National Assembly election 2016 - ARID calls for “clean” political campaigning |12 August 2016

With the parliamentary election coming up, ARID (Association for Rights, Information and Democracy) is calling on all political parties and candidates contesting the election to uphold the principles governing democratic elections and to maintain respect and tolerance during the campaigning period.

“We expect politicians to discuss about issues affecting the lives of the citizens but not to engage in confrontational politics,” says ARID in a communiqué.

ARID is also advising candidates as well as supporters of all political parties and movements to refrain from insulting one another and to refrain from personal attacks and defamation.

“We are advocating for responsible and clean political campaigning for this election,” adds the communiqué.

ARID is strongly recommending to the Electoral Commission not to operate the island of Silhouette as an all voting station as was the case in previous elections. ARID believes the voting station on Silhouette should be a special voting station for workers on Silhouette and NOT an all voting station.

The association is also calling on the Electoral Commission to ensure that the coming election is free, fair and transparent and that due consideration is given to the recommendations made by the domestic and international election observation missions.

“One of the important recommendations from our previous report was the need for (CVE) Civic and Voters Education and once again we are advocating for a comprehensive voter's education programme in the national media. ARID is calling on the Electoral Commission once again to enhance civic and voter's education ahead of the forthcoming elections,” says the ARID communiqué. 

As a citizen's observer group, ARID is calling on the state funded media, both the electronic and print media, to maintain strict impartiality, objectivity and fairness at all times.

“SBC and the Seychelles NATION should refrain from printing and airing proposed candidates of the forthcoming election in programmes and news coverage as this will give competitive advantages to some candidates and compromise on the fairness of this election process. The role of the public media is crucial throughout the election process,” noted the ARID communiqué.
“ARID has been on the ground observing most of the rallies and we have noticed high consumption of alcohol in some of these public political events and in some cases involving children. We are calling on the authorities to regulate the sale of alcohol in political rallies and on the law enforcement agencies to ensure effective control in all political gatherings,” says ARID.

Last but not least, ARID is reminding voters to be mindful that this election is not about electing a political party but rather a person who will truly represent your interest in the National Assembly.

The National Assembly election will take place on September 8, 9 and 10, 2016.