HAITI-ELECTION/TENSIONS Haiti's much awaited election continues to attract cries of irregularities

Record ID: 144273

  • Title: HAITI-ELECTION/TENSIONS Haiti's much awaited election continues to attract cries of irregularities
  • Date: 12th August 2015
  • Summary: MIREBALAIS, HAITI (AUGUST 11, 2015) (REUTERS) WELCOME SIGN TO MIREBALAIS TOWNSHIP VARIOUS OF BLOCKED ROADS VARIOUS OF RALLY OPPOSED TO HAITIAN PRESIDENT MICHEL MARTELLY ALONGSIDE U.S. FLAG RIPPED UP BALLOTS FROM LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS (SOUNDBITE) (French) SENATE CANDIDATE, EDOUARD AMBROISE, SAYING: "We are calling for the resignation of President Michel Joseph Martelly, Prime Minister Evans Paul, Chief of Police Olson Orelus, and even the chief of the MINUSTAH (UN Stablisation) mission here in Haiti (Sandra Honore), who is now in a shameful situation where she cannot respond and is unable to face the pressures as a result of Martelly's government of bandits. She needs to tell the world she needs help for more relief who can come and help do the job." VARIOUS OF FLAG OF DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (SOUNDBITE) (French) SENATE CANDIDATE, SAYING: "We have witnesses saying that there wasn't an election, rather, there was a selection. People are being chosen by an electoral council that is being manipulated by the executive branch. In fact, we saw people come out widely to cast their vote. Unfortunately, they came out to find out their votes had already been filled out." HAITIAN VOTERS
  • Embargoed: 27th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Haiti
  • Country: Haiti
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA3V0UOE09KJWAWB8ZWG1VV1F45
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The day after Haitians took part in their first election in four years, charges of fraud, manipulation and even persecution of the political opposition continued to emerge throughout the Caribbean nation on Monday (August 10).
    Indeed, according to reports, at least two people were killed during the voting. And some 30 polling stations were shuttered amid chaos.
    Regardless, many observers were underscoring the success in staging an election in the troubled Caribbean nation. The country of about 10 million people has struggled to build a stable democracy ever since the overthrow of the dictatorship of the Duvalier family, who led Haiti from 1957 to 1986, and ensuing military coups and election fraud.
    The country was also devastated by an earthquake in 2010 that flattened large parts of the capital, including the presidential palace, killings tens of thousands of people.
    Haiti's parliament dissolved in January after scheduled legislative elections in 2011 and 2014 were cancelled. The previous presidential election, which began in 2010 and carried over into 2011, was marred by low turnout, violence and a delayed, disputed runoff.
    And the current ruling elite has drawn the ire of many aspiring politicians in Haiti.
    "We are calling for the resignation of President Michel Joseph Martelly, Prime Minister Evans Paul, Chief of Police Olson Orelus, and even the chief of the MINUSTAH (UN Stablisation) mission here in Haiti (Sandra Honore), who is now in a shameful situation where she cannot respond and is unable to face the pressures as a result of Martelly's government of bandits. She needs to tell the world she needs help for more relief who can come and help do the job," said current Senate candidate Eduard Ambrose.
    Since January, the 119-member Chamber of Deputies has sat empty, and the Senate, with only 10 of its 30 members, has failed to field a quorum. Sunday's election will select a new lower house of parliament and two-thirds of the Senate.
    Martelly, who cannot run for re-election, has dozens of candidates running throughout the country under the so-called Haitian Bald Headed Party (PHTK), named after his famously smooth scalp.
    The vote comes amid a new challenge for Haiti. Changes to nationality laws in neighbouring Dominican Republic and a 2013 constitutional court ruling have stripped children of Haitian migrants born in the Dominican Republic of their Dominican nationality, rights groups say.
    In addition, an untold number of Haitians have crossed into the more prosperous Dominican Republic over the last century to escape political violence or seek a better life, many working as sugarcane cutters, house cleaners or babysitters. This means they have no identity documents and are stateless, creating new challenges in Haiti as well.
    Amid such a backdrop, candidates were out in the streets claiming outright fraud and harassment during the Sunday vote.
    "We have witnesses saying that there wasn't an election, rather, there was a selection. People are being chosen by an electoral council that is being manipulated by the executive branch. In fact, we saw people come out widely to cast their vote. Unfortunately, they came out to find out their votes had already been filled out."
    Results are expected in six to 10 days and runoffs are set for Oct. 25, the same day as the first round of presidential voting.
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