upcoming elections

for once i want to write in english. the reason being, first i know there are a lot of people out there that would like to read this blog but don't understand german, and second i want to write about the upcoming elections now which will be of interest to even more people.

it's a strange situation here. normally the people don't talk about the civil war any more. it's over and done, and they prefer to look forward and make the best out of the situation. in some quiet moments one might tell his or her experiences during the war, but it never has the feel of them unloading a heavy burden. it is just the telling of a story, without boasting or looking for compassion.
now people remember. all of them have seen enough violence, and no one will support any kind of it. but the potential is still there, and this is why people get afraid. i can feel it all around me...
it is only presidential elections, but it is the first time that sierra leone has democratic elections since the war. so people don't know what to expect, and especially the wealthy ones fear what might happen. some left the country. some will barricade themselves behind thick walls. some will go out and cheer for their preferred candidate. and some just won't bother about the whole thing.
we students were advised not to go out on the election day. or at least that's what most people tell us. some people would like to take me to the polling offices on saturday so i can see with my own eyes what is happening. probably we will stay at home, play games and drink the free beer i get from the brewery all day, but then we still might get out and have a look. we will see.

in the brewery i cannot feel much change this week. for the students at slra this is quite different: they are not going to work from today (tuesday) until thursday. on these three days there are the final rallies for the three biggest parties in the streets of freetown. today it is pmdc (people's move for democratic change) with their presidential candidate charles margai under their orange banner, tomorrow the red apc (all people's congress) with ernest bai koroma, on thursday the green and leading slpp (sierra leone people's party) with solomon berewa.
especially tomorrow and on thursday, there will be much commotion on the streets of freetown. i don't really know what to make of it and although i would like to see some of it i think it will be better if i just stay away of it all. likewise, when people ask me which my preferred candidate is, i usually say that i am neutral. in the end, this is probably the best way to stay alive and healthy...

in the end, i can only say that i hope for peaceful elections. i really think there won't be any violence going on on the elections day, but then one never knows. but what i really wonder at is what will happen when the results are made public. i hope for the sake of this country, that the losing parties will accept the result and the winner will play fair with the others.