IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                                                                                     May 24, 2000  #2

 

                        OAS DEPLOYS OBSERVATION TEAM FOR MAY 25 ELECTIONS

            The Election Observation Mission of the Organization of the American States (OAS-EOM) will
deploy 16 observers throughout Suriname during the May 25 elections. The team, comprising observers from eleven countries, underwent comprehensive training before being deployed on May 20.  OAS observers will be present in all ten of the Districts on Election Day and will use boats and a light aircraft to visit isolated polling stations in the interior. 

            The OAS is conducting its third electoral mission in Suriname, having previously observed the elections in 1991 and 1996. Prior to the election, the observation teams have been monitoring the pre-electoral phases of the process. To this end they have been meeting electoral officials as well as political party leaders and candidates. They have also been monitoring political meetings and rallies and speaking with a wide cross-section of people throughout the country. 

             The Chief of Mission has also been carrying out an active program of activities in Paramaribo, meeting with electoral authorities and leaders of political parties in order to obtain a wide spectrum of views about the preparations for the elections.