Although election day was largely peaceful, threats from armed groups had marred months of campaigning in hundreds of towns. About 100 candidates withdrew, citing intimidation and threats by the armed factions. In the past week alone, eight lawmakers and local political candidates were kidnapped by suspected militias or guerrillas. The force of arms is going to replace the will of the people in many parts of the country. The influence on the process is already done.
Many candidates have a gun to their head.
The government rejected calls to suspend the polling, saying that would be tantamount to conceding its inability to govern vast sections of the country. He accused the FARC of seeking to influence the outcome of the local mayoral race by urging voters not to support traditional parties. But rebel leaders said they would respect voters' rights throughout the country. We do our thing and the guerrillas do theirs. Last week rebel leaders pledged to lift roadblocks during the voting in Putumayo, a production center for the coca leaf that is the raw material of cocaine.