Voting kicks off in Liberia
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Xinhua, November 8, 2011
Voting has finally begun in many precincts across the West African country to a relatively slow pace, despite calls by the main opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) of ex-UN envoy to Somalia, Cllr. Winston Tubman, to partisans to boycott the process.
Some polling centers in the capital Monrovia were, however, closed up to 8 a.m. local time, when the official start of the voting process was witnessed following threats by the CDC of possible repercussion.
In District 15 precinct, voting center No. 6 with 2 polling places at the Isaac McCauley Junior High school was still closed when voting commenced in other centers.
The proprietor, John McCauley, a member of the CDC who failed to secure a CDC symbol, told journalists he was afraid to allow his building for the voting process for fear of reprisal from the CDC after its warning to partisan not to do so.
"The safety of my properly left behind by my late father is more important to me than the election itself and cannot be compromised," he said
As a remedy, the National Election Commission (NEC) asked people who registered at the Isaac McCauley Junior High school to go to the Boatswain High school to cast their ballots.
The presence of the West African bloc ECOWAS, which has deployed 200 observers, were seen in centers visited this morning in the capital.
Other international observation missions include the Carter Center, the EU, the African Union (AU) AU, as well as thousands of local organizations to monitor the process.
In an Election Day message delivered on UN Mission radio Tuesday morning, the NEC acting chair, Cllr. Nelson, urged Liberians to go to the polls and exercise their franchise, saying, "It is your constitutional right, do not allow anyone to deny you of this right."
She said polling materials and personnel have been deployed in all polling centers across except where owners of building previously used refused for the process to take there.
"We regret the action of those concerned but NEC is taking action to resolve this last minute setback," she said.
Some voters said despite calls for boycott by the CDC, they will vote their conscience as Liberians, fundamental rights no one is going to derail.
No incidence so far since the voting process started in many polling places across the country.
In the stronghold of incumbent president Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Lofa County, people reiterated their commitment to vote despite threats not to do so by the CDC.
"This is a golden opportunity to exercise my franchise and no amount of intimidation is going to stop me doing so," John Massaley, a student of the University of Liberia said.
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