The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) has concluded a two-day training session of 62 part-time media and elections campaign monitors to ensure that no racial hostility is incited at political meetings in the run up to the upcoming polls.
In a press release, the ERC said the sessions were aimed at ensuring that coverage of political meetings, campaigns and rallies does not employ language and action that can “incite/excite racial hostility.”
It added that the training and deployment of monitors is also aimed at ensuring that the environment before, during and after the elections is free from fear and intimidation. Participants were informed of the ERC’s constitutional mandate and the Constitution (Amendment) (No.2) Act 2000, the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act No. 1 and the Racial Hostility (Amendment) Act No.9 of 2002.
In his address at the opening ceremony, ERC Chairman Bishop Juan Edghill referred to the Representation of the People Act and the Racial Hostility Act, explaining that a politician or anyone who preaches race hate will not be allowed to serve in any elected office in the land. Monitors were also charged not to provide any political party or the media with copies of tapes made of any political meeting and they are not expected to be affiliated with any political party.
They were also cautioned that they are not authorised to speak on behalf of the ERC.
Monitors were drawn from regions One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Nine and Ten, based on responses to advertisements placed in the daily newspapers. Applicants were shortlisted and invited to attend training.
Arrangements are being made to train monitors for regions Seven and Eight.
