29 July 2010 International election observers to monitor Solomon Islands poll
HONIARA – More than 60 international observers will be deployed to polling stations in Solomon Islands for the
country’s national parliamentary election next week.
Sixty-two observers, working in teams of two to cover six
sites each, will monitor conduct of the 4 August elections at more than 180 of the 876 polling stations.
The polling
stations are located in seven provinces: Central Province, Choiseul, Guadalcanal, Isabel, Makira, Malaita, and Western Province.
The teams will also cover the capital, Honiara, a separate administrative region.
The United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) has been responsible, with the support of other development partners, for coordination and implementation
of the election observation. Coordination was requested by the Government of Solomon Islands.
The UN team will
give observers pre- and post-election briefings, deployment plans and other administrative, logistical and operational support.
The observers were requested by the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission. The following countries and organizations
sent delegates: Australia (10), Commonwealth (11), the European Union (1), Japan (6), New Zealand (9), Pacific Forum (5),
and the United States of America (20).
All observation teams will receive training and briefing by the coordination
team this weekend, and should be deployed by Monday next week.
UNDP considers free and fair elections to be a basis
for healthy democracy, and vital to ensure political stability and a climate fostering sustainable human development.
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