Filipinos vote in tense election | BBC

[Ediacara]

Filipinos vote in tense election


Poe was trailing in opinion polls -
but not by much

People in the Philippines have begun voting in presidential, legislative and local elections, amid threats of renewed violence.

More than 90 people were killed during the campaign, including 29 candidates. Thousands of extra police have been deployed across the country.

On Sunday the presidential candidates prayed together for peaceful elections.

Opinion polls suggest President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is ahead of her film star challenger Fernando Poe Junior.

However the BBC's Sarah Toms in Manila says her margin is slim and the race remains open.

More at the BBC

[dArKeR]

1. Philippines' democracy put to the test

POLITICAL TURMOIL: Filipinos vote today in a tight race. Analysts wonder whether the democracy is strong enough to accept its result without another `people power' revolt

AP , MANILA
Monday, May 10, 2004,Page 5

Filipinos reaped praise worldwide for using peaceful "people power" to oust dictator Ferdinand Marcos and restore democracy in 1986. But 15 years later, they were criticized for using the same tactics to force out President Joseph Estrada midway through the six-year term he won with the widest margin in Philippine history.

Filipinos head to the polls again today in a race seen as so close that millions of voters will likely be dissatisfied with the outcome. Some wonder whether the nation can accept the results without another "people power" revolt.

The hope is that Filipinos are now politically mature enough to accept the result and let the democratic institutions and legal system resolve any conflicts.

"For me, after the second one -- that's enough," said taxi driver Daniel Original, who was only 7 when Marcos was toppled. "If we have another one, it won't look good anymore."

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2004/05/10/2003154879


1. Marcos was placed and kept in power by the USA.
http://home.iprimus.com.au/korob/fdtcards/Asia-Pacific.html
Marcos murdered more people than Saddam.

2. Estrada was removed by a silent coup.