Bernard Owen apporte des justifications à sa prise de position sur le rapport d'observation électorale au Kenya.

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Reaction to the European Union’s Preliminary Report
On Kenya’s General Elections.

Election observation has to be neutral and unbiased. The press conference and the preliminary report that follows have great political significance at national and international level. The preliminary report must therefore be well thought out and considered within the political context of the country.

The media and politicians will be anxious to know the results of the observation. Nevertheless, most will not read the whole report with all its numerous details but will focus on the first sentences : “The 2007 general elections have fallen short of key international and regional standards for democratic elections” The following is even more damaging “...which raises concern about the accuracy of the final result of this election.” These two sentences were enough to set the country on fire.

The Preliminary Report of the European Union consists of 15 pages divided into chapters each dealing with one aspect of the electoral process. Page 12 is devoted to “Human rights”. Human rights : “Although Kenya has a vibrant civil society ...” “Despite this the respect of fundamental rights”... The report then mentions the increased violence of the last six months, such as 200 deaths, the displacement of 46,000 people in one district, and elsewhere there are 30 deaths and 20,000 displaced. Furthermore, the report mentions “ethnically based unrest” “highlighted the deep seated mistrust between communities”.

In such an environment how could the report bear a title that could only encourage further unrest : “Doubts about the credibility of the Presidential results hamper Kenya’s Democratic progress”. Are they trying to recreate the Rwanda tragedy? Or is this just lack of oversight and irresponsibility ? mere incompetence?