Observer coalition reports violations in campaigning for polls

Fuente: 
The Jordan Times
Fecha de publicación: 
16 Ene 2013

The National Centre for Human Rights (NCHR) on Wednesday said the use of political money in the ongoing election campaign is evident and called on authorities to take stiffer measures.

In a report issued by the NCHR on the candidates’ campaigns on behalf of a national coalition that includes more than 50 civil society organisations, the agency cited the collection of voter identification cards in return for money or in-kind donations, such as mobile phones, heaters and blankets or promises to send the voters to perform Umra at the respective candidate’s expense, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

On Tuesday, a candidate from Amman’s 2nd District was detained for 15 days pending interrogation over allegations of offering money to voters.

A security source said that criminal investigation personnel seized JD5,900 worth of cheques and receipts signed by the candidate to be dispersed to over 590 voters with JD10 for each.

Mafraq’s prosecutor general also detained another candidate from Qasabat Al Mafraq (central district) at the Jweideh Correctional and Rehabilitation Centre for 15 days pending interrogation over vote buying attempts.

Local reports said the Mafraq candidate was a woman.

Earlier this week, the Public Security Department (PSD) said it had arrested six suspects involved in vote buying and forging or withholding voter identification cards in Amman and Mafraq.

According to the NCHR report, several hopefuls have violated regulations governing campaigning.

Activists said many candidates began campaigning for the elections before its official start on December 22.

The NCHR said candidates resorted to many indirect advertisement forms, such as inviting citizens to register in the elections and announcing that they gained the consensus of a certain tribe, in addition to other direct advertisements through the media, or banners and pictures on the streets.

Moreover, the coalition noted that many candidates did not post their advertisements in the designated places and posted them on traffic lights, main roads, electricity and phone poles instead.

Some candidates have not provided their financial disclosure statements yet in compliance with the Financial Disclosure Law, the activists added, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

The observers also noticed that some candidates have used the headquarters of government agencies in Tafileh Governorate to promote their campaigns, which violates the Elections Law, while others in Irbid Governorate posted their pictures and banners on state buildings and places of worship.

Among the breaches, two candidates have been attacked by anonymous people for “entering the zone of other candidates to promote themselves” while other candidates have used children in their headquarters to receive guests and distribute promotion brochures, according to the group.

 

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