• The right to take part in government;

• The right to vote and to be elected; and

• The right to equal access to public service.

Basic Human Rights Related to the conduct of elections include:

·               Freedom of expression

• Freedom of information.

• Freedom of assembly.

• Freedom of association.

• Freedom of movement.

• Freedom from intimidation.

The free and full exercise of such rights is impossible under the prevailing conditions in Iraq today.

All peoples have the right of self-determination: to freely determine their political status.

It would be adding insult to injury to claim that the proposed elections, held under occupation of an invading power, provide an occasion for the Iraqi people “to freely determine their political status”.

Such elections will divide the country, be unacceptable to those who do not or cannot participate in them, and will leave in its wake a bloodbath in the pre-election and post-election process. Such deaths are tantamount to intentional homicide, and are preventable if elections are postponed.

Recently, in Tikrit, some 200 Iraqis ranging across the entire political spectrum met and, by consensus, reached a common position about elections in Iraq. They had just 3 key demands: a six month postponment; changing the electoral law to replace the single constituency with each Province forming a constituency; and an assurance that the Occupying Forces would play no role in the conduct of the election. The Iraqi people spoke with one voice loud, clear and proud. But alas! That voice appears to be falling upon deaf ears in the Oval Office.

On behalf of ARENA,

Jeannie Manipon

Director, ARENA Center

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January 25, 2005

The Hon Kofi Anan

Secretary-General

United Nations

An Open Letter on the Elections in Iraq

Dear Secretary – General of the United Nations

The Honourable Kofi Anan,

We, the undersigned, concerned Asian intellectuals and activists associated with the Asian Regional Exchange for New Alternatives (ARENA) are gravely concerned about the elections scheduled to take place in Iraq. The proposed elections in Iraq will be held under conditions that violate international human rights standards, developed over the years under the auspices of the United Nations; and make it impossible for the Iraqi people to express their free will. Accordingly, we have addressed the attached Open Letter to George Bush, the President of the United States.

We urge you to request the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and her Office to play an active role in promoting and protecting the human rights that are involved in electoral processes.

UN practice regarding elections has been well-defined over the years. UN involvement in elections has taken 3 forms: conduct of elections; supervision and provision of electoral assistance to those conducting the election; and post-election verification.

The first of these options is not an option and so is not relevant in the Iraq case.

The second option must be exercised strictly on terms and conditions prescribed by the UN and must adhere strictly to the laws and practices of the UN. The UN cannot and must not provide electoral assistance to an election that does not meet the international law and standards that the UN is bound by.

The third option of post facto verification should be firmly and unequivocally be rejected when an election fails to meet the international laws and standards that the UN is bound by

We urge you to uphold such international standards and ensure that the UN does not lend legitimacy or credibility, in any manner whatsoever to the elections in Iraq.

The Iraqi people are in desperate need of freedom and peace. But an election that lacks legitimacy and credibility ,resulting in a government that has a similar lack, is doomed to deliver neither freedom nor peace.

On behalf of ARENA,

Jeannie Manipon

Director, ARENA Centre