Pacific Is Forum Election Observers
Forum Election Observers - Fiji 2May06
14-06
PRESS STATEMENT
1 May 2006 17:05:08
PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM ELECTION OBSERVERS
A 24-member election observer group representing the Pacific Islands Forum will be deployed this week around Fiji, ahead of the country's national elections on 6-13 May.
The Forum group is looking forward to observing the conduct of the election and to also assessing the integrity of the election process, said Forum Secretary General, Greg Urwin, who is also the team leader.
The Forum observers are drawn from Australia, New Zealand, Tonga and Tuvalu as well as staff from the Forum Secretariat, Mr Urwin said.
However, they participate in the team as regional representatives of the Forum, rather than as nationals from particular countries. As such, the team members will operate as independent and impartial observers.
Following their observation of the voting and counting, the Forum observers will prepare a report summarising their findings. This may include recommendations for improvements in the election process and for technical assistance that might be provided by the Forum or other partners following the elections.
The report will be provided first to the Government of Fiji and the Office of the Supervisor of Elections, and later be made public.
The Pacific Islands Forum first deployed an election observer mission in December 2001 to the Solomon Islands. This was followed by similar missions to Vanuatu and Nauru (2004); Bougainville, Papua New Guinea (2005); Solomon Islands (2006) and now Fiji.
Forum Secretariat, Suva
2 May 2006
14-06
PRESS STATEMENT
1 May 2006 17:05:08
PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM ELECTION OBSERVERS
A 24-member election observer group representing the Pacific Islands Forum will be deployed this week around Fiji, ahead of the country's national elections on 6-13 May.
The Forum group is looking forward to observing the conduct of the election and to also assessing the integrity of the election process, said Forum Secretary General, Greg Urwin, who is also the team leader.
The Forum observers are drawn from Australia, New Zealand, Tonga and Tuvalu as well as staff from the Forum Secretariat, Mr Urwin said.
However, they participate in the team as regional representatives of the Forum, rather than as nationals from particular countries. As such, the team members will operate as independent and impartial observers.
Following their observation of the voting and counting, the Forum observers will prepare a report summarising their findings. This may include recommendations for improvements in the election process and for technical assistance that might be provided by the Forum or other partners following the elections.
The report will be provided first to the Government of Fiji and the Office of the Supervisor of Elections, and later be made public.
The Pacific Islands Forum first deployed an election observer mission in December 2001 to the Solomon Islands. This was followed by similar missions to Vanuatu and Nauru (2004); Bougainville, Papua New Guinea (2005); Solomon Islands (2006) and now Fiji.
Forum Secretariat, Suva
2 May 2006
