HAITI: Rebel leader turned presidential candidate Guy Philippe rallies his supporters while outgoing Prime Minister Latortue calls on Haitians to vote in upcoming elections

Record ID: 214677

  • Title: HAITI: Rebel leader turned presidential candidate Guy Philippe rallies his supporters while outgoing Prime Minister Latortue calls on Haitians to vote in upcoming elections
  • Date: 2nd February 2006
  • Summary: WIDE SHOT PRESIDENTIAL PALACE
  • Embargoed: 17th February 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Haiti
  • Country: Haiti
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA2APUEOMAZM9J68GOJ0OK7M7L8
  • Story Text: Thousands in northern Haiti turned out on Wednesday (February 1, 2006) to rally around a former rebel leader turned presidential candidate just days before the country's long-anticipated election.
    Guy Philippe addressed hundreds of students in the city of Cap-Haitien (located some 400 kilometres north of Port-au-Prince).
    "You have to understand that I got into politics because I want to change the political system, which is not good," he explained.
    Later in the day, some five thousand supporters turned out in the neighbouring city of Limbe to cheer on their candidate.
    He encouraged the people to look toward the future.
    "I think Haiti needs a unified national government. And I think it is necessary, that Haiti also needs a national amnesty and to forget the past. We have to forget the past and be tolerant in the future. It is vital for Haiti and we absolutely need that for our country," he said.
    Thirty-eight-year-old Philippe was born in Cap-Haitien, where he served as the chief of police until 2000. He fled to the Dominican Republic for three years after being accused of organizing a coup.
    He returned to Haiti in February 2004 to help lead the rebellion against President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. In March, Philippe and his troops retook control of the former Haitian Army headquarters and declared himself in control of 90 percent of Haiti's armed forces.
    But the notorious rebel leader traded in his fatigues for a suit and tie and declared himself a presidential candidate the following year. Philippe is one of 36 candidates and is currently running fourth in the polls.
    Meanwhile in Port-au-Prince, outgoing Prime Minister Gerard Latortue called on Haitians to vote.
    "Every Haitian, regardless of social condition, regardless of political affiliation, regardless of level of education and economic situation has to understand the importance of what these elections on February 7 constitute," he said in a news conference.
    The head of the U.N. mission in Haiti, Carlos Valdes, assured the public that the election would be secure.
    "I can guarantee that if the country is ready, MINUSTAH is ready. MINUSTAH is ready to guarantee the security on election day. We have and will deploy 7,400 soldiers, 2,000 police officers and we will work with the Haitian police," he said.
    Haitians will go to the polls on February 7.
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