From: barnhart@gagme.chi.il.us (Mr Aaron Barnhart)
Subject: IPS: ANGOLA: EAGER VOTERS FLOCK TO POLLING STATIONS
Originator: barnhart@gagme
Organization: Evanston, Illinois
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1992 23:31:10 GMT

Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Area: Africa, east
Title: ANGOLA: EAGER VOTERS FLOCK TO POLLING STATIONS


luanda, sep 29 (ips/vicki finkel) -- enrique serafina arrived at
his local polling station at 2 a.m. to cast his ballot.

''i wanted to be the very first one to vote'', says serafina
(66), sporting a suit jacket and beaming grin.

before the polling station opened at 7:30 a.m. in the
capital, serafina was joined by about 1,000 compatriots eager to
cast their votes in their nation's first multi-party elections.

the elections are the final stage of a peace package in the
oil-rich nation which began with the signing of a cease-fire
agreement between president jose eduardo dos santos and unita
leader jonas savimbi who waged a bitter 16-year civil war
against the former marxist government.

regardless of the outcome of the presdiential and
parliamentary elections, war-weary angolans hope the voting will
mark a permanent end to the bloody fighting in their
country, which became independent from portugal in 1975.

''so many of our children have died in the war, we cannot
return to war'', says serafina who lost three nephews in the
brutal hostilities.

after a final campaign blast over the weekend, luanda was
extremely quiet with only light traffic moving in the usually
congested city.

to allow all of the 4.8 registered voters the opportunity to
cast their vote for one of the 11 presidential candidates and 18
parliamentary parties represented on the separate ballot papers,
the two days designated for voting, tuesday and wednesday, have
been declared national holidays.

despite fears that many angolans would be too afraid to vote
due to potential violence throughout the country, reports have
indicated large turnouts as people flock to the polls to
exercise their right to vote and determine the future of the
country.

no violent incidents were recordedd as people calmly waited
for their turn to mark their cross on ballot papers.

''there is no reason for us to fear anything about
voting'', says 32-year-old armando pedro, as he waited to vote
in luanda. (more/ips)


angola: eager (2)

as the day heated up, sun umbrellas unfolded to protect
voters from the heat. expecting a long wait, many angolans
arrived at the polls equipped with their own stools to sit on.

''during 16 years of war we have waited in so many lines for
food. now we can wait in line to vote'', says one man in line to
vote.

crowds were impressively orderly, and according to the
election law, no one appeared to vote at the assembly points in
a party t-shirt or hat.

before leaving one of the 5,805 voting stations scattered
throughout the country, each voter is required to dip his or her
finger in indellible ink to prevent the possibility of voting
again.

about 800 international observers are roving around the
country to monitor the voting. in addition, each party is
entitled to supply one observer to each voting table.

but at the base of a baobab tree in the ''boa esperanca''
village, about 20 kn north of luanda, all villagers observed the
voting.

lack of adequate indoor space forced the holding of elections
outdoors where the voting booths were set up for angolans to
cast their ballots secretly.

after a tense month of political campaigning, principally by
the two traditional parties, unita and the ruling mpla, angolans
prefer to keep their political preferences secret and hope both
sides will abide by the results.

''both sides must learn to accept the decisions of the
people'', says pedro. ''if my party loses i have to conform. we
cannot kill each other anymore'', he adds.

many polling stations in the country's 18 provinces opened
late due to delays in the distribution. but voting picked up by
midday in the capital.

villages emptied out to vote, and even the open marketplaces
were void of vendors. in a further effort to maintain a tranquil
voting climate, the national television station is on the air
for 24 hours with films and election updates until the final
results are announced by oct. 7. (end/ips/vf/apc/92)
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