The
controversy around the upcoming DRC elections has only increased after the
South Korean Government distanced
itself from Miru Systems, the Korean company that will be providing voting
equipment to the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI in French).
The decision of the Korean government to cut ties with Miru
for this project comes as a surprise to many as the government, through its International
Cooperation Agency (Koica),
has funded and supported basically every international election project in
which Miru has been involved.
The Korean Government seems to be lining up behind other
world powers who have expressed their concern about the way automation is being
imposed. In February, the US Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki
Haley, stated: "an unfamiliar technology for the first time during a
crucial election is an enormous risk." Several other countries also manifested
their skepticism about the idea of introducing technology in an already
highly-polarized political landscape.
Another critical setback for the automation project is the
refusal of A-Web, a Korean non-profit organization,
to participate in the election providing support. “Until last year, A-Web, a
Korean non-profit organization, provided technical support to CENI regarding
the use of the voting machines. However, A-Web severed ties with the Congo,
consistent with the position of the Korean government," the embassy
statement read.
Three years ago, Miru had basically no international
experience. However, things changed when it partnered with A-Web and Koica, the
Korea International Cooperation Agency founded by the government to administer
grant aid and technical cooperation programs.
With Korean funding from Koica and A-Web’s endorsement, Miru
signed a series of election business deals, in many cases bypassing public bids.
Between 2014 and 2015, the troika formed by A-Web, Miru and
Koica
provided election technology and support to Kyrgyzstan. The funding provided
by Koica allowed the country to purchases optical scanners from Miru. A-Web
provided election support and observation.
A-Web, Miru, and Koica were also very much involved in the 2017
referendum held in Ecuador. South Korea donated 1,850 Miru scanners. And for
the 2018 Legislative and Municipal elections held this year in El Salvador, Miru
provided optical scanners to digitize tallying reports. Again, Koica
provided funds, A-Web election support and election observers.
In spite of the success this troika has had, something different
may be happening this time around. While declining to be part of the election, Seoul
emphasized that it couldn’t force a private company -Miru in this case- to refuse
participating, "The Korean government possesses no legal right to forcibly
discourage a private Korean company from exporting its products."
With two of the members of the troika out, Miru is left
alone combating the impression that automation will lead to a more transparent
and trustworthy election process in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Only
time will tell.
Video 2 from Noticiero Hechos Estelar. El Salvador.
Video 1 from Noticiero Hechos Estelar. El Salvador.
