Colombia didn’t really vote ‘No’ to peace, it mainly didn’t vote at all

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Colombia Reports

Colombia didn’t really vote ‘No’ to peace, it mainly didn’t vote at all

written by Adriaan Alsema October 3, 2016

Colombia’s referendum on peace with the FARC, the country’s most important vote in recent history, had a stunningly low turnout of less than 38%, demonstrating how few Colombians participate in politics in spite the consequences.

The electoral results map shows that in many parts of the country, particularly those immediately affected by the conflict in along the coasts and in the south of the country, people predominantly votes “Yes” to peace with the FARC.

. . .


The electoral results map shows that in many parts of the country, particularly those immediately affected by the conflict in along the coasts and in the south of the country, people predominantly votes “Yes” to peace with the FARC.

. . .

Extreme rains caused by Hurricane Matthew impeded normal voting along the Caribbean coast, an explicitly pro-peace region.

Read more: http://colombiareports.com/colombia-didnt-vote-no-peace-mainly-didnt-vote/

[Mamajami]

1. Voter suppression of the left who are mostly poor and brown.

[burrowowl]

2. Hit the nail on the head

the paramilitary funded by the U$ofA killed a hell of lot more people than the FARC.
Like Iran-Contra etc.

[Monk06]

3. Historically voting in Colombia meant taking your life in your hands There are people who do not

want the war on drugs to end and FARC allowed a seat in government

[ronnie624]

4. "Polling stations for the poor,

even within the cities are so limited in numbers, many decided against traveling for hours to get to the booth."

If those in power wanted everyone to vote, they wouldn't make it so difficult. They benefit personally from the status quo. It's true everywhere. It's not so hard to understand.

[Judi Lynn]

5. Plan Colombia Vindicated: Colombia Rejects Peace

Plan Colombia Vindicated: Colombia Rejects Peace
October 3, 2016
by Roger Harris

The government of Colombia and the FARC insurgents signed peace accords six days ago to much public jubilation. Today the peace accords were put to a public vote. Polls predicted a landslide approval of 60%.

The public airwaves had been saturated with advertisements for “si” to approve the accords. Practically every wall to I passed here on the coast and earlier this week in the capital of Bogota was plastered with “si” posters.

The “no” side appeared absent except for a fringe represented by former president Uribe and his right-wing cohorts. The Catholic Church, the current Santos government, and the entirety of progressive civil society – unions, Indigenous, Afro-descendants, campesinos – were campaigning for “si.” The outcome seemed preordained.

Yet when the polls opened today, the usual long lines were absent. Turnout was low, allowing an upset victory for “no.”
The right-wing had been threatening activists – many had already been assassinated – to disrupt the peace process. Hence our delegation of North Americans to accompany targeted Colombian activists to provide them some protection by raising their international visibility. The Alliance for Global Justice along with the National Lawyers Guild came to Colombia at the invitation of FENSUAGRO, an agrarian workers federation, Marcha Patriotica, a large progressive coalition, and Lazos de Dignidad, a human rights organization.

More:
http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/10/03/plan-colombia-vindicated-colombia-rejects-peace/