Referendum "satisfactory", EU provisional report says

A provisional report by the EU Electoral Observation Mission in Rwanda has concluded that Monday's referendum on a draft constitution was conducted in "satisfactory conditions". However, it expressed concern that the new charter could restrict civil liberties. "The referendum process was carried out in calm and generally good conditions," the report, issued in Kigali on Friday, said. "The mission did not come across fraud, trouble or serious incidents. Certain difficulties or deficiencies were noted which did not, however, call into question the results," the report said. According to the report, six observers in Kigali and another 12 outside visited a total of 98 sites. It said that in general, voting procedures were respected. However, in a number of polling stations, unauthorised people were present who could have been "an intimidating element for voters", and voter identity checks were not always carried out with the necessary thoroughness. The report said that there had not been a "referendum campaign" in any true sense because despite the efforts of the National Electoral Commission, information provided by the media had been "insufficient and often imprecise". The mission recommended that all necessary steps be completed quickly to allow private electronic media to function, which would in turn allow the development of pluralistic opinions. The report also expressed concern that while seeking to prevent a resurgence of ethnic extremism, the draft constitution could restrict fundamental liberties. The EU observers said they were worried by the decision of the transitional government shortly before the referendum to ban the country's second largest party, the Mouvement democratique republican, on the grounds that it was pursuing a "divisive" ideology. The report said that civil society groups were experiencing a "difficult moment" and that human rights groups should be allowed to act without fear of pressure or sanctions. [For the complete report, go to www.ueobsrwa.org.rw]