21083: Esser: Controversy over the opportunity to hold elections this year (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. Esser torx@joimail,com

Agence Haītienne de Presse

March 30, 2004

Controversy over the opportunity to hold elections this year

Port-au-Prince, March 30, 2004 -(AHP)- Controversy continues
regarding the opportunity for new elections this year.

The Democratic Convergence is seeking new elections this year to
enable a constitutional president to accede to power.

The political coalition, which had joined the Group of 184 in the
context of the Anti-Aristide political platform, chose engineer
Rosemond Pradel to represent it on the electoral council that is now
being formed.

The so-called non-aligned parties have for their part designated Mr.
Rosny Durand. 

The Catholic, Protestant and Episcopal Churches, as well as the
business community and the human rights sector, which together
comprise the civil society sector, had under the Aristide government
communicated the names of their representatives to the electoral
council however they did not authorize them to be sworn in. Security
conditions were not appropriate, they had said.

It is not known whether the Fanmi Lavalas Political Organization will
retain the choice that it had previously made.

Several sectors of civil society have indicated that in their view
the necessary conditions have not been established for  holding
elections. Some of them have said that one must first think about
providing food for people rather tan thinking about elections this
year.

Others are calling for the interim government to have two years in
order to do a good job of preparing for elections.

The Haitian Constitution requires that under the present
circumstances elections be held within 90 days.
.