Postcard from Vichy

The week before the election, travel between areas is forbidden. The foreign-occupying military begins blowing huge craters in most roads, in order to prevent driving. Polling places are kept secret until the morning of the vote. The streets are full of armored vehicles and the skies are full of helicopters and fighter jets. On election day, a complete curfew means that driving is prohibited everywhere. Water, power, and telecom service (mobile phones, telephone, and Internet) are erratic, and there are rumors that telecoms will simply be turned off on election day. Rebels are blowing up potential polling sites and party headquarters; candidates are advised to stay home and remain anonymous. The foreign military is determining where people may vote and is accused of arranging for supporters of its preferred slate to go vote in areas that lean toward the rebels. The occupier-installed temporary government is paying cash to journalists. Whether the occupation is just or not is irrelevant for a moment. Whether you believe the invader's motives are good or evil, ask yourself: Does this situation sound like a free people are about to exercise their fundamental right of self-determination? Or does it sound like the recipe for a puppet government?