NEC warns on indirect observation

GASABO - The President of the National Electoral Commission (NEC), Prof. Chrysologue Karangwa, has warned the European Union Election observer team and other local observers against going beyond their observation boarders. Professor Karangwa was speaking Wednesday, during a brief meeting held between the European Union Observation team and the NEC at its Headquarters in Kimihurura. He reminded the observers that the meeting was aimed at briefing them about the instructions on what they should do and that they should not go beyond being Parliamentary election observers. He advised them not to simply attend any kind of meeting by virtue of holding accreditation letters from the National Electoral Commission. Citing a recent incident where some officials flocked Political Party meetings, Karangwa reminded them that NEC did not accredit them to attend such meetings. “Allowing you to attend political party meetings is not part of the National Electoral Commission responsibilities. If you want to do so, you would rather ask permission from that political party leader but not under our accreditation,” he said. He stressed that it is very important for observers to work positively together with the NEC without crossing the line. Karangwa gave examples of some European Union observers who had gone beyond Parliamentary Elections’ observation and jumped into other domestic platforms. On the same issue, the Executive Secretary of the National Electoral Commission, Charles Munyaneza, revealed that one of the EU observers this week asked officials from the Local Government Ministry for information on how Rwandan Mayors are appointed and why they resign. “Knowing why Rwandan Mayors resign or appointed is not your mandate. It is totally contrary with the upcoming Parliamentary Elections,,” he stressed. Munyaneza also spoke of another EU observer who deviated from his mission in the Eastern Province and inquired on ethnic issues. “Recently one of the EU observers in the Eastern Province asked why that place was inhabited and the ethnic group dominating it. This was not part of his activities,” he commented. The EU team was advised not to engage in other political aspects but rather restrict themselves to their Parliamentary election observation activities. The EU observers admitted some of the allegations and requested the NEC to hold regular meetings that will involve exchange of ideas concerning their observation mission in the country. The NEC also warned local people who are claiming to be observers yet they are not yet accredited. The EU team is supposed to be comprised of eighty people but so far only thirty with NEC accreditation have arrived in the country to observe the elections scheduled for September 15. Ends