Topic: Electoral Violence and Intimidation
Country: Poland
Delegate Name: Thaddeus Lenk
School: Saline High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Poland position papers GLIMUN 2009 committees
A democratic country is usually ruled, somewhat, by the people and is a country that grants equality to its citizens. Unfortunately, the democratic process can be staged or illegally changed to favor a certain side. This can go about in a number of ways. Voters could be coerced into voting for a certain candidate. Politicians could also be bribed or intimidated into doing certain things. Worst of all, voters or politicians could be killed to scare other politicians or voters from supporting a certain group. Electoral violence and intimidation can affect a county’s citizens, foreign affairs, and even its type of government.
Poland has fought to gain its right to a democracy and in turn greatly opposes electoral violence and intimidation. Poland has, most recently, been under the oppressive control of Germany in World War II and then by the Soviet Union. Poland has seen firsthand the horrors of an oppressive government and abhors any attempt to oppress the people including electoral violence. Even though Poland has only been a democratic country for a short period of time, we have already joined NATO and the EU in attempts to combat tyranny and protect democratic ideals.
Poland supports the idea of a committee, which is chosen by an outside group, to observe elections of countries that are suspected of having illegal elections. Poland believes that regulation of a country’s election can help start the process of eliminating electoral intimidation, if necessary. We firmly believe that it is the responsibility of the UN and other organizations to help monitor a country’s elections and freedom for its citizens and politicians.
