Election Observers for Afghanistan
Wednesday, 01 July 2009
Australia should send a mission of election observers to Afghanistan to help ensure the upcoming elections are free and fair, on the condition that adequate security can be provided to the mission, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop said today.
Ms Bishop has just completed a visit to Australian troops in Afghanistan, where she visited the Kandahar and Tarin Kowt military facilities, accompanied by Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull, Shadow Defence Minister Senator David Johnston and Commander of Task Force 633 Major General Mark Kelly.
“All Australians can be proud of the work of our armed forces in Afghanistan, who are playing a significant role in providing peace and security to the Afghan people,” Ms Bishop said.
“The Mentoring and Reconstruction Taskforce is helping build the capacity of the Afghan people to defend their country and its institutions, which is a critical part of efforts to ensure that Afghanistan never again becomes a centre for global terrorism.”
Ms Bishop said Australia has committed an additional 120 troops to specifically help with improved security for the elections, and this would be complemented by election observers.
“It is vital for the fledgling democracy of Afghanistan to have elections that are free and fair, to help build and maintain confidence in the electoral process,” she said.
“With approximately 40 candidates, the presidential election will be a robust contest and election observers would play a vital role.”
Ms Bishop served as a Commonwealth election observer in Zimbabwe in 2000 and 2002.
Deputy Opposition Leader Julie Bishop chats with the soldiers from the 2nd Mentoring and
Reconstruction Task Force during her visit to Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan
Picture: Department of Defence
Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull and Deputy Opposition Leader Julie Bishop
watch on as Warrant Officer Class 2 Jeramie Faint explains the make up of a rocket
propelled grenade during their visit to meet the solders in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan
Picture: Department of Defence
Julie Bishop talks with members of Task Group 633.2 during
her visit to the Middle East and Afghanistan
Picture: Department of Defence
