observers
throughout the country, continues to monitor the vote
counting and compilation process, and will issue a final
evaluation.

2. (U) Post's unofficial translation of the MOEUE's summary
statement from the original French follows:

At the invitation of the CEI, and taking account of the
importance of the importance of these elections for the
success of the transition process in the Democratic Republic
of Congo (DRC) and the stabilization of the Great Lakes
region, the European Commission, in conjunction with the
member States of the European Union decided to deploy an
electoral observation mission (MOEUE) in order to observer
the presidential, legislative and provincial elections in
2006. Present in the DRC since June 9, 2006, the MOEUE was
led by General Phillipe Morillon, member of the European
Parliament. The MOEUE operates conforming to the Declaration
of principles for the international observation of elections
of October 27, 2005. With a total of 300 observers coming
from Member States of the European Union as well as Norway,
Switzerland and Canada, this mission constitutes the largest
election observation team ever deployed by the European
Union. A delegation of 12 members from the European
Parliament, led by Jurgen Schroder, member of the European
Parliament, allied itself with MOEUE and joins in this
present declaration. The observers were deployed throughout
the DRC's eleven provinces in order to conduct an exhaustive
and documented evaluation of the electoral process. The day
of the vote, the observers of the MOEUE visited around 1,2000
voting stations. The MOEUE is following the process of the
compilation of results in the majority of liaison offices and
will stay in the country to observe the electoral process
until its completion. It will then publish its conclusions
and detailed recommendations in a final report.

- The presidential and legislative elections of July 30, 2006
were run with efficiency by the Independent Electoral
Commission (CEI). They achieved strong voter participation in
a generally peaceful climate. By its enthusiasm and with
dignity, the Congolese population demonstrated its attachment
to the democratic process that must end to a decade of
murderous conflicts.

- The holding of these first multi-party elections in the
Democratic Republic of Congo in more than 40 years marks the
success of a long political transition towards the putting
into place new democratically elected institutions and the
stabilization of the country.

- The judicial and regulatory framework of these elections
satisfies the principles of international standards in terms
of democratic elections, despite some deficiencies, notably
the regulation of political party financing. Certain
regulatory measures were only adopted by the CEI in the final
days preceding the vote, sometimes resulting in an unequal
application.

- The CEI overcame a major challenge in organizing this
election in a country the size of a continent and largely
deprived of infrastructure. Taking the lessons of the
referendum, the Commission undertook significant improvements
in its organization, notably concerning the decentralization
and reinforcement of local structures. It must nevertheless
redouble its efforts in communications to response to
misunderstandings and inherent fears especially concerning

KINSHASA 00001233 002.2 OF 002

the exceptional complexity of the process and the size of the
technical difficulties encountered.

- Characterized by a profusion of candidacies, this first
multi-party electoral campaign was nevertheless marked by a
distinct disproportion of means in favor of members of the
"Espace Presidentiel," (Note: The president and the four vice
presidents. End note.), as well as the hindrance of campaign
activities of other candidates. The tense political climate
was expressed by the exploitation of themes of exclusion,
without however any large-scale security incidents taking
place. Numerous attacks on the freedom of the press and
intimidation were seen throughout the country.

- The media environment in the DRC offers a plurality and a
remarkable freedom of expression. However, a handful of
candidates monopolized the electronic media coverage of the
campaign. In spite of the courageous decisions in face of the
most flagrant violations, the High Media Authority (HAM) did
not have the means or the institutional support necessary to
accomplish its mandate.

- A large number of civil society organizations mobilized
themselves to educate the public regarding the procedures and
rules of the referendum, as well as the elections. This
concerted effort, associated with the Project for the Support
of the Electoral Process in the Congo (APEC/PNUD) to local
organizations, was not sufficient in several regions, in
particular in the west and center of the country. Information
which was made available to the public on the subject of the
election was consequently considered insufficient.

- The day of the vote, with the decisive logistical support
of MONUC, the CEI was able to open within a reasonable amount
of delay a large majority of voting sites. Voting operations
and vote-counting were run in an efficient and orderly manner
by members of the CEI. Their exemplary devotion, the
important mobilization of national observers and witnesses,
as well as a generally non-intrusive police force presence
contributed to the overall commendable execution of the
elections.

- The observers of the MOEUE noted the unequal application of
certain procedures, notably pertaining to the essential
controls for the transparency and integrity of the vote.
Last-minute adjustments made by the CEI may very well have
affected these indispensable guarantees. The evaluation of
the effects of these changes requires a detailed and rigorous
examination that is a particular object of attention for the
MOEUE.

- Deployed in the majority of Local Result Compilation
Centers (CLCR), the observers of the MOEUE are making an
detailed evaluation of the compilation of results until their
completion. This deciding stage of the electoral process must
be run with the most clarity and in the most decentralized
manner. An element of indispensable transparency, the
publication of a breakdown of results to the level of voting
stations is the only way to ensure the compatibility of
national results and by voting precinct.

End summary text.
MEECE

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