CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Campaign begins to inform the public on nearing referendum

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

BANGUI, 22 Nov 2004 (IRIN) - A nationwide awareness campaign to inform the public of a referendum on the Central African Republic (CAR) constitution has begun, an official told IRIN on Saturday.

The chairman of the Mixed Independent Electoral Commission, Jean Wilibiro Sacko, said the campaign would explain to the public the content of the constitution and why they should vote during the referendum, scheduled for 5 December.

"Many [people] are confused regarding the referendum - they think it is already the presidential and legislative elections," he said.

The UN Peace-Building Support Office in CAR, or BONUCA, is providing logistic and financial support for the campaign and government officials are currently holding meetings across the country's 16 provinces to inform the people about the vote.

Programmes on the referendum are also being broadcast on state-owned Radio Centrafrique and on privately radio stations in Sango, the local language spoken by almost all the population.

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