Nijinsky
10-31-2007, 11:59 AM
http://www.justiceforcolombia.org/?link=newsPage&story=54
Allegations of fraud in Sunday's regional elections in Colombia have caused protests around the country including serious rioting in some towns. Already one protester has been killed and the army has been sent into the streets to restore order. In Sucre department huge protests are being held against alleged vote rigging that ensured that a candidate linked to paramilitary groups was elected as Governor.
According to Colombian daily newspaper 'El Tiempo' the protests are aimed almost exclusively at candidates from pro-government parties and particularly those from the 'Party of the U', the political party closest to President Alvaro Uribe. Major protests include:
Rioting in Cienaga de Oro in Cordoba department against the election of Plinio D'Paola of the 'Party of the U'. At least 20 people have been injured and 18-year-old Luis Roberto Bedoya was shot and killed. Protesters chanting that the elections were rigged in favour of the pro-Uribe candidate burnt down municipal government offices as well as the home of Mr D'Paola's parents.
The army has been sent into the town of Cimitarra in Santander department to quell protests against the election of pro-Uribe Herman Rodriguez Guerrero as mayor. The protesters, who have destroyed the mayor's residence, are also alleging fraud.
Government offices have been torched in Alto del Rosario in Bolivar department during protests against the election of Emiro Antonio Carpio of the 'Party of the U'.
Clashes with police have also occurred over claims that 'Party of the U' candidates were fraudulently elected in Orocue (Casanare department), Florida and Pradera (Valle department), Castilla la Nueva and San Carlos de Guaroa (Meta department) and Galapa and Alto del Rosario (Atlantico department).
In the town of Regidor in Bolivar department, violence also erupted on Sunday when residents confronted politicians who were bringing carloads of voters in from the neighbouring departments of Santander and Cesar to vote in the town.
El Tiempo reports (read here) that protests have occurred in at least seven other towns.
Perhaps the biggest protests have occurred in Sucre department where serious allegations of fraud have been made concerning the election of Jorge Barraza as the new Governor of the department. Police and soldiers have been firing into the air to try and disperse demonstrators in the city of Sincelejo and the towns of Sucre and La Mojana.
Barraza, also of the 'Party of the U', has received the backing of three politicians who are currently in jail for their links with paramilitaries and was listed in a recent investigations as having a 'high risk' of paramilitary connections. The opposition Liberal Party has threatened legal action if his apparent victory is not declared null and void.
Allegations of fraud in Sunday's regional elections in Colombia have caused protests around the country including serious rioting in some towns. Already one protester has been killed and the army has been sent into the streets to restore order. In Sucre department huge protests are being held against alleged vote rigging that ensured that a candidate linked to paramilitary groups was elected as Governor.
According to Colombian daily newspaper 'El Tiempo' the protests are aimed almost exclusively at candidates from pro-government parties and particularly those from the 'Party of the U', the political party closest to President Alvaro Uribe. Major protests include:
Rioting in Cienaga de Oro in Cordoba department against the election of Plinio D'Paola of the 'Party of the U'. At least 20 people have been injured and 18-year-old Luis Roberto Bedoya was shot and killed. Protesters chanting that the elections were rigged in favour of the pro-Uribe candidate burnt down municipal government offices as well as the home of Mr D'Paola's parents.
The army has been sent into the town of Cimitarra in Santander department to quell protests against the election of pro-Uribe Herman Rodriguez Guerrero as mayor. The protesters, who have destroyed the mayor's residence, are also alleging fraud.
Government offices have been torched in Alto del Rosario in Bolivar department during protests against the election of Emiro Antonio Carpio of the 'Party of the U'.
Clashes with police have also occurred over claims that 'Party of the U' candidates were fraudulently elected in Orocue (Casanare department), Florida and Pradera (Valle department), Castilla la Nueva and San Carlos de Guaroa (Meta department) and Galapa and Alto del Rosario (Atlantico department).
In the town of Regidor in Bolivar department, violence also erupted on Sunday when residents confronted politicians who were bringing carloads of voters in from the neighbouring departments of Santander and Cesar to vote in the town.
El Tiempo reports (read here) that protests have occurred in at least seven other towns.
Perhaps the biggest protests have occurred in Sucre department where serious allegations of fraud have been made concerning the election of Jorge Barraza as the new Governor of the department. Police and soldiers have been firing into the air to try and disperse demonstrators in the city of Sincelejo and the towns of Sucre and La Mojana.
Barraza, also of the 'Party of the U', has received the backing of three politicians who are currently in jail for their links with paramilitaries and was listed in a recent investigations as having a 'high risk' of paramilitary connections. The opposition Liberal Party has threatened legal action if his apparent victory is not declared null and void.