Fiji Post Election 2014 De-Brief: C4.5 Shares Interim Report on Election Irregularities. Vinaka Ratu Tevita Korodrau for sharing. Read more; Part 1 [other Parts to follow in comment..] Friday, September 26, 2014 Interim report on irregularities The Interim Report delivered to the President last, the Chairman of the Electoral Commission and Supervisor of Elections and the International Observer Group ELECTION 2014 INTERIM REPORT ON IRREGULARITIES BY THE MEMBERS OF THE PARTICIPATING POLITICAL PARTIES INCLUDING FIJI LABOUR PARTY NATIONAL FEDERATION PARTY SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC LIBERAL PARTY INTRODUCTION The leaders of the joint political parties contesting the 2014 General Elections met on Thursday September 18th 2014 following representations from their respective polling agents at the count center who began comparing notes of incidents and irregularities being noticed by all party agents individually. The polling agents at the center individually requested their Party officials to convene a meeting so that these concerns could be addressed. This resulted in a meeting taking place at 11am on September 18th 2014. None of the Party Leaders had had previous communication on these matters and all of them were being briefed by the various polling agents directly for the first time. Following the submissions of information and the provision of evidence, the leaders agreed that a subcommittee be formed, made up of 2 representatives from each party and they were to prepare detailed reports with specific cases and accompanying evidence and pictures where possible. They were scheduled to make their submissions to the leaders on September 19th at 11am. This was later pushed back to 1pm because of the need for more time to complete reports and the fact that more information was being received from agents across the country. Following the conclusion of a 6 hour briefing and discussion of the irregularities and the provision of some of the evidence, the leaders agreed to issue an updated statement and provide some of the actual evidence. Copies of the statements and documents issued to the press were delivered to the President, the Chairman of the Electoral Commission and the Supervisor of Elections as the press was being briefed. We attach as Appendix 1 copies of the signed delivery docket for both the first and second communication. The same delivery process occurred on the evening of the 18th September and officials of the Chairman of the Commission and Supervisor of Elections signed for their copies of the statements issued. 2 KEY OBSERVATIONS The joint political party leadership agrees that all of the information provided to them individually and jointly by the polling agents point to a systematic and coordinated effort to alter the ballots cast at various polling stations. This assumption, which is currently partially confirmed, stems from a number of separate occurrences which, when viewed together could be a possible explanation of how the manipulation may possibly have occurred. 3 OVERVIEW OF ELECTION CONDUCT It is the opinion of the Leaders of the participating parties that given all of the evidence provided so far and the various signed statutory declarations by individuals who have witnessed these irregularities, that there is a case to suggest that certain aspects of the process were compromised and that depending on the extent of these irregularities, this may have a material effect on the outcome of the elections. Given that there is still more details of irregularities coming in from around the country, it is difficult to say at this juncture if the compromised as we now know it is isolated or far more widespread. The scenario that has emerged thus far suggests that at the close of voting, a number of polling station Presiding officers sent Polling Agents out of the room and in some cases no Police were present. The number of polling stations where this occurred in increasing as more information comes to hand. It is likely that during this break in proceedings, which itself is a breach of Sec 89 (1) it is possible for unsecured ballot papers to be introduced into the ballot boxes so that when thepolling agents return to the polling booth after an absence of 1 to 2 hours the count begins and they are none the wiser that anything untoward has occurred. We do know from a number of different reports that the Presiding Officer calls the resultsthrough to a phone number given to them. They do not know who is on the other end or their name. Information is still being received from agents and party officials around the country and each discussion ends, another piece of the jigsaw falls into place. 4 SPECIFIC DETAILS OF IRREGULARITIES 1: Complaint delivery timeframe: The Electoral Decree requires that any irregularities that a party may become aware of must be submitted to the authorities within 2 days. Refer below Sec 17 (2)except otherwise provided in this decree, complaints to the Electoral Commission must be submitted within 2 days of the complainant becoming aware of the decision, action or inaction. The joint group of Political Party Leaders initially became aware of irregularities on the morning of September 18th 2014 and being mindful of the requirements of the Decree and given that not all of the facts were known at the time of the first meeting, it was decided that an interim notification to the Chairman of the Electoral Commission and Supervisor of Elections be sent to put them on notice that there were irregularities. The group also felt obliged to keep the media informed of its actions because of the very nature of the issues involved. The first communication was dispatched to the authorities within hours of its release and the attached record of delivery show it was delivered as stated. The 2nd communication on September 19th with some additional evidence received was dispatched the same evening it was tabled and as with the first communication the copy of the receipt of its delivery is attached. The 3rd and final communication will be today September 22st, which will summarize examples of the information we have at hand as at Saturday 20th 2014. The Leaders are satisfied that it has complied fully with the provisions of the Electoral Decree in terms of its delivery of information to the authorities. Appendix 1: Copy of delivery of documentation 2. Closure of Polling Stations We have all received information to suggest some polling stations closed for an hour and up to 2 hours. We also have information that both the Police and Agents were ushered out of the Polling Stations at the close of voting. We are continuing with our verification of this and will establish a list of the names and total number of polling stations involved. We are also verifying information thatin some instances polling boxes were removed from Polling stations. As Sec 65 & 89 of the Electoral Decree clearly stipulates below, immediately after the closing of the polling stations the Presiding Officer must immediately undertake the counting. Sec 65 closing of polls: Immediately after the last voter who was in the queue at 6.00pm has voted, the presiding officer must announce that the polls are closed and the counting of ballot papers shall begin immediately after the close of the polls: Sec 89 (1) Counting Process Immediately upon closing of the polls, the counting of ballots papers is to be undertaken and completed in the respective polling station by the presiding officer and such election officials designated by him or her. For the purposes of this report we provide a specific case to demonstrate the irregularity in question. POLLING STATION: St John Bosco Primary School-Nadera. The Presiding Agent sent agents away for an hour.No Police remained inside during this time. We attached a statutory declaration by the agent was involved at the polling station in question. Other polling stations where polling agents were sent out at 6pm include: Drasa Primary School Raviravi Sangam School Station No 5156 Lovu Sangam School Satya Sai School Appendix 2: Statutory Declaration of Luseyane Ligabalavu 3: Signed Letter from Ravendra Chand Fiji Labour Party No 3: Transmission of results Sec 97 (1) states that ‘following the completion of the protocol of results, the presiding officer must sign it and immediately notify the ‘Supervisor of Elections’by the most expeditious method, including by telephone or any other electronic means, of the results or the total number of votes cast for each candidate, as contained in the final protocol of results. (2) A copy of the final protocol of results must be immediately posted by the presiding officer in a publicly accessible place at the polling station, such as a notice board, another copy kept inside the ballot box and a third copy sent to the Supervisor by the most expeditious method. (3) The original of the final protocol of results must be enclosed in a tamper free evident envelope. Sec 102 (3) As the protocol of results are received from each polling station, in accordance with section 97 (1) or (2) the Supervisor of Elections shall progressively amend the National Results Tally to reflect the total number of votes received by that political party. End of Part 1 Part 2 etc to follow in comment box Credit: Coupfourpointfive Due interference from hackers who are posting over our blogs we are unable to just share straight from the blog as there are adverse comments appearing over these post. Please bear with us. Vinaka.
Posted on: Fri, 26 Sep 2014 23:39:01 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015