NGO's to monitor poll process

About two- hundred people would be monitoring the forthcoming elections. Official NGO’s have been allowed to supervise the parliamentary and municipal elections with cooperation from the Supreme Election Committee.

The Bahrain Human Rights Society and the Bahrain Transparency society are the two NGO’s that are authorized to monitor the election. The Deputy Secretary General of the BHRS Abdulla AlDerazi said, “ The Ministry of Social development had earlier banned the participation of NGO’s to supervise the elections. The ministry wanted to form a committee by selecting from the local societies. We did not support the decision as by allowing the government body to select representatives could weaken the task of the committee."
“An official statement by the election committee highlighted that political societies would be excluded from the monitoring process. This was done, as they could be bias to their candidates. We had started our preparations for monitoring the elections since February and have held three workshops for representatives from the societies. The monitors are taught about the supervising process, the code of conduct at the time of vote counting."

Non-Bahrainis cannot monitor the actual voting, which locals would be permitted if given permission by the election commission to supervise the elections. “ We are still in talks with the authority to review this decision as it would be more transparent for an independent foreign body to supervise the elections. For example, the Arab Election Monitoring Network in Amman has expressed their willingness to monitor the parliament and municipal elections. We are preparing a report in coordination with the Bahrain Transparency Society that will give a clear picture of the elections."

This year the Ministry of Justice has been asked to supervise the elections. “It is going to be a tough competition and we will try our best to ensure that the campaigning ends peacefully.” Alderazi said.