Colombian referendum ends amid violence

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, October 26, 2003

Colombian referendum ends amid violence

Amid violence that left 12 dead, Colombian voters cast their ballots on Saturday in the referendum called by President Alvaro Uribe to seek in-depth political and fiscal reforms.

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Amid violence that left 12 dead, Colombian voters cast their ballots on Saturday in the referendum called by President Alvaro Uribe to seek in-depth political and fiscal reforms.

Voting started at 8:00 a.m. local time (1300 GMT) and lasted eight hours. Nearly 25 million voters have been registered for the 15-question referendum on constitutional reforms concerning political, economic and social issues. The approval of each point needs 3.1 million "yes" votes.REBEL ATTACKS CONTINUE

Despite tightened security to prevent attacks during the referendum, the day was tarred with assassinations, kidnappings and explosions that left at lest 12 dead, seven of them civilians,and 21 injured in different parts of the country.

Colombian authorities said rebels from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) murdered Indian leader Segundo Benavidesin southwestern Narino state.

Benavides was reportedly kidnapped Thursday and his body was found on Saturday near Cocha Lake in the state. Relatives of Benavides said he had rejected the campaign promoted by FARC to thwart the referendum.

In another violent action, presumed FARC members kidnapped 12 electoral officials near Trujillo in southwestern Valle del Cauca state.

In La Guajira state, FARC rebels destroyed two electricity pylons while a bridge was dynamited in the neighboring state of Cesar.

In Arauquita, northeast of the country, a car bomb exploded andcaused material damage. A similar explosion rocked Medellin, the second largest city in the country.

The coordinator of opposition Democratic Pole party in south Bogota, Hector Agudelo, was kidnapped.

Sale of alcohol was banned from 6 p.m. Saturday until 6:00 a.m.Monday, and no civilians were allowed to carry arms during the period.REFERENDUM AT STAKE

The Colombian government expects to receive 6.268 million votes,both positive and negative, but the goal was believed to be challenging as abstentions are high among Colombian voters.

Opposition parties and illegal armed groups campaigned to blockthe referendum, accusing Uribe of trying to "cover the fiscal deficit" and preparing for re-election in 2006 by holding the referendum.

The president, who proposed the referendum when he took office on Aug. 7, 2002, said on Saturday that it is a step to fight corruption and to "strengthen the public order."

In the referendum, the government proposed freezing wages and pensions for government officials, reducing the size of Congress and fighting corruption, but local analysts say the government needs more drastic fiscal and pensions reforms.

Members of the Liberal Party, who are major opponents to the referendum, expected the referendum to fail and said it would represent a "victory" for the opposition.

A year after taking office, Uribe now enjoys a 70-percent approval rate. But analysts said his approval rate could drop if the referendum fails and harsh economic measures continue. Unemployment could reach 17 percent under current economic circumstances, they warned.

Other political analysts anticipated that if the referendum wasapproved, pro-Uribe congressmen would be encouraged to move ahead with efforts for Uribe's re-election.

Colombia has been plagued by a four-decade civil war. The conflict kills about 3,500 people every year, most of them civilians.

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