(MENAFN- Daily Outlook Afghanistan) KABUL- The Election Oversight Network (EON) on Thursday questioned ‘whether peace orelection is a priority', claiming the two ruling electoral teams were usinggovernment resources.
Officialsof the Election Oversight Network, a coalition of several election oversightinstitutes, on Thursday organized a press conference about peace and election.
HabibullahShinwari, a member of the network, said peace and election were two issueswhich went together, confusing the public who did not know which one was apriority.
'Allpeople want to know whether peace or election is the priority of the Afghangovernment and the international community, he said.
'Ifis peace coming people should how and under what conditions? Or if election isa priority then there should be explanation about its conditions, he said.
Thegovernment was currently emphasizing on election while politicians and theinternational community preferred peace and there were some circles who wantedelection and peace simultaneously, Shinwari said.
Theninth round of peace talks between the Taliban and US representatives in Qataris expected in near future as the two sides have agreed over some issues inprevious meetings.
Shinwarisaid peace talks would affect the election process and taking the two processesforward together would not be possible. 'If the same situation continues, theelection will not be held or only a limited people would participate in it andit would also lack political legitimacy, he said.
Hecalled the ongoing electioneering of candidates as unjust and said, 'Ourfindings show the two ruling electoral teams (Ashraf Ghani and Dr. AbdullahAbdullah), illegally use government resources for their campaigns.
EnayatullahOsmani, head of Women's Research Organization for Peace and a member of EON,said that election commissions' officials were not neutral about election andthey supported some specific candidates sometimes.
Hesaid the Afghan people wanted the election on its schedule, September 28, andthe date should not be changed.
AnisaTaiba, EON spokesman also said the Afghan government and the internationalcommunity should clarify whether election or peace was their priority. (Pajhwok)
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