- Title: Colombia prepares for opening of polls in peace plebiscite
- Date: 2nd October 2016
- Summary: BOGOTA, COLOMBIA (OCTOBER 2, 2016) (REUTERS) POLICE GATHERING AT CENTRAL POLLING STATION POLICE REFLECTED IN PUDDLE POLICE LISTENING TO ORDERS VOTING PAVILION POLICE LISTENING TO ORDERS POLICE GATHERING POLICE STANDING TO ATTENTION (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) POLICE COMMANDER OF ELECTION OPERATIONS, COLONEL JAIRO RESTREPO RIOS, SAYING: "All campaigning is prohibited today, such as marches, anything for either the 'Yes' or 'No' camp, so we hope that nothing out of line happens. The Colombian people are very mature in this respect, and we hope that everyone exercises their right to vote and that they can vote as normal without any complications." SIGN READING (IN SPANISH): "OPERATIVE VENUE OF THE REGISTRY OF THE DISTRICT" VARIOUS OF CIVIL SERVANTS AND POLICE GATHERING OUTSIDE POLLING STATION VOTING HALL AHEAD OF VOTE A WOMAN WALKING TO VOTING BOOTH NUMBERS ABOVE VOTING BOOTHS GENERAL VIEW OF VOTING AREA VARIOUS OF POLICE GATHERING OUTSIDE POLLING COMPLEX POLICEMAN WALKING PAST WITH DOG POLICE GATHERING IN PLAZA BOLIVAR IN CENTRAL BOGOTA POLICE STANDING TO ATTENTION POLICE STANDING IN STREET WITH SLUM COMMUNITIES SEEN ON HILLS BEHIND SOLDIERS GUARDING A STREET BLOCKED OFF WITH FENCES WITH BRANDING OF AN ART INSTITUTE SOLDIERS BEHIND FENCES POLLING STATION CLOSE-UP OF BOX WITH BALLOT PAPERS A MAN ORGANISING PAPERS POLICE WITH SNIFFER DOG CLOSE-UP OF SNIFFER DOG POLLING BOOTH UNDER A TENT BOX FOR COMPLETED BALLOT PAPERS POLLING STATION SET UP ON SMALL MARQUEE INSIDE COURTYARD VARIOUS OF GUARDS WALKING BY IN CEREMONIAL DRESS
- Embargoed: 17th October 2016 14:43
- Keywords: Peace plebiscite Colombia Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia FARC
- Location: BOGOTA, COLOMBIA
- City: BOGOTA, COLOMBIA
- Country: Colombia
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA00152BAIPZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Final preparations were made at Bogota´s central polling station early on Sunday (October 2) morning ahead of a plebiscite on whether to ratify a peace deal signed at the start of the week between the Colombian government and rebel forces.
Civil servants and security forces gathered at the complex of three voting pavilions from 5 a.m. (1000 G.M.T.) preparing the operations for the 8 a.m. (1300 G.M.T.) opening of the polls.
"All campaigning is prohibited today, such as marches, anything for either the 'Yes' or 'No' camp, so we hope that nothing out of line happens. The Colombian people are very mature in this respect, and we hope that everyone exercises their right to vote and that they can vote as normal without any complications," said police commander for election operations, Colonel Jairo Restrepo Rio.
Police and members of Colombia´s military are not permitted to vote in elections.
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 support 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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