The Elections Commission (EC) has scrapped a requirement for monitors and journalists who cover September's presidential election to complete an awareness session.
At a meeting of the presidential election committee today, EC vice president Ismail Habeeb said he had been referring to a single awareness session when he previously talked about training for journalists and monitors. However, it became a serious problem when he had called it a training, Habeeb said.
"That part was mainly included in amendments to the law. So that amendment did not pass. Now parliament is in recess. The change we have made to our regulations now is to approve when those who apply as journalists and observers sign a decree acknowledging their ethical standards. That's how it's been decided," Habeeb said.
This would be a major relief to journalists and observers, he said.
The other change made by the EC for the convenience of journalists, observers and candidate representatives was scrapping the requirement to submit a physical form. Applications can now be filled and submitted online, Habeeb said.
The commission wants a wider role for journalists and observers to oversee the conduct of the election, he said.
Some MPs heavily criticized the EC at the time when it tried to amend the law to require monitors and journalists who cover the election to complete a training session.
