2004 Cameroon Election- Arrival Statement

We are here at the invitation of the Government of Cameroon to observe the Presidential Election of 11 October.

Our Terms of Reference state that we must:

• consider the various factors impinging on the credibility of the electoral process as a whole;

• determine in our own judgement whether the conditions exist for a free expression of will by the electors; and

• determine if the results of the election reflect the wishes of the people.

Our purpose will be to arrive at a broad overview of the democratic environment and the electoral process as a whole, rather than the outcome. We will remain neutral, impartial and objective throughout. We are here as observers of the electoral process - witnesses, rather than participants, supervisors or managers. We will form a judgement on the credibility of that process, in line with international election standards and the Commonwealth's commitment to democracy.

We will clearly not be able to be present at every polling station, but we will travel extensively, consult widely and take every opportunity to witness the process first hand. In addition to the polling and counting process, we will also observe the campaign and the media coverage.

Our Group is independent - of the Commonwealth Secretary-General, our Governments and any organisations to which we belong. We represent the association as a whole and participate in our individual capacities.

Commonwealth observers were here earlier this month to witness the voter registration process and we have had the benefit of their report. Three of these observers are members of our own group.

Over the next few days, we will meet with the Ministry ot Territorial Administration and Decentralisation (M1NATD), the National Election Observatory (NEO), political parties, civil society groups, other observers. Commonwealth diplomats and others.

On Thursday, we will deploy around the country. We will observe the pre-election period, including campaigning, rallies and media coverage. On election day, we will observe the polling. Thereafter, we will witness the counting of votes and the collation of the results.

We will then return to Yaounde to write our report, which we will complete here prior to our projected departure date of 16 October.

We will submit our report to the Commonwealth Secretary-General, who will in turn forward it to the Government of Cameroon, the political parties and all Commonwealth governments. Our Report will then be made publicly available, here and throughout the Commonwealth.

Our mission in Cameroon follows the report of a Commonwealth Assessment Mission whose purpose was to meet with the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, political parlies and civil society in Cameroon. Their report concluded that there was strong support for the presence of a Commonwealth Observer Group during the forthcoming Presidential Elections and that members of the Group would enjoy free and unfettered access to polling stations.

We look forward to our mission and we hope that our work will be helpful to the people of Cameroon.