These, the fleeing refugees, must be at the centre of sustaible  peace

UN Warns Commission Lacks Staff Capacity, Resources, for Credible Polls

2 June 04

The United Nations warns that  the current elections commission, as constituted, lacks the  staff capacity and resources to conduct credible election in October 2005. In the Secretary-General’s report  released on 26 May, it says the process will require much international assistance to succeed.

“The expected United Nations role in the elections will require 32 international posts, 11 national Professional posts, 49 national General Service staff for one year in the UNMIL electoral unit and 92 national General Service staff to work in the Unit’s data centre for five months. In addition, 220 United Nations Volunteers will be hired for periods ranging from six to nine months. Moreover, it will be necessary to recruit 4,080 temporary registration staff for six months. To jump-start the process, registration material and some funding for voter education will also be included in the UNMIL budget. However, salaries and equipment needs for members of the National Elections Commission and their support staff will have to be covered through other means", the report said.

The report noted the specifics of the Ghana Agreement and the stipulated requirements which, given the time frame and needed resources, will be difficult to meet. It said:

Article XVIII of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (see S/2003/850) provides that “the National Elections Commission (NEC) shall be reconstituted and shall be independent”. Article XIX of the Agreement determines that elections shall be held not later than October 2005 and requests “the United Nations, the African Union, ECOWAS and other members of the international community, as appropriate, to jointly conduct, monitor and supervise the next elections in the country”. It further calls for a re-demarcation of constituencies and states that “voter education and registration ... shall be organized by the newly reconstituted NEC, in collaboration with other national and international organizations under the supervision of the United Nations”. Assistance will be needed to enable refugees currently in neighbouring countries who may wish to participate in the elections, as well as internally displaced persons currently in camps, to return to their places of origin in time to take part in the elections. In collaboration with the Government of Liberia and countries of asylum, UNHCR has drawn up a voluntary repatriation operations plan that is expected to commence in October 2004.

The verdict followed the April tour by the UN’s Electoral Assistance Division of the Department of Political   Affair. The Report said: 

“The assessment mission concluded that the National Elections Commission, as presently reconstituted, has very little material and staff capacity to carry out civic and voter education, voter registration, constituency delimitation and polling. It stressed that without extensive international assistance, these activities cannot be carried out on schedule. The mission recommended that a meeting be held as soon as possible involving all signatories of the Agreement to clarify these issues so that the Commission can start preparations for the October 2005 elections….” But it concluded that:

In providing support for the electoral process in Liberia, UNMIL will be guided by two key objectives: (a) to assist the conduct of credible elections with all necessary expertise and (b) to leave behind a Liberian election management body that will rely less on international assistance for elections following those scheduled for October 2005.

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