8292: Opposition, GISC view electoral ambience on eve of OAS , official's visit (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Max Blanchet <maxblanchet@worldnet.att.net>

Haiti: Opposition, GISC view electoral ambience on eve of OAS official's
visit
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Jun 13, 2001

Text of report by Haitian Metropole radio on 13 June; passages within double
oblique strokes in Creole

The OAS assistant secretary-general will begin his ninth visit to
Port-au-Prince today. Luigi Einaudi, who has to clarify the regional
organization's position following the 5 June OAS resolution [at the OAS
General Assembly in San Jose, Costa Rica], comes at a time when polarization
is a fait accompli in Haitian society. Journalist Wendell Theodore explains
the following:

[Theodore - recording] It is a follow-up mission of which the main purpose
is to clarify positions and to explore options for international cooperation
by taking into account the commitments made by the Haitian president to the
OAS in the letter addressed to the general assembly. [President
Jean-Bertrand] Aristide had obtained OAS support with the promise made to
the organization to form a new CEP [Provisional Electoral Council]. In fact,
the president said he is in consultation with all sectors so that the 25
June deadline can be respected.

But some sectors involved in the crisis openly oppose the idea of creating a
new CEP without a prior political agreement. Moreover, they continue to
question the climate, which does not seem favourable for holding elections
in the country.

The entire state apparatus is under the control of the current government
and, moreover, various communal regions are full of well-armed Lavalas
mayors ready to terrorize the voters, according to the remarks made by the
opposition.

According to Paul Denis, the Democratic Convergence is not concerned by the
25 June deadline, which is only an agreement made between Lavalas and the
OAS. The Convergence spokesman thinks that the formation method [for the
CEP] used by Aristide raises a lot of questions.

[Denis] //We agree to have a CEP as is expressed in the resolution, an
independent, neutral and credible CEP. But a CEP cannot be independent and
credible when Aristide sits on his pedestal in the National Palace and says
he is waiting for people to send him names of their representatives.//

[Theodore] The Civil Society Initiative Group [GISC] goes even further in
its thinking. It is not just a matter of the climate that is unfavourable
for holding elections. Rosny Desroches denounces what he calls a vast
climate of intolerance and aggression which does not go hand-in-hand with
the holding of independent and credible elections. The GISC spokesman does
not seem to believe that a date should be set for the hasty formation of the
electoral institution.

[Desroches] The date issue should be addressed calmly so that a good result
may come out of the negotiations that will continue on the whole process.

[Theodore] The ruling party has a different opinion. According to the
Lavalas Family [FL], the government is in the process of overcoming the
insecurity phenomenon. Jonas Petit [FL spokesman] calls on the good-will of
all sectors. Petit also plays down the apprehension of the other sectors
involved in the crisis about the unfavourable environment for holding
elections, arguing that it is a negative perception.

[Petit] //Everything that we hear so far is that insecurity is growing every
day. I believe that we need to consider things positively instead of
imagining and being negative.//

[Theodore] Anyway, Luigi Einaudi will make his ninth visit in a context
where the Haitian population seems to be even more divided following the San
Jose resolution of 5 June.

Source: Radio Metropole, Port-au-Prince, in French 1145 gmt 13 Jun 01

/BBC Monitoring/ © BBC