[NYTr] Guatemalans Hope for Calm Election after Candidates Spend Millions
 
Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2007 11:33:14 -0500 (CDT)

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Prensa Latina, Havana
http://www.plenglish.com

Guatemala Calls for Calm Elections

Guatemala, Oct 31 (Prensa Latina) The Guatemala election watch group
Mirador Electoral called on authorities and political parties to
promote confidence and necessary calm for proper elections scheduled
for November 4 in Guatemala.

This institution foresees a tense scenario next Sunday when the
presidency is disputed between the Social Democrat, Alvaro Colom, of
the Unidad Nacional de la Esperanza (UNE), and retired general Otto
Perez Molina, of Partido Patriota.

"A close vote would create unconformity but we hope there are no
violent actions on the day of elections, said Jose Davila, director of
Mirador.

Francisco Garcia, of the mentioned organization said there were some
guarantees for a normal development mentioning a quick count that
Mirador will do together with the Supreme Electoral Court as well as
the presence of attorneys of both parties in each voting table. There
will be an increased vigilance of areas of conflict.

"However, we cannot dismiss certain disturbances as information reveals
the direction votes take," Garcia told Prensa Latina.

Mirador Electoral condemned the harassment of the media and threats to
journalists who made investigations during the campaign.

The present campaign has been the most violent since the inception of
institutional rule in 1985 that ended with a total of 59 dead and 89
attacks wounding political leaders or their families.

hr car avp mf PL-2

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Guatemalan Candidates Spend Millions

Guatemala , Oct 31 (Prensa Latina) The two parties competing for the
Guatemalan presidency are currently spending millions to guarantee the
necessary votes to win the November 4 elections.

To mobilize hundreds of people to vote, and have attorneys at almost
14,000 polling stations and staff to respond any eventuality, busies
campaign teams in the remaining days for the elections.

The Patriotic Party (PP) aspirant retired general Otto Perez Molina
will invest 10 million quetzals ($1.32 million), while National Unity
of Hope (UNE) candidate Alvaro Colom puts up three million quetzals
(almost $400,000) for the elections.

Not only the UNE but also the PP have far exceeded total expenses of
$5.5 million, authorized by the Supreme Electoral Court, without any
observation by authorities.

According to the Mirador Electoral civil organization, the PP has
already invested $18 million and the UNE $17 million in the struggle
for the Guatemalan presidency.

hr iff car amg mf PL-6
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