Just Over Three Months To Liberia’s Presidential And Legislative Elections
PHOTO: Antonetta Hamandisha , Election Expert; Grant Masterson Country Director
A pan African electoral organization, the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy (EISA), has expressed concern on the use of insulting, demeaning and antagonistic languages in public by high level state and political party leaders and hostile political rhetoric three months to the presidential and legislative elections.
The institute’s Country Director, Grant Masterson, said it is regrettable when the rights to freedom of speech is used to incite fear, anger and mistrust , which is against the spirit of the Farmington Declaration the political parties have committed themselves to.
According to Mr. Masterson, the institute is aware of reports about political parties mobilizing youths and supporters in response to public statements and encourages all political actors to recognize the unintended consequences that may accrue from their actions.
“The mobilization of supporters in protest during the biometric voter registration process, notably in Montserrado County, and to disrupt public gatherings are examples of these,” he said; adding: the right to protest is a fundamental democratic freedom.”
“EISA-IEOM is concerned about the conduct reported during several recent incidents, which were described as intimidating and threatening.”
“At all times,” he went on, “protests and demonstrations should occur within the law and in a peaceful and non-threatening manner.”
Mr. Masterson called on the leadership of all political parties and their supporters, media, civil society organizations, traditional elders, and all other stakeholders to continue to promote a climate of tolerance, and national unity throughout the electoral process, and encourage their supporters to refrain from political violence, threats and intimidation.
The EISA Country Director also called on the political leaders to take clear positions to denounce all acts of intimidation, threats, and violations of the code of good conduct, as per their commitments under the Farmington River Declaration.
The institute, therefore, encouraged all political parties to commit themselves to democratic principles by calling on their supporters to firmly reject all forms of violence and to refrain from any act or language that could incite their supporters to violent or illegal behavior to ensure a conducive pre-election environment.
“Election processes that are marred by intimidation and violence will have diminished integrity.”
“On the exhibition exercises of the provisional registration roll, Mr.
Masterson furthered, EISA has been encouraged to witness the ongoing and constructive engagement of Liberian citizens in the process of registering to cast their votes, and the openness and transparency of the National Elections Commission in providing detailed, disaggregated figures regarding the preliminary voter’s roll.
According to him, the will continue to observe the 2023 electoral process adhering to internationally accepted principles for election observation.
He added that the institute is diligently tracking all phases of the election and long-term observers have been on the ground since the end of April 2023, assessing the process against regional and international norms as well as national legislation.
Concluding, Mr. Masterson maintained that EISA has a longstanding commitment to democracy in Liberia and is honored to conduct its International Election Observation Mission in support of the electoral process.
For her part, the Election Expert of EISA, Antonetta Hamandisha, the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa is a non-for-profit organization established in South Africa in 1996.
According to her t is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa but it was initially established to support democratic transition with focus on contributing to a free and fair election in post Apartheid South Africa,
“The institute’s early work involved conflict monitoring , mediating and mitigation strategies around elections\she said; adding: “ the early experiences have been beneficial in allowing EISA to continue this work in many other post conflicts and transitional spaces.”
The organization has previously held field offices in 15 African countries and currently has other geographical footprints nine Africa countries.
Madam Hamandisha explained that EISA focuses on supporting regional and sub regional stakeholders to foster inclusive, peaceful and credible elections
“In Liberia,” she furthered, “we are in the country to strengthen the capacity of state and non state actors as well as observe the 2023 presidential and legislative as a pan African organization.”
as spread its activities in several African countries including Sudan, Madagascar