Topic: Promoting Peaceful Post-Election Transitions
Country: Philippines
Delegate Name: Alden Solon
School: Forest Hills Northern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Philippines position papers GLIMUN 2008 committees
Most all nations today have turned to the public election to elect their head official or officials. In most cases, this process works much better than other methods as the people have a voice in their own destiny rather a single person or a group of people. In countries that this form of election process has been more recently introduced frequently there is violence and rioting following the election. The violence and rioting are often caused by one or two main factors; either the current party refuses to give up power as in Kenya, or the votes take too long to be counted leading people to believe there is corruption taking place as in Zimbabwe. The United Nations often has a large role in keeping post election transitions nonviolent, they will if invited count the ballots to make sure the results are fair, and often station peacekeepers in order to maintain the peace if necessary.
The Philippines supports the republic as the most favorable form of government. Dictators from time to time have also ruled the Philippines; when the dictator has fallen from power the Philippines have always returned to the republic form of government. For the past twenty two years the Philippines has been lead as a republic and as a result have been more stable than ever before with respect to post election transition. The Philippines ardently supports upcoming democracies and peaceful transitions thereafter. They know from experience the difficulties that occur in countries that are not able to choose their own leaders. They are strong supporter of nations trying to promote peaceful election transitions to help keep them from falling to a dictator.
In 2004 the United Nations Security Council voted on resolution 1559 for free presidential elections in Lebanon and called for all foreign forces occupying the area to withdraw. The Philippines didn’t vote against this resolution because they were aware of the Syrian and other outside forces pressuring Lebanese officials to unfairly amend the constitution and allow for the current presidents term to be extended for three more years.
The Philippines believe it is the United Nations responsibility to promote and assist all elections and to promote the abstinence of violence during and after the election process; as long as the United Nations actions do not over step the boundaries given by its charter. The Philippines strongly supports all efforts of peaceful transitions and realize that a government elected by he people of a country will be much less likely to have aggression by the government against the people; aggression between groups of people also is much less likely to occur.
1.)Resolution 1559 (2004) “Security Council Declares Support for Free, Fair Presidential Election in Lebanon; Calls for Withdrawal of Foreign Forces There.”
2.)"Violence and Coercion Mark Zimbabwe's Election." Amnesty International. 27 June 2008. 22 Nov. 2008 <http://amnesty.org>.
3.) "Kenya: Amnesty International Condemns Killings in Post-election Violence." Amnesty International. 3 Jan. 2008. 22 Nov. 2008 <http://amnesty.org>.
