interim report
EISA observer Mission to the DRC Constitutional Referendum, 18 and 19 December 2005 (continued)

2.6 The CEI Personnel

Each polling station established throughout the DRC for the Referendum was comprised of five staff members. The Referendum Law and all other relevant regulations are unambiguous regarding the roles and responsibilities of each member. The Mission noted that, even though the members of staff showed commitment and enthusiasm in most cases, it was also obvious that most of them did not seem to master their duties. In the Mission's opinion, this situation is probably the result of inadequate and insufficient training programmes for CEI agents.

The Mission also noted that there was a disproportion with regard to the gender balance amongst the CEI staff deployed at voting centres and polling stations visited. The Mission recommends therefore that the CEI takes all the necessary measures in order to remedy this situation, specifically by introducing a quota system aimed at establishing a fair and representative gender balance within the CEI's structures at all levels.

2.7 Violence and Political Intimidation

For a referendum process to be free, fair, credible and legitimate, it must take place in an atmosphere free of politically motivated violence and intimidation. Although the debates around the Draft Constitution were impassioned, the Mission observed that they did not deteriorate into acts of violence or intimidation. Reports of referendum-related acts of violence or intimidation were sporadic and isolated and confined to specific provinces.

Whilst the Mission commends the generally peaceful environment in which the Referendum was held, it nevertheless deplores isolated incidents of violence aimed at both international and national observers. The Mission recommends that greater vigilance should be exercised and this should be accompanied by measures to prevent and to manage potential conflicts in the upcoming elections.

2.8 Security in the Referendum Process

The Mission observed the effective deployment of police forces throughout the country and their presence at all polling stations visited. In general, the conduct of these security forces was efficient, discreet and non-intimidating.

2.9 the Media

The EISA Mission received reports of biased coverage by state-owned media in favour of the YES camp. The Mission being deployed on a short-term basis, it was not able to investigate these allegations and shape an objective opinion on this issue.

2.10 Party Agents

Party agents whose selection and deployment depend upon political parties were conspicuously absent during the polling, even though they had been trained for the assignment ahead of the Referendum. Given the important role that party agents can play to ensure the credibility and transparency of the electoral process, the Mission calls upon political parties to take full responsibility for training and deploying their agents in the upcoming elections.