Page 47 - Anatomy-of-a-Fraud

turned out in support of his candidacy. Space limitations have forced us to mention
only a few instances. They represent just the tip of the iceberg, perhaps 10 per cent of
the total. These episodes resemble roaches, crawling back into the woodwork when the
kitchen light is turned on, but representing only a minute fraction of the legions that
thrive in dank crevices and trash piles.

C. Other Abuses

These are numerous examples of other activities geared to help Barletta’s
victory and to hinder Arias’s campaign:

1. Early on during the campaign, the Democratic Opposition Alliance
(ADO), headed by Arias, had announced that it would hold a rally
in downtown Panama City on May 4. A few weeks before the date
set by ADO, the UNADE announced that it too would hold a rally
on that date, very close to the location selected by ADO.
If the two rallies were held simultaneously, violence would be
possible, and the Defense Forces could use this as an excuse to
cancel the elections. Thus, ADO was forced to move its rally up one
day.
Ominous black clouds darkened the morning sun on that much
expected Friday, May 4. A few minutes before the time set for the
official beginning of the UNADE rally, it began to rain cats and dogs
on the pro-government parade. Barletta could only manage a few
words to his soaking audience, largely made up of civil servants
forced to attend and bused downtown from all over the country.
Drunkards were also a common sight. Booze flowed freely and
irresponsibly, as Antonio Caño, special reporter for Madrid’s El
País, informed his reader.
By contrast, the previous day the entire capital had witnessed and
participated in a great opposition rally. Not one single person was
forced to attend against his or her will; not a single drop of liquor
was distributed at the giant ADO rally, held in a holiday like
atmosphere. And the weather was breezy and sunny, as in a summer
day.

2. Seeking to prevent Colón residents from attending the ADO rally on
May 3, the Defense Forces sponsored on that day a free picnic to a
nearby beach. Many buses from the Colón public transportation
authority were chartered to shuttle people to this unexpected beach
party. Moreover, bus owners were threatened with the possible loss