VZCZCXYZ0003
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHFN #0102 0770810
ZNR UUUUU ZZH (CCY ADX041A4EA MSI8694 611)
R 171742Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY FREETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2529
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS FREETOWN 000102 
 
SIPDIS 
 
C O R R E C T E D  C O P Y (REMOVING PARAGRAPH MARKINGS) 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W (JHUNTER/ESPRUILL) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM PHUM SL
SUBJECT: PUJEHUN BYE-ELECTIONS POSTPONED DUE TO ALLEGED 
VIOLENCE 
 
REF: FREETOWN 99 
 
¶1. The National Electoral Commission (NEC) postponed the 
planned March 14 bye-election in Pujehun District, based on 
allegations of politically-motivated violence and their 
subsequent inability to adequately prepare for the election 
on-site. National Election Watch (NEW) released a statement 
on March 16 stating that APC thugs had stabbed the wife of 
the district's SLPP chairman, and that a clash occurred 
between APC and SLPP supporters. NEW went on to blame the 
Sierra Leone Police for not providing adequate protection, 
particularly to SLPP members, despite their constitutional 
responsibility to do so. NEW also said that the Resident 
Minister for the South, an APC-appointed official, 
intimidated the constituency and incited APC supporters to 
violence. 
 
¶2. Poloff spoke with the UN Senior Police Advisor, who 
had visited Pujehun on March 13 in response to the reported 
tension. He told poloff that, though there was definitely 
tension between the parties, the incidents had been largely 
overblown. For example, the SLPP chairman told the Advisor 
that his wife had not been stabbed, but had actually been 
bitten by a snake. He learned that other "clashes" had 
involved name-calling and some fisticuffs, but ended quickly. 
The Advisor did not believe that the rumors were deliberately 
designed to postpone the election, but instead reflected 
"business as usual" when it comes to elections in Sierra 
Leone (Note: During both the 2007 and 2008 elections, rumors 
flew around the country about politically-motivated attacks, 
murders, property destruction, and harassment. While some of 
these rumors were substantiated, most were found to be highly 
exaggerated versions of the truth. End note). 
 
¶3. NEC Chairperson Dr. Christiana Thorpe warned political 
leaders on March 16 that NEC must be allowed to conduct 
elections without interference. Like NEW, she criticized the 
Resident Minister for the South, and his visit to the 
district immediately prior to the planned bye-election. She 
said that the minister was accompanied by security forces, 
which instigated violence and intimidated voters. 
 
¶4. Comment: As far as post is aware, the postponement is 
not linked to the APC-SLPP riots on March 13 and March 16 
(reftel), despite media reports to the contrary. However, 
rumors reaching Freetown from Pujehun were likely one of the 
catalysts intensifying party rivalries and tensions in the 
capital. NEC has yet to release a new date for the 
bye-election, but will have to wait until the country as a 
whole returns to a general state of calm. We believe progress 
was made today during the Diplomatic Corps' meeting at the UN 
with all political party leaders. End Comment. 
PERRY