DESPITE trying to put our best foot forward, we have come up short again as a nation in proving that democracy is strong in our nation. Even with the relatively “calm” and “peaceful” election this time around, this did not deter the usual anomalies in the election process from taking place.
Vote buying, using children during election day, and voter disenfranchisement were just some of the usual activities that were observed.
ASIAN foreign observers expressed deep regret over the failure of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to conduct peaceful, honest and orderly elections last May 14 in the six provinces of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
And the observation did not end in ARMM, as I reported on Tingog.com; other reports included: Voters disenfranchised in Tondo, soldiers harassing foreign observers at a Cebu checkpoint, observers being caught in midst of soldiers and crowd in Guimba, blatant cheating and chaos in Lanao Del Sur polls, as well as irregularities in Quezon…
Not that any election is perfect, but it seems the international media picked up on Arroyo’s statement the other day, and concluded that the election was fairly peaceful.
It’s good to note, however, that some foreign observers do have confidence that our election process will improve, and one observer also emphasized a move toward computerized elections.
May 17th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
Yes ,it’s peaceful alright. Fanatical diehards of politicians put to rest in peace those who cross their way. And we are shameless to invite foreign observers to see us washing our very dirty linen in international public. Can we do the same to their own respective countries, I mean, observe how they conduct their elections and nitpick?
May 17th, 2007 at 5:32 pm
An appeal of ANAD Party List