Burundi: Observation of the Constitutional Referendum 2005 (continued)

Behavior of political party delegates

The political parties that responded to the invitation to observe the constitutional referendum were FRODEBU, CNDD, UPRONA, INKIZO, PALIPE AGAKIZA, MRC RURENZANGEMERO, RPB, FNL ICANZO, PALIBU and P.P. Almost all these parties did not have accreditation from the CENI. Thus a few political parties did not conform to electoral law in this regard. The delegates of the political parties did not wear any distinctive insignia and were obviously without any observer training. In Rural Bujumbura the delegates of political parties M.R.C, FRODEBU and CNDD had letters of accreditation but not the stamps of their parties. In Mbogora (Mwaro province) a delegate of the CNDD continually advocated a particular view at the Polling stations. In Bubanza (village II) the members of some political parties stood at the windows and influenced the voters by saying aloud "Tora ego" (Vote yes). In Muraka, there was incident between a political party agent and the presiding officer who had not explained the procedure to the voters properly. In Kayanza an MRC delegate wore his party hat during the vote. In Kamenge and Kinama (Bujumbura city) members of the CNDD put themselves forward as officials of the polling stations and tried usurp their functions, with obvious propagandist intentions.

Administrative authorities

COSOME observers reported cases of communal administrators who behaved badly during the constitutional referendum. For example, administrators of Kabezi (Bujumbura) and Shombo (Karusi) violated electoral law by advocating a "yes" vote on election day. It is also necessary to mention the case of a head of district in Bujumbura-city who, at the entrance to the polling station loudly urged voters to vote "yes". Similar cases were reported in almost all the polling stations that COSOME could visit.

Intimidation

In certain places like rural Bujumbura, Bubanza, Kirundo, Cibitoke, Kanyosha, a form of intimidation was reported by COSOME observers. In some cases the voters did not detach the form which had rejected. Some of the voters were approached by SOSOME observers and asked why they insisted on returning with the unused form. These voters replied that some of the members of their political party had ordered to them to show the unused form upon their return from voting.

Another form of intimidation was found in Kirundo where CNDD and FRODEBU officials circulated in the polling stations frightening voters who might vote against the wishes of these parties. These officials approached the voters at the voting station from time to time.

The fact that the booth did not guarantee the secrecy of vote also constituted a form of intimidation. A voter might vote against his will due to the fact that he could be watched! These forms of intimidation are not negligible since they could affect the legitimacy of the vote if it could be proved that they occurred countrywide.

Robbery attempt in Ngozi

Someone was caught in the Ngozi in possession of 500 "yes" ballot papers trying to sell them. The police arrested him and sent him to jail.

How the whole process went

The observers stated that the referendum went well in all the provinces despite the failures raised above which, they believe, did NOT have a significant influence on the outcome of the vote.