We have talked to IHEC representatives today about our complaints and wanted information about what actions they are going to take. IHEC had before the election given us the information that we had three days to file our complaints after the election and that the votes will be sorted and counted at polling stations, then be taken to Dohuk where the results would be registered over a computor system. Then the ballots were to be flown to Bagdad where IHEC would recount the votes and check with the registered counts in Duhok.
Now they told us that the complaints had to be in Baghdad by 6 PM today if they were to be reviewed! But that is not the information we had and our complaints sent today will not be there in time. We called head quarters in Sulaymaniya and they reasoned with IHEC. They referred to the IHEC rules, which say 3 days after election. Then they gave us time until tomorrow 6 PM.
We then asked about the recounting in Baghdad. We were told that they are not going to recount any votes or check any bundles of votes! Why? "It costs us time and personnel and we do not need to according to our rules." But we need you to check because not any of our observers were allowed to be present when they sorted and counted the votes in any of the polling stations in Zakho! IHEC then said we should choose a few polling stations and they will recount only those ballots. We in Gorran (Change List) and the 4partylist (Service and Reform List) are asking IHEC to recount all votes from Dohuk Governate, 550 000 registered voters. This because of the massive fraud we have witnessed during the election. The complaints made by both Gorran and 4partylist should point to the need to recount.
Among our complaints besides what we previously have told you about, are also that those who voted on the special vote before the election day have been allowed to vote again. Also dead people and people living abroad have casted their votes.
The extended hour on election day also was not needed for the voters. There were no lines at all at any of the polling stations in Zakho at 5 PM when they said they were going to extend one hour. All party observers said we do not need to extend and this have also been reported to the IHEC. IHEC should check with people who did not go to vote if their votes have been casted without them being there.
KDP have influence over all who were working at the polling stations. That is why we needed all the observers. In my private opinion KDP have systematically cheated through this election in every way they could think of.
Showing posts with label cheating. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cheating. Show all posts
July 27, 2009
July 25, 2009
Shameless cheating in Zakho by KDP
The turnout for Zakho will be very high. The votes that will be counted could even exceed 100%. How come? Our observers report that the extended hour are being used for casting votes for all registered that have not voted. The personnel at polling stations are filling in all remaing ballot papers, voting for Kurdistani List. One of our supporters waited until the last minutes to vote. At the door he was asked what he is going to vote for and he said Listi 54 (Kurdistani List) and then he was let in with the words that he could help them and fill in some extra votes... We have also gotten a report that buses of hospital personnel, cleaners, janitors, guards etc have been sent to vote again during the last hours.
Observers from all polling stations in Zakho have all day reported people from KDP been seen voting several times. Arif Ali, Moxtar (chieftain) of Sabaanisan area, have been noted to cast his vote at least six times today.
The KDP have no shame at all. They openly are cheating and depriving their own people their right to vote independently. In room 4 at polling station Rauda the supervisor is not even giving the voters the ballot paper, he just writes the line for them, "helping" them to vote for Listi 54. Of those who are on duty for the IHEC at the polling stations, 99% are KDP members or supporters.
At the polling station Delal school our observers were kicked out in the afternoon. We contacted two international observers and asked them to be present at Delal and observe until the ballot boxes were seeled and sent away. They agreed to do that. These observers also told us that they had witnessed quite a deal of foul play in Zakho today.
We are really sad to say that the election in Zakho did not turn into a celebration of Kurdish freedom and democracy. Many of our adversaries were certainly sceptical to our attempt to hold a democratic and free election. Now the KDP have brought shame on our people by proving the sceptics right.
Observers from all polling stations in Zakho have all day reported people from KDP been seen voting several times. Arif Ali, Moxtar (chieftain) of Sabaanisan area, have been noted to cast his vote at least six times today.
The KDP have no shame at all. They openly are cheating and depriving their own people their right to vote independently. In room 4 at polling station Rauda the supervisor is not even giving the voters the ballot paper, he just writes the line for them, "helping" them to vote for Listi 54. Of those who are on duty for the IHEC at the polling stations, 99% are KDP members or supporters.
At the polling station Delal school our observers were kicked out in the afternoon. We contacted two international observers and asked them to be present at Delal and observe until the ballot boxes were seeled and sent away. They agreed to do that. These observers also told us that they had witnessed quite a deal of foul play in Zakho today.
We are really sad to say that the election in Zakho did not turn into a celebration of Kurdish freedom and democracy. Many of our adversaries were certainly sceptical to our attempt to hold a democratic and free election. Now the KDP have brought shame on our people by proving the sceptics right.
More cheating at polling stations in Zakho
The Change List are receiving more reports from our observers at the polling stations. At Brifka camp in Kanimase the observer have seen several whole families cast their vote twice. They are voting in the names of other families that are abroad, showing up their Food-for-oil cards.
At the polling station Nehren school in Sabanisan the observer reports seeing same persons cast their votes several times. They have been seen going to the KDP office in Sabanisan where the ink on their fingers has been washed away.
At Ermen school the observer also report that same people are voting several times. And in all polling stations our observers report seeing the supervisors and officials urging people to vote for List 54 (Kurdistani List). They also report from most of the polling stations that the supervisors are "helping" people vote behind the curtains. When we complain about this, they say "we have the right to help the illiterate and others who need help".
Kerim Haji, Moxtar (chieftain of his street) was brutally prevented to cast his vote at Jwan school. The IHEC contact at this polling station, Helagord, took his voting card out of his hands and put an X for Kurdistani List and then dropped it in the ballot box. This subsequently lead to a harsh discussion between them...
All incidents we are telling you about are being reported to the IHEC with names of witnesses and written statements.
The turnout for Zakho is 60% as of right now at 2 PM. It looks like we are seeing a high level of participation in the elections. The Kurdish people are eager to practice their right to vote in what we perceive as "the first real Kurdish election".
At the polling station Nehren school in Sabanisan the observer reports seeing same persons cast their votes several times. They have been seen going to the KDP office in Sabanisan where the ink on their fingers has been washed away.
At Ermen school the observer also report that same people are voting several times. And in all polling stations our observers report seeing the supervisors and officials urging people to vote for List 54 (Kurdistani List). They also report from most of the polling stations that the supervisors are "helping" people vote behind the curtains. When we complain about this, they say "we have the right to help the illiterate and others who need help".
Kerim Haji, Moxtar (chieftain of his street) was brutally prevented to cast his vote at Jwan school. The IHEC contact at this polling station, Helagord, took his voting card out of his hands and put an X for Kurdistani List and then dropped it in the ballot box. This subsequently lead to a harsh discussion between them...
All incidents we are telling you about are being reported to the IHEC with names of witnesses and written statements.
The turnout for Zakho is 60% as of right now at 2 PM. It looks like we are seeing a high level of participation in the elections. The Kurdish people are eager to practice their right to vote in what we perceive as "the first real Kurdish election".
Cheating at polling stations
The Change List observers report foul play in several polling stations in Zakho. Our observer in Delal school in Room 2 observed the room supervisor accompany voters behind the curtains to "help" them to vote. One woman objected, but he said "but you cannot read and write so I will help you" and followed her behind the curtains despite her objections. We told this official that this is illegal and he said he is just helping the illiterate people. The observer were not allowed to go in and observe in room 1 at all. When we went to talk to the IHEC contact for this polling station, Delal Ismael Abdullah, she refused to give us the complaint form for reporting this incident to the IHEC.
From the polling station at Zin shool our observer reported that the room officials at the doors and the supervisors in the rooms urge people to vote for the Kurdistani List no.54.
From the polling stations at Jwan school and Zagruss school observers report seeing the same people vote several times and that others are turned back because they are not on the lists. Also from several polling stations observers notice that elder people accompany their young ones behind the curtains to "help" them vote.
We will file complaint on all incidents we see to the IHEC. We need to do this for the Kurdish people who deserve a fair election and in order to develop the democracy of Kurdistan. We were hoping to get the eyes of the world from international observers to help us, but here in Zakho they are absent.
From the polling station at Zin shool our observer reported that the room officials at the doors and the supervisors in the rooms urge people to vote for the Kurdistani List no.54.
From the polling stations at Jwan school and Zagruss school observers report seeing the same people vote several times and that others are turned back because they are not on the lists. Also from several polling stations observers notice that elder people accompany their young ones behind the curtains to "help" them vote.
We will file complaint on all incidents we see to the IHEC. We need to do this for the Kurdish people who deserve a fair election and in order to develop the democracy of Kurdistan. We were hoping to get the eyes of the world from international observers to help us, but here in Zakho they are absent.
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