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1/6/2002
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EOHR Presents Memorandum to Head of PEHC on First Phase Violations
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14/11/2005
The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) has issued a memorandum out to Justice Mahmoud Abu Leil, Minister of Justice and Head of Parliamentary Election High Commission (PEHC) on first phase violations. Violations include: Inaccurate election rolls; increasing collective registration cases; and misuse of public funds and government-relate entitlements in order to influence voters. Plus, EOHR observers has recorded violence and bullying cases in different constituencies such as keeping Opposition's and Independent's agents and EOHR's observers off canvass posts. EOHR has also recorded aggregate vote count, which made it harder for candidates and agents alike to detect violations. In addition, violations such as employees counting votes and delays in canvass of vote owing to delays in delivery of ballot boxes from Sub-Committees to the General Committee have been recorded.
In addition, EOHR has urged investigating vote rigging cases that have lead to National Democratic Party's (NDP) candidates winning seats, their defeat in Dokki, Agouza, Maadi, Basateen and Kerdasa Constituencies, notwithstanding. EOHR has also called that those involved should be cross-examined.
The Memorandum has also stressed that such violations have more or less influenced parliamentary elections outcomes. Consequently, in order to avoid such violations during the Second Round and next phases and to guarantee free and fair elections, EOHR has recommended that PEHC should consider nine measures before the Second Round of the First Phase:
1) PEHC should create a committee composed of only court judges and civil society watchdogs in order to recount votes in Dokki, Agouza, Maadi, Basateen and Kerdasa Constituencies so haggling over integrity in such constituencies is done with, and to match signatures of Sub-Committee Heads in ballot boxes records with signatures in General Committee records;
2) PEHC should make sure Administrative Judiciary Court rulings are enforced. Consequently, elections should start all over in Boulak Al-Dakrour, Omranya, Monshaaet Al-Qanatir, and Wiely Constituencies. Besides, re-election between all candidates should take place after candidates against whom rulings were passed change their status from Labour and Peasants into Guild;
3) PEHC should investigate violations recorded by EOHR's observers and other human rights organisations during balloting and canvass and hold violators accountable;
4) PEHC should enable human rights observers to observe all election processes starting from balloting, through accompanying boxes, until canvass process, according to an Administrative Judiciary Court ruling;
5) PEHC should make sure election rolls are correct, examine appeals and complains, and not to be confined to setting guiding rules that regulate elections;
6) PEHC should cooperate with Judges' Club and Civil Society representatives to make sure judges superintend vote-casting and canvass processes, especially after some judges have declared they have nothing to do with the results of the First Round, First Phase of the parliamentary elections. PEHC should also make sure all judges superintending balloting are court judges, to the exclusion of the judges of the Administrative Prosecution and State's Causes Panel, taking into consideration violations recorded by EOHR's and other human right's organisations in some constituencies;
7) PEHC should take certain measures that would help curb election bribes phenomenon, violence and bullying incidents during next phases of parliamentary elections, in accordance with Articles (44, 48) of Law 37 (1956) concerning political rights practice, modified by Law 173 (2005);
8) PEHC should observe publicity spending, balance. Cases where spending has exceeded the maximum limit specified by PEHC at 70, 000 Egyptian pounds should also be recorded.
No less important, use of religious slogans and symbols should be reviewed;
9) PEHC should issue directives to security as well as administrative apparatus that guarantee objectivity and integrity during elections so that security forces would not harass Opposition and Independent candidates or others of different political affiliations either through banning conferences or tearing banners out. Governmental buildings, facilities, and transportation should also be observed and harsh penalties inflicted upon violators.
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