US embassy cable - 05NDJAMENA887

UNCLAS  NDJAMENA 000887 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR AF, AF/C, INR, LONDON AND PARIS FOR 
AFRICAWATHERS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, KDEM, CD, Human RIghts, Political Stability 
SUBJECT: LIFTING TERM LIMITS: CENI READY FOR REFERENDUM 
 
REF: NDJAMENA 863 
 
1.  (SBU) Summary: As the ruling party goes all out to drum 
up votes and opposition parties call for a boycott, 
Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) President 
Djimtibaye Lapia Neldjita is confident that the public 
referendum to amend the constitution, including lifting 
presidential term limits, will run smoothly.  Despite a few 
financial difficulties and material shortages, CENI is 
completing the delivery of electoral materials for the vote 
on June 6, which has been declared a public holiday.  The 
results of the referendum will be made public on June 21 
after CENI presents them to the Constitutional Court for 
validation.  The date for the municipal and communal 
elections, originally set for June 26, will take place after 
the rainy season, most likely in October.  The current 
registration will be revised in early 2006 to register those 
Chadians who have turned 18 and those that did not register 
in 2005.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (SBU) Djimtibaye Lapia Neldjita, the President of the 
Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), told 
Ambassador and P/E officer on June 2 that the logistical 
arrangements for the public referendum on the constitutional 
amendments are in place.  There were some financial and 
material shortages, but these have largely been overcome.  He 
noted that the rains have already started in the south, 
resulting in several accidents with the materials.  The 
hand-written lists have been computerized.  CENI's N'Djamena 
office only has five members and the rest of CENI's staff is 
located in its sub-offices.  The majority of the government's 
ministers are traveling throughout Chad campaigning for a 
"yes" vote. 
 
3.  (SBU) The Ambassador asked Djimtibaye about the 
criticisms of the voter registration exercise and results. 
Djimtibaye acknowledged the criticisms, but noted that the 
previous registration was done in 1993, twelve years ago.  He 
said that the margin of discrepancy is not as high if one 
takes into factors such as the birth rate, the number of 
Chadians registering overseas, and irregular events, such as 
the return of some 300,000 Chadians from Libya to the north, 
particularly Faya and Kanem. He pointed out that over 520,000 
Chadians are registered to vote overseas.  Djimtibaye deftly 
explained the discrepancies between the high number of 
registered voters in the north versus the lower numbers in 
the south.  He pointed out that most southerners are members 
of the opposition parties and probably adhered to the calls 
for a boycott of the registration.  There are no opposition 
parties in the north so there were no calls for a boycott of 
the registration.  This explains why the numbers of 
registered voters in the north is higher than the south, 
according to Djimtibaye. 
 
4.  (SBU) Djimtibaye responded to the Ambassador's question 
as to whether this electoral list will be used for the 2006 
elections by explaining that each election year, the 
electoral registration list is revised.  Voters who have 
turned 18 and those that are not registered will be 
registered in early 2006.  There will be a one month revision 
period.  This will give those voters who did not register for 
the referendum another opportunity.  Their registration will 
be added to the current one.  The presidential and 
legislative elections will take place sometime between March 
and May, prior to the rainy season. 
 
5.   (SBU) The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has 
not yet distributed a report prepared by a consultant who 
visited Chad in April to assess electoral preparations. 
Djimtibaye said that the consultant relayed concerns about 
the blockage in the political dialogue between the opposition 
and the government.  Since promoting this dialogue is not 
CENI's task, Djimtibaye said that another entity, perhaps 
UNDP, will need to facilitate the dialogue.  He also 
expressed the government's willingness to work on any of 
UNDP's recommendations, but is waiting for them.  Djimtibaye 
acknowledged that most opposition parties will boycott the 
referendum. 
 
6.  (SBU) Djimtibaye responded positively to the Ambassador's 
request to permit embassy personnel to stop by polling 
stations.  He asked the embassy to give the CENI a list of 
names and they would prepare badges to allow embassy 
personnel entry into polling places.  The Ambassador said 
that the U.S. is following the referendum with great interest 
and hopes it transpires transparently.  He expressed support 
for more open dialog between the ruling authorities and the 
opposition parties.  He added that the U.S. would like to 
explore ways to support the upcoming electoral process to 
ensure transparency and acceptance by all political parties. 
 
- - - - 
COMMENT 
- - - - 
 
7.  (SBU)  Djimtibaye was relaxed and confident in CENI's 
preparations for the referendum.  He was nonplused about the 
widespread criticism of the referendum process.  Embassy 
personnel will informally monitor the voting process on June 
6.  We will report on the turn-out and any other problems 
that materialize, but note that the certified results will 
not be available until June 21. 
WALL 
 
 
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