15793: Miles: Press Release: Coalition Urges the OAS to Support Democracy in Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Melinda Miles <melinda@haitireborn.org>

For Immediate Release: June 7, 2003
Contact: Melinda Miles, 240-432-7414
melinda@haitireborn.org


DIVERSE COALITION OF HAITI SOLIDARITY ADVOCATES URGE THE OAS TO SUPPORT
DEMOCRACY IN HAITI


Elections Must Happen Despite Intransigence of US-Supported Opposition to
Avoid Parliamentary Void


Hyattsville, MD ­ As the General Assembly of the Organization of American
States (OAS) meets this Sunday, June 8 in Chile, members of the Let Haiti
Live Coalition are urging the diplomats to allow the Haitian people to
escape their prolonged and contrived political crisis. In an urgent letter
to the General Assembly, members of the Let Haiti Live: Coalition for a Just
U.S. Policy note that Haiti faces a legislative void if there are no
elections before most parliamentariansš terms expire in January 2004.

"Through its diplomacy since the May 2000 elections, the OAS has carried out
U.S. foreign policy initiatives by elevating the U.S.-funded Democratic
Convergence to full negotiator in Haiti's political process." the letter
states. The coalition continues, "Although Haitišs elections and
U.S.-commissioned Gallup polls repeatedly show the Convergence to be without
popular support among Haitian voters, the OAS repeatedly grants the
coalition veto power in negotiations over Haitišs political progress.  This
veto distorts the political process, impairs the development of
representative opposition parties, and removes the Convergencešs incentive
to seek power through elections."

In its own most recent report, the OAS Secretary General notes that the
Democratic Convergence have "taken the public position they will not go to
elections under President Aristide".  However, the entire international
community, including the OAS, recognizes President Aristide as the
democratically elected president of the Republic of Haiti.

Later in its letter to the OAS, the Let Haiti Live coalition notes,
"Elections must take place this year, and political parties within Haiti are
free to choose to participate or not participate. According to the Haitian
Constitution, 1/3 of the Senate must be replaced every three years. Members
of the current Haitian Senate have made public pleas that elections be held
this year so as to avoid an institutional vacuum beginning in January 2004."

In order to be true to it's own charter, the coalition urges the OAS to:
"support regular elections," and "do everything in its power to place
Haiti's political controversies where they belong, in the hands of the
voters." Let Haiti Live! Let Haiti Vote!

The Let Haiti Live: Coalition for a Just U.S. Policy includes dozens of
non-governmental organizations. For more information, contact: Melinda Miles
at the Quixote Center (301)699-0042, (240)432-7414 or via email at
melinda@haitireborn.org.