CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
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Togo |
ELECTIONS
The 1 June presidential elections are approaching.
On 19 March 2003, the Bishops’ Conference of Togo issued a new message calling
on all those involved in politics to do their utmost to accept their responsibilities
and to preserve peace in the country. The Bishops had issued a similar message
in June 2002 on the eve of the parliamentary electionsIn their message entitled: «Let Us Work for Peace in Truth», Togo’s seven bishops condemned the government’s tendency to carry with actions which endanger the nation’s unity. They condemned Parliament’s recent changes to the Constitution. It should be noted that for the last 36 years, parliament has been dominated by the ruling party, the Rally of the Togolese People (RPT). The Bishops emphasise: «The changes to the Constitution mean, (inter alia), that the President of the Republic will be able to seek any number of further mandates, whereas the previous Article 59 had wisely stated that “the President of the Republic is elected by direct vote for five years, which can be renewed only once. Thus, the President could not serve more than two terms in Office”».
The current President, Gnassingbé Eyadema, has been in power since 1967. According to the previous Constitution (but now changed by Parliament in December 2002), having served two mandates, his term of office should end in June 2003. Moreover, in 1999, Eyadema had publicly declared to the Press and in the presence of France’s President Jacques Chirac when visiting Lome, that he would stand down in 2003: On 23 July 1999, Eyadema declared: «I will not interfere with the Constitution. If I were to do that, I would be like those Heads of State who do their utmost to prolong their mandates. When I finish my mandate in 2003, I have no intention of remaining in office one day more».
But what’s been happening? There’s behind-the-scenes activity to ensure Eyadema stands for Office again. Moreover, his party has chosen him as its candidate for a third mandate, to the great displeasure of the Togolese people. The Bishops noted: «The electoral rules were knowingly modified, so as to profit a party which, with all the ease in the world, has radically changed a Constitution which had been voted for and accepted by all the people».
«The truth will set us free»
The Bishops urge the people of Togo to face up to the truth. «In Togo, we are living through a serious political crisis, because, either through fear or self-interest, some people are refusing to abide by the truth which sets us free. There are any number of lies being told in the clear light of day in spite of clear directives to the contrary! The fact is, things are going badly in our country».
That’s why the Bishops have launched a call «to all politicians of every shade of political opinion, so that they can once again, determine what is necessary so that true peace can reign in our country». They also call on all Christian communities «to intensify their prayers on behalf of the Nation».
On 18 June 2002, just before the parliamentary elections, the bishops drew the politicians’ and especially the government’s attention, to the risk of a social upheaval. They asked that «everything possible should be done to ensure that voters would have a free choice and thus guarantee free and transparent elections». But such was not the case. The Bishops’ Conference reminded people, that «in our country, things are taking place which distance us from peace. On 18 June 2002, we asked for specific measures to be taken vis à vis the elections. Our call was ignored. Thus, the anticipated parliamentary elections were unilaterally organized on 27 October 2002. Far from providing a solution, they exacerbated the political crisis, and consequently the hoped-for resumption of co-operation with the European Union did not take place». (N.B. The European Union, Togo’s main donor nation, suspended its co-operation with that country in 1993, following evident human rights violations).
One month from the presidential elections, conditions for ensuring a true choice, are far from being met. Worse, the Opposition alliance, which had announced a single candidate to stand for election, has been torn asunder by internal feuding. For the moment, the main opposition parties’ leading lights have put their hopes in their leader as presidential candidate. Which means, faced with the well-oiled political machinery of the Eyadema camp, their chances of gaining the presidency are greatly reduced. However, the Opposition are continuing negotiations among themselves to find the «ideal candidate». They are determined that all opposition members must rally round so as to do away with the 36 years of dictatorship.