ENOUGH Project<\/a> (Washington,\u00a0DC)<\/p>\n9 December 2011<\/p>\n
\npress release<\/p>\n
The Enough Project commends the citizens of Congo for their \u00a0 participation in the 2011 national election and condemns the violence and fraud \u00a0 associated with the electoral process. Despite the challenges faced, the passion \u00a0 and patience demonstrated nationwide by Congolese to cast their vote shows a \u00a0 deep commitment to the democratic process and clear demand for free and fair \u00a0 political representation.<\/p>\n
“The many troubling reports of electoral manipulation, intimidation, and \u00a0 violence need to be fully investigated,” said Enough Project executive director \u00a0 John C. Bradshaw. “But these irregularities should not be used to justify \u00a0 violence by any parties, who should instead rely on a peaceful processes to \u00a0 resolve any disputes.”<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, the scope and nature of instances of fraud and violence calls \u00a0 into question the validity of a free and fair election. In the restive eastern \u00a0 portion of the country, the Enough Project\u2019s analysts reported numerous accounts \u00a0 of intimidation and manipulation by armed groups, including the national army, \u00a0 in villages and at polling stations. If not immediately addressed by President \u00a0 Kabila as he prepares for his new term, these actions may exacerbate instability \u00a0 and disenfranchisement in the region and further entrench a destructive pattern \u00a0 of impunity for armed actors.<\/p>\n
Enough\u2019s Goma based Field Researcher, Fidel Bafilemba said, \u201cThe influence of \u00a0 the military in the election has been everywhere. Armed groups loyal to the \u00a0 government were forcing people to cast their votes for President Kabila in \u00a0 Masisi and Walikale, as well as stealing identity cards and dressing in civilian \u00a0 clothes to vote. The failure by Kinshasa to reform and put in place strong \u00a0 institutions has led to serious failures in the overall democratic process.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Enough Project urges all parties to peacefully handle all disputes and \u00a0 grievances that may arise through appropriate channels and encourages President \u00a0 Kabila to recognize the irregularities in the process and take all necessary \u00a0 steps to investigate corruption and ensure credibility and transparency.<\/p>\n
AllAfrica – All the Time<\/p>\n
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