US Media ignores US use of food aid to force Iraq registrations/votes

http://www.dahrjamailiraq.com/hard_news/archives/hard_news/000192.php#more

Snip
Many Iraqis said Monday that their names were marked on a list provided by the government agency that provides monthly food rations before they were allowed to vote.

”I went to the voting centre and gave my name and district where I lived to a man,” said Wassif Hamsa, a 32-year-old journalist who lives in the predominantly Shia area Janila in Baghdad. ”This man then sent me to the person who distributed my monthly food ration.”

Mohammed Ra'ad, an engineering student who lives in the Baya'a district of the capital city reported a similar experience.

n/t

under such dangerous conditions. Now I know. Sad

US Media ignores US use of food aid to force Iraq registrations/votes

http://www.dahrjamailiraq.com/hard_news/archives/hard_n...
EYEWITNESS: BAGHDAD | Main

January 31, 2005
Some Just Voted for Food
Inter Press Service
Dahr Jamail

BAGHDAD, Jan 31 (IPS) - Voting in Baghdad was linked with receipt of food rations, several voters said after the Sunday poll.

Many Iraqis said Monday that their names were marked on a list provided by the government agency that provides monthly food rations before they were allowed to vote.

”I went to the voting centre and gave my name and district where I lived to a man,” said Wassif Hamsa, a 32-year-old journalist who lives in the predominantly Shia area Janila in Baghdad. ”This man then sent me to the person who distributed my monthly food ration.”

Mohammed Ra'ad, an engineering student who lives in the Baya'a district of the capital city reported a similar experience.

Ra'ad, 23, said he saw the man who distributed monthly food rations in his district at his polling station. ”The food dealer, who I know personally of course, took my name and those of my family who were voting,” he said. ”Only then did I get my ballot and was allowed to vote.”

”Two of the food dealers I know told me personally that our food rations would be withheld if we did not vote,” said Saeed Jodhet, a 21-year-old engineering student who voted in the Hay al-Jihad district of Baghdad.

There has been no official indication that Iraqis who did not vote would not receive their monthly food rations.

Many Iraqis had expressed fears before the election that their monthly food rations would be cut if they did not vote. They said they had to sign voter registration forms in order to pick up their food supplies.


Snip

If you placed a ballot in the box, it was supposed to mean that you were in favor of incorporation into the Soviet Union. However, you had to show proof of having voted in order to receive a ration card, which was a matter of life and death in 1944.

As a result, the people of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia all "voted" 99%+ for annexation.