7 July 2009 – The top United Nations envoy in Afghanistan, Kai Eide, has called for a stop to the increasing interference by government officials in the election process.

Eide, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Afghanistan told journalists in a press conference this afternoon in Kabul the “importance of full respect” for the Presidential Decree that spells out non-interference in the electoral process by government officials and institutions.

“Unfortunately, we have seen an increasing tendency over the last few weeks of greater interference of some government officials, governors in particular, but there have been others including high officials, one official in the NDS (National Directorate for Security) – that is the kind of interference that must come to a stop,” stressed Eide who is also the head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).

“It is interference not only in favour of one candidate but there has been interference in favour of several candidates and – I repeat – that is an interference that must come to an end,” Eide warned in his opening statement during the joint press conference with the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) where the first AIHRC-UNAMA Joint Political Rights Monitoring report was published.

This report covers the candidate nomination and challenge period from 25 April to 12 June for the 20 August Presidential and Provincial Council elections – the first elections to be held by Afghan authorities in over thirty years.

Eide laid out four elements which he stressed “Are critical to ensure a level playing field. We insist on the need for a level playing field during these elections … first, that the integrity of the state security institutions are maintained and respected.”

The UNAMA head said that he has “regular discussions” with the Minister of the Interior, the Defence Minister and the head of the NDS “to discuss cases that come up and to ensure that the integrity of these institutions are respected and this is, of course, of great importance to the credibility, fairness and the security of the entire election process.”

The second element that will ensure a level playing field for the candidates is “the fairness of the media,” said Eide who stressed that “there cannot be a fair election campaign without fair access to the media.”

“This, of course, includes the public media and I discussed this with the Minister of Information and Culture only a few hours ago today, and I will continue these discussions regularly,” said Eide.

“The third element, of course, is the impartiality of the Independent Election Commission which will continue to be essential to the credibility of the election process. And the fourth, I would emphasise the importance of full respect for the Presidential Decree on non-interference by government officials and institutions,” he added.

“I believe that these four elements are essential to the integrity of the entire electoral process,” said Eide who stressed “I would go as far as to say – if that integrity is violated, seriously violated, then in the end, there will not be winners and losers – there will only be losers.”

“It is critically important that the election process is conducted in a way that makes it credible and inclusive so that, in the end, the Afghan people can accept the results of the elections,” Eide concluded.

AIHRC chairperson, Sima Simar said the “best court is the judgment of the people of Afghanistan who should vote for people who can represent and serve them.”

By Aurora V. Alambra, UNAMA

Click here to view the full version of the AIHRC-UNAMA Joint Monitoring of Political Rights – Presidential and Provincial Council Elections – First Report – 25 April – 12 June

Website: Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC)