Colombian voters threatened with loss of gov't aid

[Judi Lynn]

Colombian voters threatened with loss of gov't aid
Feb, 15, 2010 12:49 PM - EFE Ingles

Bogota, Feb 15 (EFE).- Some candidates in next month's Colombian congressional elections are threatening voters with the loss of government aid if they don't support the ruling party at the polls, members of an international observer mission said here Monday.

The mission, put together by non-governmental organizations from the United States, Mexico and a half-dozen other countries, held a press conference in Bogota to present its findings.

"Aspirants to the (lower) house and the Senate have attended meetings with beneficiaries, in which they have said that if they don't vote for them and for the presidential candidate of the Party of the U (President Alvaro Uribe's party), the subsidies they receive from the president will end," the report says, without mentioning any candidates by name.

"(A)s many people live from those subsidies, it is a threat that is unfair and which has a lot of impact," Laura Carlsen, director of the Americas Program at the International Relations Center, told reporters in the Colombian capital.

The observer mission, led by U.S.-based NGO Global Exchange, visited the northern provinces of Cordoba, Antioquia and Santander and the southern region of Valle del Cauca.

Besides the threats about the loss of government assistance, the observers cited assassinations and persecution of community leaders during the run-up to the elections.

More:
http://www.poten.com/NewsDetails.aspx?id=10362822

[Downwinder]

1. Another US sponsored "free and fair" election. Sounds like FOX. n/t

[Peace Patriot]

2. Threats, assassinations, persecution and the alternative is...Santos?

"Besides the threats about the loss of government assistance, the observers cited assassinations and persecution of community leaders during the run-up to the elections.

"In a detailed final report to be presented early next month, the mission will offer recommendations to authorities on ways to ensure a free and fair ballot on March 14.

"Between the congressional vote and the presidential contest set for May 30, Colombians may be asked to turn out for a referendum on amending the constitution to allow the conservative Uribe to seek a third consecutive four-year term.

"If Uribe doesn't run, his party will be represented by former Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos."

http://www.poten.com/NewsDetails.aspx?id=10362822

-----------------------------

Just want to note that I think Santos is the CIA/Pentagon's choice.

[Bacchus39]

5. threats and assasinations indeed. from the same article

Colombia's security forces are on alert for possible incidents linked to the busy electoral calendar. Five people were killed and five others wounded Sunday when leftist FARC rebels ambushed the motorcade of a gubernatorial candidate in the southern province of Guaviare. EFE

[Peace Patriot]

6. And how many civilian union leaders, community activists, human rights workers,

political leftists and peasant farmers is THAT going to 'justify' killing?

That's the pattern. The FARC is used as an excuse to eliminate the political opposition.

[Bacchus39]

8. I would say zero however the article states that there are some threats to cut off funding

if the right people aren't elected. seems pretty common politics to me. on the other hand the very last paragraph says that 5 people were in fact killed on an attempted assasination of a political candidate by the FARC. seems like murder is somewhat more intimidating than dirty (normal) politics. what say you?

[Judi Lynn]

9. We still remember that bizarre trip Juan Manuel Santos made here HIMSELF,

(not Uribe) to Washington, D.C., making speeches here and there, sounding as if he was trying to stir up interest for backing more war financing to Colombia.

It was surely WIERD. Very abnormal for a Secretary of "Defense" from a small country to show up here and swagger around as if he's a visiting high dignitary. Undoubtedly the only people who came to see him were Tea Party types.

[Bacchus39]

10. you seem to have taken alot of interest as well n/t

s

[bemildred]

3. Damn, this sound like retaliation for political activity.

This is very undemocratic.

[Billy Burnett]

4. Just like Hugito.

:sarcasm:

[bemildred]

7. Exactamundo. nt

[Wilms]

11. Hey. It worked in Honduras.

:shrug: