S.Korean firm Miru denies allegations of election failures in Iraq, Congo

South Korean firm Miru Systems Company Limited on Tuesday belied claims of election failures in Iraq and the Democratic Republic of the Congo resulting from the use of its technology.

“The allegations of election failures due to Miru’s technology are false, as the company designs, develops, and manufactures secure electoral systems that are of international standard,” Miru said in a statement.

The South Korean firm made the statement on the heels of the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) pronouncement that it will evaluate the accusations against Miru during the post-qualification process of the bidding for the procurement of the new automated election system (AES) for the 2025 national and local elections.

In particular, election watchdog Democracy Watch Philippines expressed “deep concern” over the participation of Miru in the 2025 poll system procurement, citing the company’s recent “catastrophic failures” and “questioned” projects in Iraq and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Democracy Watch thus urged the Comelec to review Miru’s track record and to only consider vendors that “demonstrably uphold the values of a secure, transparent, and genuinely credible Philippine election.”

In response to the claims, Miru said that “the governments of Iraq and the Democratic Republic (DR) of the Congo have been using our machines for several consecutive elections since 2018 and have continued to show trust in our technology even after their administrations and ruling parties have shifted.”

It said that Congo’s election committee provided a certificate of satisfaction following their elections, and there were also third-party organizations such as the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq observing all elections in Iraq and declaring them as fair and successful.

“The Iraqi Prime Minister himself has mentioned that the most recent 2023 elections included ‘a notable success’ due to the way the elections proceeded in Kirkuk, ‘overcoming delays that persisted since 2005’,” Miru said.

It added that the Commission Electorale Nationale Independante (CENI), the body that oversees elections in Congo, “issued a certification expressing its satisfaction with the equipment that it procured from our company in 2023, including electronic voting devices, ballot accessories, and reconfiguration parts.”

“The chairman of CENI also confirmed that our company fulfilled the services and obligations in a diligent, efficient, and economical manner, in accordance with efficient techniques and practices,” Miru said.

“Miru is committed to an efficient and honest electoral system, as we have done so in several countries all over the world, including our home of South Korea, since 2005,” it said.

Miru was earlier deemed eligible to proceed with the bidding process for the 2025 poll system procurement after it complied with all the legal and financial requirements for the project. — VBL, GMA Integrated News