India Stands By 2014 Poll Observer Report
The world’s biggest democracy, India, is standing by the Multinational Observer Group (MOG) report on the 2014 General Election which found that it was conducted in a proper and transparent manner.
The comment was made in Suva yesterday by the Indian High Commissioner Vishvas Sapkal and follows comments by some local opposition politicians.
Mr Sapkal was at the signing of the MOG Terms of Reference (TOR) yesterday finalising the agreement for India to participate as a co-leader in this year’s general election alongside Indonesia and Australia.
Speaking to the Fiji Sun after the signing Mr Sapkal stressed that he did not see any reason to divert from what was entailed in the MOG report.
The report states that the Fijian Elections Office (FEO) and election workers were “competent, professional and committed in performing their duties, sometimes under challenging circumstances”.
It said that despite compressed time frames, a complex voting system and some restrictions in the electoral environment, the conditions were in place for Fijians to exercise their right to vote freely.
“While the MOG notes areas for improvement of Fiji’s electoral process, it deemed this a credible election,” the report said.
“The MOG believes the election broadly represented the will of the Fijian voters.”
It went on to congratulate Fijians for taking the important step in returning to democracy.
FEO Prepared
Mr Sapkal said the best way to strengthen democracy was for all Fijians who were eligible to vote to participate in the upcoming election.
From his observations, Mr Sapkal said FEO is “very much prepared” for the election.
“I think FEO will deliver a free and fair election that is their work and they will definitely fulfil their responsibility.”In 2014, India provided assistance to the FEO and similarly this year supplied 6000 bottles of indelible ink to be used during the election and supplied five Mahindra Sport-Utility Vehicles (SUV).
He added that on January 24, 2017, the Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Election Commission of India (ECI) for continued co-operation between the two election commissions.
“India being the largest practising democracy always try to assist countries who are in the process of strengthening democratic rules,” Mr Sapkal said.
He said India was happy to continue as co-leader of the MOG adding that the TOR was discussed by all parties and mutually agreed to.
He said India would always stand ready to support the FEO.
Attorney-General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said Fiji was privileged to have the three countries as co-leaders in this year’s election.
“India, of course, is the largest democracy in the world. Indonesia is the largest archipelagic democracy in the world and, of course, Australia is a friend of Fiji and leader in the Pacific region,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.
For the last general election as of September 16, 2014, the MOG comprised 92 accredited observers from Australia (22), Canada (2), European Union (3), India (3), Indonesia (15), Israel (2), Japan (7), Melanesian Spearhead Group (5), New Zealand (11), Republic of Korea (2), Russia (3), South Africa (1), Turkey (1), United Kingdom (5) and United States of America (10).
Edited by Epineri Vula
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