Page 111 - Anatomy-of-a-Fraud
P. 111
“… despite the civic and responsible way, the people exercised the right to
suffrage, we have seen how during the voting and the counting of the votes
the most elementary rules of justice, equity and democracy have been
violated.
Democratic elections are those where campaigning is allowed on an even
basis, where votes are cast without coercion or undue advantage, where
they can subsequently count with absolute honesty, in full observance of
legal rules. In not meeting these requirements, the authorities are not only
mocking the people’s free expression but are also laying the foundations
for a collective frustration that may eventually dash the peace and social
calm they like to boast of.
Despite the efforts to manipulate public opinion through the monopoly of
almost all media, our country’s prestige has been severely affected, both
at home and abroad.
That is to be expected when such unacceptable developments have taken
place as fraudulent tally sheets, arbitrary precinct challenges that leave
votes out of the final total, inspections conducted by unauthorized bodies
and acts of violence.
Therefore, we denounce before the country at large the antidemocratic
manner in which the different stages of these elections have been
conducted, characterized by the interference from the highest levels of
the Defense Forces and by the partiality of the Electoral Tribunal”.
A Manifest to the Country by the Association of Specialist Physicians of
Santo Tomás Hospital (AMEHST), La Prensa, May 22, 1984, page 1C.
“We asked ourselves: how can we talk to our children of law and
democracy when these precepts are being violated here?
What examples of morality, dignity and faith in justice can the
highest civilian and military leaders of this country give our children
if they allow these principles to be broken?
We believe that there is still time to enforce the people’s will, freely
expressed on May 6, by publicly inspecting all precinct tally sheets
and thus answering all questions as to the different claims that have
been filed”.
A Manifest to the Country by the Association of Specialist Physicians
of Children’s Hospital. La Prensa, May 30, 1984, page 18A.