19 August 2005
U.S. Ambassador Urges Afghans To Elect Representatives Carefully, August 18, 2005 (Afghan parliamentary, provincial elections scheduled for September 18)
By David Shelby
Washington File Staff Writer
Washington – U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Ronald Neumann has urged Afghan voters to weigh their options carefully, and to vote for the candidates they believe will do the best job in office when they head to the polls for parliamentary and provincial elections September 18.
“These elections are important to the future of Afghanistan, and they are an opportunity for the people of Afghanistan to pick representatives,” Neumann told reporters August 18, one day after the official campaign period opened. “There are many pressures, but we urge people to vote, and we urge them to vote for representatives who are honest and decent people.”
Neumann said that the secrecy of the ballots would be preserved and urged Afghans to vote according to their consciences.
“It is up to the people of Afghanistan to elect the best possible parliament,” Neumann said. “We are working with the international authorities, the U.N. and others, to do everything we can to make that election honest and to make the counting honest, but Afghans have to take responsibility for voting, for choosing.”
The ambassador acknowledged that violence continues to be a problem in parts of the country, but he said this would not keep the elections from taking place.
“There is violence and there are people who will try to kill candidates and try to stop the election, and they will fail,” he said. “They have absolutely no chance of stopping this election. … When millions of people want to vote, they will go vote.”
Neumann said that the Afghan security forces and the international forces gained useful experience in providing security for the October 2004 presidential election, and he noted that there are now more troops and police officers to help maintain the peace.
The ambassador added that the United States would do everything it could to support the government chosen by the Afghan voters. He said the United States will continue to support Afghan efforts to build government institutions, a strong legal system and professional security forces.
Nearly 2,800 candidates are competing for 249 seats in the Wolesi Jirga (lower house of the national assembly) and more than 3,000 candidates are vying for seats on the 34 provincial councils.
During the official campaigning period, candidates are allowed to broadcast radio and television advertisements, subject to regulations and spending limits. The campaigning period ends September 15 to allow a two-day reflection period before the polls open.
