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.
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