CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Voter registration campaign begins

[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

BANGUI, 12 Aug 2004 (IRIN) - A nationwide campaign began on Wednesday to increase voter registration and public awareness about general elections scheduled for the early 2005. The UN Peace-building Support Office, in conjunction with the Central African Republic's Communications Ministry, is conducting the campaign.

"The population should know it is important to register on the electoral list," Ousmane Kaba, the special assistant to the representative of the UN Secretary-General in CAR, told IRIN on Wednesday. In the past, many people who failed to register felt they were being denied their democratic rights when they could not vote during elections.

The aim of the campaign is to register all citizens aged 18 years and above. UN teams started the campaign in the towns of Damara in the Ombella Mpoko Province and Kaga-Bandoro in Nana Grebiz.

The campaign also aims to inform people of a new balloting system. In the 1999 elections, each candidate had a separate ballot paper, which led to high printing costs and voter confusion.

"We are explaining to the population how they can now choose their candidate on one ballot paper," Kaba said. A single ballot paper will be easy for voters, he said. They will only have to circle or tick the name of their candidate.

In June the UN office trained journalists to collect and process of information during elections.

On Tuesday, the CAR's leader Francois Bozize approved a budget of US $10.8-million for the country's electoral commission. The money will mostly come from France, Germany, Japan and the USA.

Radio Centrafrique reported that the electoral committee has already received part of the funds that are to be used to raise public awareness and to prepare voting centres.

Part of the budget will also go to training electoral staff and the country's armed forces. They can provide security during the electoral period.

Bozize seized power on 15 March 2003 from President Ange-Felix Patasse after a six-month rebellion. He appointed the electoral team in March to organise and supervise presidential and parliamentary polls at the end of the country's transitional period.

Bozize has stated that he will not run for president.

[ENDS]