Alba: Council of Europe Urged to Observe Referendum

The general secretary (GS) of the Celtic League has written to the Council of Europe to ask if they will consider sending international observers to monitor the 2010 referendum on independence in Scotland.

The GS said in his letter, that the 2010 referendum «represents a historic opportunity for the people of Scotland» and that in consideration of this fact the electorate should be presented with accurate and well balanced information leading up to the referendum.

In addition, the GS pointed out that «when so much depends on the outcome of the vote», past mistakes cannot «afford to be repeated again in the 2010 referendum».

At the 2009 annual general meeting of the League, delegates passed the following resolution:

«The Celtic League reiterates its support for the planned Scottish referendum on independence in 2010 and aims to help promote and publicise a positive result in the run up to the vote.»

The full text of the letter can be found below.

«Thomas MARKERT, Deputy Secretary of the Commission Council for Democratic Elections (CDE) European Commission for Democracy through Law Venice Commission - Directorate General for Human Rights and Legal Affairs - Council of Europe 67075 Strasbourg Cedex France e-mail: venice@...

26/01/10

Dear Deputy Secretary Thomas Markert

Scottish referendum 2010

This year the people of Scotland will vote in a referendum to decide their political future within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which represents a historic opportunity for the people of Scotland.

I am sure you will agree that in a democratic state the electorate should be presented with accurate and well balanced information leading up to a referendum to help them to make a decision that is right for them. I am therefore writing to you to ask for your help to ensure that a fair and just referendum takes place in Scotland in 2010.

The 1979 Scottish referendum to decide whether there was sufficient support for the Scotland Act 1978 was blighted by the `special conditions' imposed on the vote, which made the final result distorted. In the 2007 elections in Scotland, thousands of ballot papers were declared void and/or were lost. Situations like this cannot afford to be repeated again in the 2010 referendum, when so much depends on the outcome of the vote.

The Alba (Scotland) branch of the Celtic League has expressed its concerns to me that they are worried that the true outcome of the Scottish referendum may be distorted by various political factors. The Alba branch - and our organisation as a whole - is anxious that the 2010 referendum is balanced and democratic in line with international standards on the issue. To ensure the process goes smoothly and considering the great historical importance of the vote, we would like to ask if you would consider sending international election observers to Scotland for the referendum. We feel that if international observers were to monitor the referendum then a fairer result would ensue.

We are aware that the Venice Commission forms part of the Council for Democratic Elections (CDE) along with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and we will be writing to this body in turn. We also plan to write to individual MEP's and European Parliamentary groups to ask that they too help to oversee the referendum in Scotland. Our correspondence will also be copied to Scotland's First Minister, Alex Salmond to keep him informed and to the Election Reform Society (Scotland).

We look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely

Rhisiart Tal-e-bot General Secretary Celtic League

CC First Minister Alex Salmond Parliamentary Assembly

Mrs Herta DÄUBLER-GMELIN Chairperson / Président Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights

Willie Sullivan Director Electoral Reform Society Scotland»

This article prepared for Celtic News by Rhisiart Tal-e-bot General Secretary Celtic League. For follow-up comment or clarification contact:

Tel: 0044 (0)1209315884 M: 0044(0)7787318666 rhisiart.talebot@... gensec@...

Issued by the Director of Information Celtic League

26/01/10