International observers generally satisfied with polls

More than 100 international observers of Guinea-Bissau’s parliamentary election said in a joint statement that despite some instances of poor organisation in the capital Bissau, polling generally took place in “acceptable conditions.” The statement, issued on Monday night said: “The international observers were happy with the strong turnout and the serenity and civic attitude which characterised the election…in general the ballot took place under acceptable conditions.” However they expressed concern that “organisational mix-ups” had prevented many voters in Bissau from voting in Sunday’s poll and urged the National Electoral Commission (NEC) to allow them to cast their ballot rapidly. Most of the 520 polling stations in the capital Bissau opened late on Sunday because ballot boxes and voting slips had not been distributed to them in time. A total of 89 polling stations in Bissau failed to open at all, but the NEC allowed the 30,000 voters affected to cast their ballot on Tuesday instead. The team of international observers included representatives from the United States, Russia, Portugal, the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Dakar-based human rights organisation RADDHO. Most political parties in this former Portuguese colony of 1.3 million people have said they will wait for the announcement of results on Wednesday before expressing an opinion about the conduct of the poll. However, the Social Renovation Party (PRS) of former president Kumba Yala, who was deposed in a bloodless coup last September, said on Tuesday that it would reject the results. PRS vice-president Carlos Barai told reporters that his party would also demand a re-run of voting in nine of Guinea-Bissau’s 29 electoral districts where he alleged there had been irregularities. It was Yala’s decision to dissolve parliament in November 2002 and then delay four times the holding of fresh elections that eventually led to his overthrow. The former head of state alienated many of those in his own party as a result of his erratic behaviour, including Artur Sanha, the current prime minister of Guinea-Bissau’s broad-based transitional government. As a result the PRS is now heavily split between those who continue to support Yala and those who would like to ditch him and move on. The elections for a new 102-seat parliament are a milestone in Guinea-Bissau’s return to constitutional rule. This will be completed by the holding of presidential elections in March next year.