You misread the resolve of the Senegalese people for change which came as no big surprise for some more cautious observers of Senegalese politics in recent times. TOMBONG SAIDY wrote: > Dear Lers, > > Below is an article from PANA (Pan African News Agency)concerning the low > voter turn out in the second round of the Presidential elections. If what is > being reported in Dakar is true in the rest of the country, then Abdou Joof > will definitely win. Low voter turn out generally affects the opposition > more than the incumbend or ruling party. My predictions will become a > reality in the next few hours. > > PEACE > > TOMBONG > > Voter Apathy Pales Senegal's Presidential Run-Off > > March 19, 2000 > > DAKAR, Senegal (PANA) - A low voter turn out in parts of Dakar Sunday marked > the beginning of the second round of > voting in Senegal's 2000 presidential election that had generated > unprecedented anxiety among citizens. > > The second ballot was the first of its kind since Senegal obtained its > independence from France in 1960. > > Only Pikine, a suburb known to be an opposition stronghold, there was a > massive voter turn out as compared to Rufisque, a > town 20 km out of Dakar. > > Even near Place de l'Independence in central Dakar, where President Abdou > Diouf voted at about 11:10 (same as GMT), low > turn out clearly signified voter apathy. > > Diouf, of ruling Socialist Party, is vying in the second round against > Abdoulaye Wade of the opposition Democratic Party of Senegal. > > Wade and Diouf emerged on top during the first round on 27 February with > 31.1 percent and 41.30 percent, respectively, among eight candidates who > contested the presidency. > > Reeling from the effects of the Muslim holiday of Eid Al Kebir on Friday, > Dakar's electorate was without enthusiasm Sunday. > > Wade is contesting for the high office for the fourth time. > > The polls would remain open until 1800 GMT to be followed by counting of the > ballots. > > After casting his ballot, Diouf said that the holding of a second round was > an indicator of how democracy flourished in Senegal. > > "In fact this second round today is really a victory for democracy in our > country," he added. > > He declined to predict who might win the election, only emphasising its > significance for democracy in Senegal. > > Calm prevailed in Dakar's suburban Rufisque, where militant youths had > attacked the residence of the mayor during the > campaign and the first round of the election. > > Tiredness was observed on the faces of voters, many of whom were seated in > the queue waiting for their turn to vote. > > Polling started simultaneously at about 8 am (GMT) throughout the regions, > according to reports from the Senegalese News > Agency. > > The agency which reported that polling started without incidence, said some > 2,725,987 registered voters were expected to cast > ballots in the second. > > In Thies, a major urban centre located some 70 km outside Dakar, polling > stations opened on time, APS reported. > > It quoted Adama Kante, chairman of the Thies branch of the national election > observatory as saying: "We have representatives > everywhere in the city and, for the moment, the ballot is proceeding > normally." > > However, he noted that voters did not go out in large numbers to exercise > their franchise. > > An hour and a half after polling started in the Railway town, turn out was > still low causing supervisors to remain idle in want of > voters. > > The agency blamed fatigue after celebrating the Eid Al Kebir in Senegal, > predominantly Moslem for the low turnout. > > Other analysts also cited transportation difficulties for voters who spent > the holiday outside their voting precincts. > > But one witness said that there was low enthusiasm because a second round > was a novelty for Senegalese voters. > > Other observers predicted that if the trend continued, it would affect the > results of the second round. > > ______________________________________________________ > Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L > Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------