What is your candidate going to do so youcan trst his promises?
Can you tell him that he is accountable to his voters also after being elected?
Can you ask him if he is wiling to rsign if he can not fulfi his promises?
Can you ask him to report to you after one year on what he has achieved?
Could you tell him you wil not vote for him again if he does not fulfi what he promised?
Remember: An elected candidate is accountable not only for those who voted for him, but also to those in hisconstituency who voted for another candidate.
'-Char III - 8:
All candidates should have equal chances.
Have all candidates in your constituency equal chances? Why not?
Do they have access to the media?
Do they have a campaign?
Are they free to meet with their voters, to explain their political views?
Are they free to express their political views?
Who decides whether a candidate's political views are acceptable in politics?
Can the government ban a candidate because he is against spending state money on schools?
Would you vote for that candidate?
Can the government ban a candidate because he says he wants to chase all mInorities out of your region? Would you vote for that candidate?
Can the government ban a candidate because he advocates ared struggle?
Char III - 9:
Democracy means competition for leadership . and selection of the best.
If one is running alone - is he coming in last - or first?
Has he won - or lost?
Is an election without at least two candidates with equal chances democratie?
Can the voter make a responsible decision if there is only one candidate?
Char il - 10:
The Universal Dec1aration of Human Rights
The United Nations adopted in 1948 the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
It proclaims, among others, the following rights for all human beings:
All human beings are bom free and equal in dignity and rights, endowed with reason and conscience.
They should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood (Art. 1).
Everyone is entitled to all rights,irrespective of age, sex, race, religion, colour, language etc. The rights of others are the limits of your rights (Ar. 2).
Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person (Ar. 3). No one should be held in slavery (ArA). No one should be subjected to torture (Ar. 5) or arbitrar arest (Art 9).
Everyone has the freedom of movement (Ar. 13), of opinion (Ar. 19), and the right to work (Art. 23), a right to a decent stadard of living (Ar. 25) and education (Ar. 26).
Everyone has duties in his community; in paricular, the duty to respect the rights of others (Art. 29).
This declaration has been adopted by the Ethiopian government since 1991 as par of Ethiopian law.
This means that all Ethiopians, also you, have the right and a responsibilty towork for making it à living reality in your community.
PART IV:
HOW TO MONITOR DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS
Char iv - 1:
Is there freedom of speech?
Has anyone been arested or harassed because of whatshe or he said in public or privately?
Has any candidate been threatened not to say certain things?
Have the police or militar or other security forces taken action against anyone in the time
be fore the elections, except because of criminal offences?
Char IV - 2:
Everyone has the right to discuss and participate without having reasons for fear.
Can everyone expose his ideas without fear?
Has anyone been threatened to vote for one or another candidate?
Is there anyone who has reasons to be afraid because of his (her) vote or his (her) candidacy
or speech?
Has anyone been arested without a warant or court order?
,.
.._~--Char iv - 3:
In a democrcy, people can move freely, and idea are exchanged freely.
Are you allowed to travel to any par of
the countr?
Have you observed free exchange of ideas?
Has anyone been prevented from sharng his ideas with others?
Have people been told toshut up, not to say certain things?
Have people been arested because of what they said?
Make sure you distinguish whether people were arested because of criminal offences - or because of their opinions and political paricipation.
Remember: It is your right to exchange ideas freely, in the same way as you exchange goods in the market. Nobody may prevent you from holding any idea, and expressing it, -as long as you do not violate the rights of others.
Char IV - 4:
The right of opposition is part of democratie culture.
Do you have the right to go into a different direction from the majority?
Has there been any interferenee with individual opinions, if they went counter to the majority?
Is there an opposition candidate in your constituency? Is he or she accepted, tolerated, free to campaign?
Do people understand, accept the role of opposition? Are people harassed because they are
suspected of supportng an opposition candidate?
Many votes make a strong government.
Also astrong opposition?
Is that good or bad?
What should a leader do if he is running in an election bud does not win aseat?
- Work through rus pary for the interests of rus voters?
Recruit fighters and go to the bush?
Convince the voters of rus good political judgement, so he wil be elected next time?
Remember: A strong opposition strengthens a good democratie government.
Char iv - 5:
Nobody shall be harrassed or imprisoned because of his (her) opinions.
Have you heard of anybody being harassed for his opinion? Why??
Have you seen it? Can you verify why?
Are acusations correct? Are they verifyable?
Have you tried to solve the problem?
Are you sure they have not commtted a criminal offence?
Char IV - 6: