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Burundi Presidential Vote to Proceed Despite Opposition Boycott

   Peter Clottey 10 June 2010
   Ban Ki-Moon na Perezida Petero Nkurunziza i Bujumbura

Photo: Leon Masengo

   U.N  Secretary  General  Ban  Ki-Moon  and  Burundi's President Pierre
   Nkurunziza in the capital, Bujumbura (file)

   The chairman of Burundiâs Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) said
   preparations  are  far  advanced  ahead  of  the presidential election
   scheduled  for  28^th  June despite the opposition decision to boycott
   the vote.

   Pierre Claver Ndayicariye told VOA that the electoral body has a track
   record  of  organizing  elections  that  both  local and international
   observers have judged to be free and fair.

   âWe  are  a  technical  commission  and  our  mission  is  to organize
   technically   the   elections.  Today,  we  are  preparing  (for)  the
   presidential  election,  which are scheduled on 28^th of June 2010. We
   are really preparing (for) this election,â he said.

   This  comes after the last remaining opposition presidential candidate
   pulled  out of the upcoming vote citing concerns the elections will be
   rigged in favor of incumbent President Pierre Nkurunziza.

   Several  opposition  groups have accused the electoral body of failing
   to  prevent fraud in last monthâs district elections won by the ruling
   CNDD-FDD  party  with  over  60  percent  of the votes. The opposition
   parties  have  also  demanded a re-run of the district elections after
   rejecting the results.

   But,  electoral  chairman  Ndayicariye said, despite the boycotts, the
   presidential election will proceed as originally planned.

   âIn  2005,  we had (only) one candidate and the election was organized
   and  in  Burundi  (it)  is  not  the  first  time we have had a single
   candidateâ¦they (the opposition) were invited to participate, but they
   said  itâs  not  good  to  continue  to  proceed participating in this
   election. Itâs their own political will,â Ndayicariye said.

   Observers  say the boycott will seriously undermine the credibility of
   the election and weaken Burundiâs fledgling democracy.

   Incumbent  President  Nkurunziza  is expected to win by a landslide if
   the  opposition  parties  continue  their  boycott of the presidential
   vote.

   Chairman Ndayicariye said Burundians should expect a transparent vote.

   âThe  Burundi  people  today  really are very, very keen in supporting
   peace  reconciliation  and  security.  Burundi  people  have  got many
   lessons  from the past. We will like to see political party leaders to
   work together to support the democratic process,â Ndayicariye said.

   Meanwhile,  U.N.  Secretary  General  Ban  Ki-Moon,  as  well as other
   foreign  diplomats,  has  called  on the various opposition parties to
   reconsider their decision to boycott the 28 June election.

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