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Momodou
Denmark
11819 Posts |
 Posted - 31 Aug 2006 : 12:44:51
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JOURNALISTS RAISE CONCERN WITH IEC
By Sarjo Camara Singhateh
During the three-day training on Election reporting, organized by The Gambia Press Union, many complaints were brought under the spot light by the trainees at the workshop, for the Independent Electoral Commission to look into. According to some of the trainees, most of the issues raised deter Journalist from fully executing their duties as watchdogs of the people. Some of the trainees gave narrations as of the difficulties they faced during the last by-elections and others that took place across the country. Some of the trainees indicated that during the counting process of the Serrekunda Central bye-elections, electricity went off in the middle of the counting process and the results were late to be released by the IEC, making it impossible for some of them to lay hands on the final results.
Some also complained that they were forced to switch-off their mobiles phones, and that some IEC officials were also reluctant to talk to the press. In responding to the complaints, the Chief electoral officer of the IEC Mr. Kawsu Ceesay indicated that electricity will be a thing of the past, as the IEC has now bobbled generators for all the main counting stations and they also have many electric lamps as backup supplements.
Mr. Ceesay however accepted that some of the IEC officers were not better positioned to talk to the press, as most of them were not allowed to make comments to the press.
He said there are plans to develop some code for journalists on IEC matters. He said that they have media rules in place, which needs to be looked at. He stated that journalists should desist from pronouncing results, before the IEC's confirmation. He stated that there are no plans for local election observers, in terms of election certification. He stated that the law allows only the Police officers and IEC staff to be given election duty certification. Mr. Ceesay said that during voting each person with a voters card need to confirm his or her name and card number by the presiding officer, before voting.
He clearing stated that IEC scrutinizes the voting period, but not the attestation forms, because that is not the IEC's mandate to develop standard attestation forms. But that anybody who comes with an attestation to get a voter's card will be issued one by the IEC.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 71/2006, 30-31 August, 2006
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