- Title: Polls open in Colombia's peace plebiscite
- Date: 2nd October 2016
- Summary: BOGOTA, COLOMBIA (OCTOBER 2, 2016) (REUTERS) GENERAL VIEW OF POLLING HALL CLOSE-UP OF BALLOT MATERIAL A MAN VOTING CLOSE-UP OF BALLOT PAPER BEING PLACED IN BOX PEOPLE VOTING CLOSE-UP OF BALLOT PAPER BEING PLACED IN BOX MAN ARRIVING TO VOTE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) COLOMBIAN VOTER, PAULA SOTO, SAYING: "I voted ´Yes´ because it gives me hope, I am a mother, a teacher, I have a young child and I want to leave him a different country." PEOPLE VOTING VARIOUS OF VOTER, ANDRES BURGES, VOTING CLOSE-UP OF BALLOT PAPER BEING PLACED IN BOX BURGES DROPPING PAPER IN BOX (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) COLOMBIAN VOTER, ANDRES BURGES, SAYING: "We hope that in the next few years the FARC can gain political participation and that we can end various parts of this conflict." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING OUT OF POLLING HALL
- Embargoed: 17th October 2016 15:45
- Keywords: Colombia referendum plebiscite FARC Juan Manuel Santos peace
- Location: BOGOTA, COLOMBIA
- City: BOGOTA, COLOMBIA
- Country: Colombia
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA00152BANGN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Polls opened on Sunday (October 2) morning for Colombia´s plebiscite on whether to ratify a peace deal signed at the start of the week between the government and rebel forces.
Voters poured through a large voting complex in the nation´s capital, Bogota, at its 8 a.m. (1300 G.M.T.) opening.
The overall atmosphere was one of hope as the country sits on the edge of an agreement to end 52 years of civil war between the state and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), which has killed 220,000 and displaced millions.
"I voted ´Yes´ because it gives me hope, I am a mother, a teacher, I have a young child and I want to leave him a different country," said voter, Paula Soto.
"We hope that in the next few years the FARC can gain political participation and that we can end various parts of this conflict," added voter, Andres Burges.
A recent survey suggested 66 percent of those voting would vote "Yes" to ratify the peace deal signed to end 52 years of civil war between the state and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
A strong camp supports the "No" vote, however, led by influential former president Alvaro Uribe who contests the amnesty, reduced penalties such as community service, cash payments and guaranteed political seats for FARC rebels as established in the peace agreement.
Polls close at 4 p.m. (2100 G.M.T.) and the results are expected roughly two hours later. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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