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Guineaâs Supreme Court Begins Election Fraud Hearing Friday

   Peter Clottey 08 July 2010
   People  walk  in  front  of posters for the presidential elections and
   instructions on the voting card, Conakry, 25 Jun 2010

Photo: AFP

   People  walk  in  front  of posters for the presidential elections and
   instructions on the voting card, Conakry, 25 Jun 2010

   The  chairman of Guineaâs Research Institute on Democracy and the Rule
   of  Law,  a  non-governmental organization says the Supreme Court will
   Friday  begin  hearing  allegations of voter irregularities during the
   27^th June presidential election.

   Attorney  Thierno Balde said expectations are high among Guineans that
   the Supreme Courtâs final decision will be fair.

   He  said  this will pave the way for the run-off election to determine
   who becomes Guineaâs democratically elected leader.

   âThere   have   been  different  allegations  of  fraud  or  sometimes
   irregularitiesâ¦for  example  the  (paper)  which  was  supposed to be
   signed  by  all  the (party) members at the polling stations, just one
   signed.  And, I think there were so many of these mistakes, which were
   made  because  of  the  lack  of  training  of  the  people  who  were
   supervising the vote,â he said.

   The  electoral  body  was  originally scheduled to release provisional
   results  from  the  27^th  June election 72 hours after the vote. But,
   faced  with logistical problems it petitioned the Supreme Court for an
   extension, which the court granted.

   The move prompted some of the losing candidates and some civil society
   groups  to claim âmassiveâ voter irregularities and intimidation which
   they  said  undermined  the credibility of the election â a charge the
   Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) denies.

   Under  Guineaâs  constitution,  only the two frontrunners in the first
   round  are  eligible  to participate in the run-off which analysts say
   has been tentatively scheduled for 18^th July.

   Attorney  Balde  said  Guineans  are hopeful the Supreme Court will be
   thorough in its ruling ahead of the run-off.

   âA  decision  has  to be made in the coming days because you know that
   after  the CENI has announced the results, the political parties (had)
   eight  days  to launch their complaints and then the Supreme Court has
   three  days. So, in anyway by the beginning of next week we will get a
   decision  whether  we  are  going  to second round or if there are any
   remaining issues which will be addressed during the past election,â he
   said.

   Analysts  said  last  Sundayâs  vote  was Guineaâs first free and fair
   election  since  it  gained  independence  from  former colonial power
   France in 1958.

   Meanwhile,  Guineaâs  interim leader General Sekouba Konate threatened
   to  resign  after he was reportedly accused and insulted by supporters
   of one of the presidential candidates.

   But,  attorney  Balde said Mr. Konate has been spoken to by both local
   and international officials to rescind his threat to resign.

   âAfter  he  (Mr.  Konate) made his statement, all of the (big people),
   the  prime minister, the head of the transitional council, some of the
   religious  leaders  all  of  them got together and went to him,â Balde
   said.

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