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CHIEF OF OAS ELECTORAL OBSERVATION MISSION IN PERU COMMENTS ON INCIDENT SUNDAY

  April 9, 2006

One role that Organization of American States (OAS) Electoral Observation Missions have is to make available their good offices as a mediator in situations of conflict. The Mission is impartial and seeks to dissuade actions that could alter the normal process of an election. In this context, the Chief of the OAS Electoral Observation Mission in Peru, Lloyd Axworthy, issues the following statement:

In light of the incidents that took place today when the presidential candidate Ollanta Humala was exercising his right to vote, the Chief of the OAS Mission responded quickly, making his way to the polling place. The candidate declined to leave the polling place under police protection and accepted the OAS Chief of Mission’s invitation to leave in the company of international observers. The OAS Chief of Mission accompanied the candidate to his vehicle amid a hostile demonstration.

The OAS Electoral Observation Mission has been in touch with the Minister of the Interior and with the National Elections Board, and trusts that the incident will be investigated.

The unfortunate event is not indicative of major problems in the electoral process, which is taking place in an orderly, peaceful manner. The OAS calls on Peruvian citizens to maintain calm and patience during the time remaining in this process.

Reference: EOM-PE-3