In its monitoring programs KACI worked with a number of local NGOs throughout Kosova which participate in its cooperation network. These included FID and We Are With You in Gjakova, the Democratic Circle (QD) in Ferizaj, Shën-Kaç in Kaçanik; the Council for IDPs From Presheva, Bujanovc and Medvegja in Gjilan, Forum 99 in Prizren, the Center for Technical activities (QKI) in Mitrovica, and Why Not and Forum in Prishtina.
To better coordinate the monitoring, KACI established six regional centers, and municipal centers in fifteen of the towns where elections were held. Each municipal center had its own coordinator and staff, and maintained contact with KACI headquarters in Prishtina.
Monitors participated in training and internship programs run by the U.S. based National Democratic Institute (NDI), and in those organized through the Civic Bridges Program of IDEE and carried out by members of the Centers for Pluralism Network involving Democracy After Communism in Hungary, NOS Found for Civil Society in Slovakia, GONG in Croatia, and IDEE Warsaw.
In September, before the official start of the campaign, KACI began monitoring coverage of the parties and candidates in Kosova’s six daily newspapers, three television stations and four radio stations. It noted errors made by the media, and stories showing the various parties in a positive or negative light.
KACI monitored the way the campaign was carried out, analyzing the number and types of events held by each party, the materials they distributed, the type of language they used, and how the campaign differed from municipality to municipality.
On election day, KACI coordinated the work of the 540 observers it had recruited. The OSCE refused to register 44 of KACI’s observers, in some cases without providing justification. The heavy turnout meant that many voters were still in line as the 7pm scheduled poll closing time approached. KACI representatives appeared on TV and encouraged voters to remain in line and fulfill their civic duty.
Based on its parallel vote tabulation, KACI was able to announce preliminary election results at noon on the day after the elections, some 36 hours before the official results were made public, and in fact prompted OSCE to publicize its official results, which they originally tried to hold for 12 days. KACI’s projections and its comments about turnout and problems with the elections received wide coverage in the international media, including CNN, the BBC, AP, Reuters, and the Washington Post, to name only a few. KACI’s reports were also published on its webpage (www.KACI-kosova.org), and updated frequently.
More importantly, the monitoring campaign helped
KACI expand its network of NGOs, a community that is just beggining to
take form in Kosova after a year’s support activities, small grants, training
and education.