AFRICA/TOGO - Violence, intimidation and fraud during 24 April elections says statement by Justice and Peace Commission of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference

Lome (Fides Service)- Number of seats “variable” (between 5,311 and 5,320 according to various sources also official), incomplete electoral lists, voters found in possession of more than one voting paper, intimidation and beating on the part of police forces. These are some examples of the irregularities which occurred during the 24 April election in Togo according to a report issued by the Justice and Peace Commission of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, a copy of which was sent to Fides.
The statement is a detailed report on the election which resulted, despite Opposition protest, in the proclamation of Faure Gnassinbé Eyadéma as winner. The most serious irregularities included discrepancy between the number of voting papers issued before the vote (2,100,000) and the actual number of votes (2,288,279) announced with the results; more abstentions (5.21% of the total) in the south of the country which supports the opposition, than in the north (only 0.74%) considered close to Faure Gnassinbé Eyadéma; intimidation against candidates for the opposition .
On the day of the elections an Opposition vote counting centre was destroyed by militiamen and most telephone lines were cut.
The report concludes by saying that the party in power knew before the elections that it could not win (most of the army, which voted the day before the election, voted against the regime) and that it took steps to try to overturn the results. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 12/5/2005 righe 25 parole 279)