December 02, 2010
Much has been made of the preliminary observation report from the OAS-CARICOM joint observation mission, yet very little attention has been paid to reports from national electoral monitors. While the OAS mission had just 120 observers, national observers from six organizations numbered around 6,000. The national observers had previously warned the OAS about the potential for fraud, and even participated in an OAS event to brief the “Group of Friends of Haiti” on the upcoming election. The national observers released the following statement the day after the election, as translated by Haiti Libre:
The signatory institutions of the present deplore the disastrous way in which the legislative and presidential elections was held this November 28, 2010. Many citizens have lost their lives or were seriously injured. Parallel ballots were smuggled in the circuit, polling stations were ransacked or burned, regular ballots have been washed away or torn. Many polling stations were closed so early without the minutes. A wind of revolt and rebellion blew within ten departments. Thirteen presidential candidates have sought the annulment of the elections. Rather than end in the serene recount of ballot boxes, the day ended in protests and clashes in the streets.
All this was predictable, given that the recommendations made by political parties, civil society and election monitoring organizations to set up a Provisional Electoral Council (CEP)credible, to respect the prescribed of the electoral law, which were ignored by both the executive and the PRC itself. The massive relocation of voters in favor of the campaign, has deprived a large number of voters of the opportunity to exercise their civic rights. The establishment of a partisan political machine at the level of the delegations and local authorities, arbitrary and unlawful change of supervisors and members of polling, the problems given to representatives and observers to perform their function in some offices, are the drops of water that broke the camel’s back.
The signatory institutions of the present recommended to the national leaders and the international community to take very seriously the failure of election day, to draw lessons and prevent the movement of anger, which has begun and will extend to other spheres of national life. An appropriate political dialogue is needed to bring the country out of this new impasse.
Signatories:
Conseil National D’Observation des Élections : (CNO)
Initiative de la Société Civile (ISC)
Conseil Haïtien des Acteurs Non Étatiques (CONHANE)
Réseau National de Défense des Droits Humains (RNDDH)
Centre d’Éducation, de Recherche et d’Action en Sciences Sociales et Pénales (CERESS)
Mouvman Famn Aktif Kafou (MOFKA)
