Transparency Vanuatu raises election bribery concerns

Transcript

Transparency International in Vanuatu says it is concerned about the number of allegations of bribery and vote buying it is receiving from the outer islands.

However, the NGO says last week's snap election appears to have been cleaner than previous ones.

Its chairman, Dr Willie Tokon, says he is still concerned about the reports coming in, including some landowners who threatened to shut down a school if people didn't vote for a particular candidate.

He told Jamie Tahana anyone with evidence of improper practices should send it to them.

WILLIE TOKON: We're hearing some reports of treating, some bribery, and some donations to schools, [and] to parties. So far we haven't seen any clear evidence, people are just calling in and making reports and of course we are telling them to please take photos, write down dates and times, write down names so that we can help to submit these complaints to the electoral commission.

JAMIE TAHANA: OK so these are unverified?

WT: Up until now we've just been hearing reports, we haven't had anybody...I think we've only had one former MP from Ambae, he's actually come down to Vila and formally presented his complaint already.

JT: What kind of allegations are being made here?

WT: Allegations of landowners who want certain candidates elected, and if not they will close down the school. We've had allegations of bribery where certain things were given, but we haven't seen any proof, and threatening.

JT: And how widespread are these reports? Because the international observer groups said that they are satisfied with the election and that it has been relatively clean. How widespread are these reports you're getting, and could this challenge that finding?

WT: Yes, these reports are coming from Banks and Torres in the north, Ambae, Pentecost, and Ambrym - all the rural areas. The problem is the monitors who were here, the Commonwealth and the MSG, maybe because of the very sudden elections everybody was not quite prepared, but Vila and Santo were pretty clean because we had these international monitors here, but these reports are coming mainly from the islands.

JT: But how many reports roughly? Are they widespread? Are they so many that they could have influenced results?

WT: I would say we have between about 10 and 20 allegations.

JT: OK so rather isolated.

WT: Yes we've had a few comments from our contacts in the islands who have said this is one of the best and the cleanest elections we've had in years. So that's a very encouraging comment also from some areas.