13737: (Chamberlain) Haiti groups designate electoral representatives (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

By MICHAEL NORTON


                  PORT-AU-PRINCE, Nov 19 (AP) - Five civil society groups
said they would appoint representatives to a new electoral council Tuesday,
bringing Haiti one step closer to holding long-awaited parliamentary
elections next year.

                  The organizations, from churches to human rights and
business associations, refused earlier this month to designate
representatives until the government could show it had done more to ensure
security, disarm partisans and prosecute those responsible for political
attacks.

                  On Tuesday, the groups said President Jean-Bertrand
Aristide had made declarations and acts to mitigate their concerns, and
they forwarded to him the names of five appointees.

                  "We, nevertheless, reserve the right to recall our
representatives if the government does not pursue the disarmament campaign,
pay reparations to the victims of the Dec. 17 violence, and bring its
perpetrators to justice," Protestant Federation president Edouard Paultre
said on behalf of the five groups.

                  The government and opposition have been in a stalemate
since flawed May 2000 elections gave most victories to governing party
candidates. The opposition charged the vote was rigged, and failure to
agree on new elections has held up hundreds of millions of dollars in
foreign aid.

                  Political tensions were exacerbated by a Dec. 17 attack
on the National Palace. At least 10 people were killed in the attack and
subsequent violence.

                  The five new appointees bring to seven the number of
members designated for a board, originally envisioned to have nine members.
Opposition parties, calling the process corrupt, have refused to appoint
their two representatives.

                  The government called the five additions to its two
representatives a victory.

                  "Now we can go ahead with elections, which must be held
to resolve our country's political and economic crisis," presidential
spokesman Jacques Maurice said.

                  A date for the electoral council to convene has yet to be
set. The council is to set the date for parliamentary and municipal
elections.

                  Tuesday's naming of appointees comes amid large
anti-government protests.

                  On Monday, thousands marched through southern Petit-Goave
demanding justice for slain journalist Brignol Lindor, who was killed last
year.

                  Tens of thousands also marched in north-coast Cap-Haitien
on Sunday in protest against Aristide's allegedly antidemocratic
government.

                  Following the Dec. 17 attack on the National Palace,
Aristide supporters torched the homes and office of opposition leaders.

                  The government says it has seized more than 2,500 illegal
weapons since, and that it paid victims more than US$1 million in
reparations. But the opposition says much less was paid and much more is
owed.

                  The five new electoral board appointees include:
Roselaure Julien for the Roman Catholic church; lawyer Max Mathurin for the
Episcopalian church; the Rev. Pauris Jean-Baptiste for Protestant churches;
the Rev. Freud Jean, a Catholic priest representing human rights groups;
and businessman Francois Benoit.