High risk in Colombian elections 2010

Colombia votes for Senate and House of Representative members on Mar 14. Thirty-eight percent of Colombian municipalities are at risk of violence as the country prepares for March 14 legislative elections and the May 30 presidential ballot according to the Electoral Observation Mission. Bogota, Colombia. 07/03/2010.

Colombia votes for Senate and House of Representative members on Mar 14. Bogota, Colombia 07.03.2010

Thirty-eight percent of Colombian municipalities are at risk of violence as the country prepares for March 14 legislative elections and the May 30 presidential ballot, the Electoral Observation Mission, -MOE-, said.

The MOE, comprising a coalition of groups, mapped out last Friday at a press conference the risk of violence in Colombia during the upcoming elections.

Of the 420 towns deemed problematic, "146 show extreme risk, 83 high risk and 191 medium risk, which means a reduction of 27 percent of risk compared with that of the 2007 local elections,"

Conversely, the risk of electoral irregularities increased from 328 municipalities in the 2007 local elections to 546 municipalities for the March 14 congressional vote, "of which 40 show extreme risk, 120 high risk and 386 medium risk."

"The reduction in the risk of violence and the increase in risk of electoral fraud is the result, on the one side, of greater governmental presence and efficiency, and on the other, from the change in strategies of the armed groups outside the law and of the candidates allied with them," the MOE's Claudia Lopez said.

She said that leftist guerrillas may be less capable of threatening candidates, making armed strikes and stopping voters from going to the polls.

On the other hand, new right-wing militias and associated criminal gangs are apparently using more in the way of illicit resources to promote the candidates they prefer.

"Also, practically all political parties have accepted on their lists candidates supported by politicians under investigation or convicted for having ties with organizations outside the law, which would help maintain a high level of risk of voter intimidation and electoral fraud," the report said.

The director of the MOE, Alejandra Barrios, said, for her part, that the 200 municipalities showing a high risk of electoral fraud and violence for the upcoming elections are concentrated in the provinces of Arauca, Guaviare, Caqueta, Cesar, Sucre, Caldas, Antioquia, Tolima, Nariño and Huila.

*(EFE).

Colombia votes for Senate and House of Representative members on Mar 14. Thirty-eight percent of Colombian municipalities are at risk of violence as the country prepares for March 14 legislative elections and the May 30 presidential ballot according to the Electoral Observation Mission. Bogota, Colombia. 07/03/2010.

Colombia votes for Senate and House of Representative members on Mar 14. Bogota, Colombia 07.03.2010

Thirty-eight percent of Colombian municipalities are at risk of violence as the country prepares for March 14 legislative elections and the May 30 presidential ballot, the Electoral Observation Mission, -MOE-, said.

The MOE, comprising a coalition of groups, mapped out last Friday at a press conference the risk of violence in Colombia during the upcoming elections.

Of the 420 towns deemed problematic, "146 show extreme risk, 83 high risk and 191 medium risk, which means a reduction of 27 percent of risk compared with that of the 2007 local elections,"

Conversely, the risk of electoral irregularities increased from 328 municipalities in the 2007 local elections to 546 municipalities for the March 14 congressional vote, "of which 40 show extreme risk, 120 high risk and 386 medium risk."

"The reduction in the risk of violence and the increase in risk of electoral fraud is the result, on the one side, of greater governmental presence and efficiency, and on the other, from the change in strategies of the armed groups outside the law and of the candidates allied with them," the MOE's Claudia Lopez said.

She said that leftist guerrillas may be less capable of threatening candidates, making armed strikes and stopping voters from going to the polls.

On the other hand, new right-wing militias and associated criminal gangs are apparently using more in the way of illicit resources to promote the candidates they prefer.

"Also, practically all political parties have accepted on their lists candidates supported by politicians under investigation or convicted for having ties with organizations outside the law, which would help maintain a high level of risk of voter intimidation and electoral fraud," the report said.

The director of the MOE, Alejandra Barrios, said, for her part, that the 200 municipalities showing a high risk of electoral fraud and violence for the upcoming elections are concentrated in the provinces of Arauca, Guaviare, Caqueta, Cesar, Sucre, Caldas, Antioquia, Tolima, Nariño and Huila.

*(EFE).

Colombia votes for Senate and House of Representative members on Mar 14. Thirty-eight percent of Colombian municipalities are at risk of violence as the country prepares for March 14 legislative elections and the May 30 presidential ballot according to the Electoral Observation Mission. Bogota, Colombia. 07/03/2010.

Colombia votes for Senate and House of Representative members on Mar 14. Bogota, Colombia 07.03.2010

Thirty-eight percent of Colombian municipalities are at risk of violence as the country prepares for March 14 legislative elections and the May 30 presidential ballot, the Electoral Observation Mission, -MOE-, said.

The MOE, comprising a coalition of groups, mapped out last Friday at a press conference the risk of violence in Colombia during the upcoming elections.

Of the 420 towns deemed problematic, "146 show extreme risk, 83 high risk and 191 medium risk, which means a reduction of 27 percent of risk compared with that of the 2007 local elections,"

Conversely, the risk of electoral irregularities increased from 328 municipalities in the 2007 local elections to 546 municipalities for the March 14 congressional vote, "of which 40 show extreme risk, 120 high risk and 386 medium risk."

"The reduction in the risk of violence and the increase in risk of electoral fraud is the result, on the one side, of greater governmental presence and efficiency, and on the other, from the change in strategies of the armed groups outside the law and of the candidates allied with them," the MOE's Claudia Lopez said.

She said that leftist guerrillas may be less capable of threatening candidates, making armed strikes and stopping voters from going to the polls.

On the other hand, new right-wing militias and associated criminal gangs are apparently using more in the way of illicit resources to promote the candidates they prefer.

"Also, practically all political parties have accepted on their lists candidates supported by politicians under investigation or convicted for having ties with organizations outside the law, which would help maintain a high level of risk of voter intimidation and electoral fraud," the report said.

The director of the MOE, Alejandra Barrios, said, for her part, that the 200 municipalities showing a high risk of electoral fraud and violence for the upcoming elections are concentrated in the provinces of Arauca, Guaviare, Caqueta, Cesar, Sucre, Caldas, Antioquia, Tolima, Nariño and Huila.

*(EFE).

Colombia votes for Senate and House of Representative members on Mar 14. Thirty-eight percent of Colombian municipalities are at risk of violence as the country prepares for March 14 legislative elections and the May 30 presidential ballot according to the Electoral Observation Mission. Bogota, Colombia. 07/03/2010.

Colombia votes for Senate and House of Representative members on Mar 14. Bogota, Colombia 07.03.2010

Thirty-eight percent of Colombian municipalities are at risk of violence as the country prepares for March 14 legislative elections and the May 30 presidential ballot, the Electoral Observation Mission, -MOE-, said.

The MOE, comprising a coalition of groups, mapped out last Friday at a press conference the risk of violence in Colombia during the upcoming elections.

Of the 420 towns deemed problematic, "146 show extreme risk, 83 high risk and 191 medium risk, which means a reduction of 27 percent of risk compared with that of the 2007 local elections,"

Conversely, the risk of electoral irregularities increased from 328 municipalities in the 2007 local elections to 546 municipalities for the March 14 congressional vote, "of which 40 show extreme risk, 120 high risk and 386 medium risk."

"The reduction in the risk of violence and the increase in risk of electoral fraud is the result, on the one side, of greater governmental presence and efficiency, and on the other, from the change in strategies of the armed groups outside the law and of the candidates allied with them," the MOE's Claudia Lopez said.

She said that leftist guerrillas may be less capable of threatening candidates, making armed strikes and stopping voters from going to the polls.

On the other hand, new right-wing militias and associated criminal gangs are apparently using more in the way of illicit resources to promote the candidates they prefer.

"Also, practically all political parties have accepted on their lists candidates supported by politicians under investigation or convicted for having ties with organizations outside the law, which would help maintain a high level of risk of voter intimidation and electoral fraud," the report said.

The director of the MOE, Alejandra Barrios, said, for her part, that the 200 municipalities showing a high risk of electoral fraud and violence for the upcoming elections are concentrated in the provinces of Arauca, Guaviare, Caqueta, Cesar, Sucre, Caldas, Antioquia, Tolima, Nariño and Huila.

*(EFE).

Colombia votes for Senate and House of Representative members on Mar 14. Thirty-eight percent of Colombian municipalities are at risk of violence as the country prepares for March 14 legislative elections and the May 30 presidential ballot according to the Electoral Observation Mission. Bogota, Colombia. 07/03/2010.

Colombia votes for Senate and House of Representative members on Mar 14. Bogota, Colombia 07.03.2010

Thirty-eight percent of Colombian municipalities are at risk of violence as the country prepares for March 14 legislative elections and the May 30 presidential ballot, the Electoral Observation Mission, -MOE-, said.

The MOE, comprising a coalition of groups, mapped out last Friday at a press conference the risk of violence in Colombia during the upcoming elections.

Of the 420 towns deemed problematic, "146 show extreme risk, 83 high risk and 191 medium risk, which means a reduction of 27 percent of risk compared with that of the 2007 local elections,"

Conversely, the risk of electoral irregularities increased from 328 municipalities in the 2007 local elections to 546 municipalities for the March 14 congressional vote, "of which 40 show extreme risk, 120 high risk and 386 medium risk."

"The reduction in the risk of violence and the increase in risk of electoral fraud is the result, on the one side, of greater governmental presence and efficiency, and on the other, from the change in strategies of the armed groups outside the law and of the candidates allied with them," the MOE's Claudia Lopez said.

She said that leftist guerrillas may be less capable of threatening candidates, making armed strikes and stopping voters from going to the polls.

On the other hand, new right-wing militias and associated criminal gangs are apparently using more in the way of illicit resources to promote the candidates they prefer.

"Also, practically all political parties have accepted on their lists candidates supported by politicians under investigation or convicted for having ties with organizations outside the law, which would help maintain a high level of risk of voter intimidation and electoral fraud," the report said.

The director of the MOE, Alejandra Barrios, said, for her part, that the 200 municipalities showing a high risk of electoral fraud and violence for the upcoming elections are concentrated in the provinces of Arauca, Guaviare, Caqueta, Cesar, Sucre, Caldas, Antioquia, Tolima, Nariño and Huila.

*(EFE).

Colombia votes for Senate and House of Representative members on Mar 14. Thirty-eight percent of Colombian municipalities are at risk of violence as the country prepares for March 14 legislative elections and the May 30 presidential ballot according to the Electoral Observation Mission. Bogota, Colombia. 07/03/2010.

Colombia votes for Senate and House of Representative members on Mar 14. Bogota, Colombia 07.03.2010

Thirty-eight percent of Colombian municipalities are at risk of violence as the country prepares for March 14 legislative elections and the May 30 presidential ballot, the Electoral Observation Mission, -MOE-, said.

The MOE, comprising a coalition of groups, mapped out last Friday at a press conference the risk of violence in Colombia during the upcoming elections.

Of the 420 towns deemed problematic, "146 show extreme risk, 83 high risk and 191 medium risk, which means a reduction of 27 percent of risk compared with that of the 2007 local elections,"

Conversely, the risk of electoral irregularities increased from 328 municipalities in the 2007 local elections to 546 municipalities for the March 14 congressional vote, "of which 40 show extreme risk, 120 high risk and 386 medium risk."

"The reduction in the risk of violence and the increase in risk of electoral fraud is the result, on the one side, of greater governmental presence and efficiency, and on the other, from the change in strategies of the armed groups outside the law and of the candidates allied with them," the MOE's Claudia Lopez said.

She said that leftist guerrillas may be less capable of threatening candidates, making armed strikes and stopping voters from going to the polls.

On the other hand, new right-wing militias and associated criminal gangs are apparently using more in the way of illicit resources to promote the candidates they prefer.

"Also, practically all political parties have accepted on their lists candidates supported by politicians under investigation or convicted for having ties with organizations outside the law, which would help maintain a high level of risk of voter intimidation and electoral fraud," the report said.

The director of the MOE, Alejandra Barrios, said, for her part, that the 200 municipalities showing a high risk of electoral fraud and violence for the upcoming elections are concentrated in the provinces of Arauca, Guaviare, Caqueta, Cesar, Sucre, Caldas, Antioquia, Tolima, Nariño and Huila.

*(EFE).