Islamic City of Marawi (01 December) -- The Healing Democracy yesterday re-launched here a book entitled "Testing Democracy: The 2010 Automated Elections in Lanao de Sur."
Reverend Beltran E. Pacatang, Healing Democracy Project Coordinator, said the book is the output of their documentation and monitoring initiatives during the May 10, 2010 national and local elections held in this city and 27 municipalities in Lanao del Sur province as well as the June 3, 2010 special elections.
He said the book focuses on election-related fraud and election-related violence that marred the elections in the province.
The objective of the publication, Pacatang said, is to bring to the attention of the local and international interfaith communities the extent of election-related violence and fraud in the province.
The program coordinator further said the data used in book was generated from the reports of 326 Voter's Collectives organized here and in the 27 towns in addition to the volunteers from partner organizations and various networks.
Voter's Collectives is a wide network of responsible voters from various sectors including but not limited to the youth, women and farmers acting as electoral watchdogs in their respective municipalities during the May 10 and June 3, 2010 polls.
All the data used in the book were also backed up with sworn statements and affidavits, Pacatang added.
Healing Democracy is a Maranao grassroots' project that seeks to organize and educate Lanao del Sur electorate on voters' rights and to monitor the conduct of the May 10, 2010 automated elections in the province.
It is funded by the European Union under the program European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights Philippines.
It has partnered with the Consortium of Christian Organizations for Rural-Urban Development Inc., Liga ng Kabataang Moro, Union of People's Lawyers in Mindanao, Ethnic Groups Development Resource Center, Rural Missionaries of the Philippines, Community-Based Health Services-Northern Mindanao, Suara Bangsamoro-Northern Mindanao, Kawagib Alliance for the Advancement of Moro Rights, Samahan ng mga Lingkod Artista sa Mindanao, and Moro-Christian People's Alliance - Lanao.
The launching held at the Mamitua Saber Research and Technology Center of the Mindanao State University (MSU) - Main Campus was attended by students from the MSU Historical Society, MSU Supreme Student Government, and the College Editors Guild of the Philippines - Lanao Chapter.
Before the launching, a forum dubbed as "Demanding Accountability: Prospects and Challenges under the New Administration" was also conducted with Professor Bobby M. Tuazon of the Center for People's Empowerment in Governance (CenPEG) and University of the Philippines - Diliman, Political Science Department, as guest speaker.
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