Representatives from 10 countries would be arriving in Fiji prior to the elections to be part of the Multinational Observer Group [MOG] which would be co-led by four other countries.

This was announced yesterday during the signing of the terms of reference for the MOG between the Attorney-General and Minister of Elections, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and the acting Australian head of mission, Glenn Miles.

The 10 countries which were invited and confirmed are Israel, South Africa, Brazil, Russia, Turkey, Japan, New Zealand, Korea, Iran and the UK which would be co-led by Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and India.

“The government, under Section 119 of the Electoral Decree, has allowed a multinational group of observers to come and observe the elections that will be conducted by the elections office on September 17,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.

“We also highlighted that they would not only observe the processes of the elections on the day itself but also days prior to the lead up to elections.

“The scope of the MOG would provide the right forum or mechanism to observe and assess the various processes of the Fijian Elections Office.”

Mr Miles said they were privileged to be co-leading the MOG and the signing of the TOR would enable them to proceed further and establish a secretariat.

He said some officials would be arriving this week and the two countries which are yet to confirm their participation were Canada and the USA.

Under the TOR, the 10 scopes outlined to be followed by the MOG are:

• Observe and evaluate the functions and operations, including the procurement process of the Fijian Elections office with respect to the 2014 Fijian elections;
• Observe and evaluate the voter registration process and the establishment of Register of Voters and voter lists;
• Observe and evaluate the voter education campaign including voter information provided or authorised by the FEO;
• Observe and evaluate the nomination and registration of candidates  and conduct of political parties as prescribed in the Electoral Decree 2014;
• Observe and evaluate election day operations and events that facilitate voting operations in compliance with procedures established in the decree;
• Observe and evaluate the voting counting process, the determination of election results and the dissemination thereof;
• Observe and evaluate the resolution of disputes throughout the electoral cycle, including any mechanism established to hear and adjudicate election related disputes;
• Observe and evaluate the reconciliation of all ballot papers after the election;
• Assess whether the voter process of the FEO facilitated and assisted the Fijian voters to exercise their rights to freely vote and whether the outcome of the 2014 Fijian general election broadly represented the will of Fijian voters.

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