Independent Election Commission (IEC) Chief Ahmad Yousuf Nuristani has urged Afghans to avoid turning the election process into an ethnic dispute as the presidential competition heats up for a runoff round.
Afghanistan has long struggled with ethnic tensions and strife, but this year, there has been a noticeable lack of overt ethno-nationalism in election process. Still, some are concerned voters rely on ethnic and regional ties instead of more substantive issues to determine their favored candidate.
While stressing the importance of a national unity heading into the second round, and Afghanistan first democratic transition of power in modern history, Nuristani also expressed confidence in the maturity of Afghan voters.
“If you look closely, Abdullah received more votes in Pashtun dominated areas and Ashraf Ghani obtained votes in the northern part of the country,” Nuristani said on Friday. “ he Afghan people are politically matured, and our youth must avoid ethnic divisions.”
Around the country, Afghans have shown the desire to move past traditional ethnic differences and come together as one. “Today’s Afghanistan is a totally different Afghanistan, people do not value cast, race and language, people want wisdom and recognize their country as their homeland,” Herat Governor Fazulullha Wahidi said.
“I will vote again, and I hope that my countrymen will not value race and ethnic background,” a female teacher in Kabul named Nafisa said.
But most concerns ahead of the second round are not related to ethnic issues, but rather ones of transparency and neutrality. Many voters and election observers have called on the election commissions for more openness about the process moving forward.
Nuristani preparations have been made to ensure the runoff is even more smooth than the first round. He said that ballot box shortages would be better avoided this time.
President Hamid Karzai also welcomed the announcement of final results and its acceptance by both leading candidates on Friday. He asked the public to participate in the second round and ordered civil and military officials to not interfere.
Source/Fuente: http://www.tolonews.com/elections2014/iec-chief-calls-unity-during-runoff
