US embassy cable - 03SANAA892

UNCLAS SANAA 000892 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, KDEM, YM, DEMOCRATIC REFORM 
SUBJECT: YEMENI ELECTION DAY PEACEFUL WITH HIGH TURNOUT 
 
 
1.  (U)  Summary:  Yemen enjoyed an overwhelmingly peaceful 
election day on April 27.  Early results indicate that the 
GPC will maintain its parliamentary majority, with opposition 
parties increasing their seats.  Voter turnout was very high, 
estimated to be at least 70%.  Election administration 
appeared professional and well-organized despite some 
irregularities.  The only official international delegation, 
organized by the National Democratic Institute (NDI), will 
issue its preliminary assessment on April 29.  End Summary. 
 
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Early Results Show Opposition Narrowing the Gap 
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2.  (U)  While results are still coming in from most 
constituencies 18 hours after the close of polls, preliminary 
results from 20% of constituencies show the ruling General 
People's Congress (GPC) leading but members of the opposition 
Joint Meeting Parties (JMP) running close.  Several 
traditional GPC strongholds in Sanaa, for example, have seen 
well-known GPC candidates lose to the Islah party.  Analysts 
say that Islah did well at least in part because of a strong 
women's vote.  However, the GPC is expected to maintain a 
clear majority.  Individual constituency results will be 
announced by the election commission as they come in and 
final results for all 301 constituencies will be announced by 
the April 30 deadline.  One ROYG official estimated that a 
new government would be announced within two weeks. 
 
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Mostly Peaceful;  High Turnout 
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3.  (U)  Sporadic violence marred the elections in some 
areas, including Taiz, Amran, Dhamar and Hajira.  According 
to reliable sources, approximately 14 persons were injured in 
clashes, primarily between the GPC and Islah.  Uncorroborated 
reports say that between one to three persons were killed. 
At least one clash was clearly between rival tribes and 
unrelated directly to the election.  With almost 30 people 
killed in Yemen's last elections in 2001 for local councils, 
however, in comparison these elections were overwhelmingly 
peaceful on election day.  Possible reasons for the lack of 
violence include the strong messages sent by the President, 
the election commission, political parties and others for 
non-violence and a "weapons free day," fewer candidates vying 
for election and a strong security presence. 
 
4.  (U)  The opening of polls saw huge crowds waiting outside 
to vote, with Embassy observers reporting palpable enthusiasm 
and eagerness on the part of voters.  By midday, Embassy 
observers were reporting between 50-65% of voters had already 
cast their vote.  By the close of polls, domestic and 
international observers were estimating at least a 70% 
turnout.  High numbers of women voters were in evidence, with 
some commissions reporting 80% turnout. 
 
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Professional Administration; 
Fairly Smooth Voting with Some Irregularities 
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5.  (U)  Embassy observers, who received a warm welcome at 
voting centers in Sanaa, Aden and Hadramaut, were impressed 
at the professionalism of the election commissions, noting 
that a vast majority were well-organized and smoothly run. 
Observers reported that irregularities inside polling centers 
appeared to be a result of poor training or knowledge rather 
than organized fraud.  One commissioner told an Embassy 
observer, "it may not be perfect but we are getting better." 
During the lengthy counting process, observers witnessed 
painstakingly careful procedures to ensure its integrity, 
with political party, NGO and international observers as 
witnesses.  Some technical irregularities reported  by 
observers include commissioners possibly influencing votes in 
women's commissions in the course of explaining how to vote, 
ballots in a few constituencies that contained faint markings 
(likely a result of a printing error) that could influence 
voters and some commissions that failed to use the 
photographic voter lists to verify voter identity. 
 
6.  (U)  Accusations by opposition parties of campaign 
irregularities include vote-buying, politicking too close to 
polls, interference by the GPC at some voting centers and use 
of official media for partisan purposes. 
 
7.  (U)  The National Democratic Institute (NDI) fielded a 
30-member international delegation and organized between 
6-10,000 non-partisan domestic NGO observers.  NDI will issue 
a preliminary statement assessing the election on April 29. 
HULL