26288: (news) Chamberlain: Over 50 candidates to seek Haitian presidency (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

     By Joseph Guyler Delva

     PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Ousted Haitian leader
Jean-Bertrand Aristide's political party registered two different
candidates for the impoverished nation's presidential election this year,
fracturing after the authorities refused to accept the candidacy of a
jailed priest.
     In all, more than 50 candidates put forward their names to be the
violence-torn country's next president before the deadline expired at
midnight on Thursday.
     The United Nations hopes the vote will produce a legitimate government
capable of bridging fierce enmity between supporters and foes of Aristide,
once viewed as a champion of democracy but accused in recent years of
corruption and despotism.
     Among the candidates were Guy Philippe, a former police chief who led
the armed rebellion that drove Aristide from power in February 2004,
Texas-based multimillionaire Dumarsais Simeus, two former presidents, Rene
Preval and Leslie Manigat, and a local industrialist, Charles Henry Baker.
     Aristide's Lavalas Family party, which many political analysts had
expected would easily win if it kept a united front and ran in the
election, split after the authorities rejected the registration of popular
priest Gerard Jean-Juste because he was in jail.
     Jean-Juste has been in prison since July 21 on allegations he played a
role in the killing of journalist Jacques Roche -- allegations he
categorically denies -- and he was unable to register in person as a
candidate or to present his ID card.
     "The decree governing the elections says the candidate has to come to
register in person," said the secretary-general of the electoral council,
Rosemond Pradel. "We are not responsible if Jean-Juste is in jail."
     Lavalas officials accused the U.S.-backed interim authorities, who
were appointed after Aristide fled, of trying to reduce the party's chances
of winning the Nov. 20 ballot.
     "The government and its allies knew that Jean-Juste as a candidate
would be unbeatable. So they made sure he was locked up," said former
Lavalas senator Gerald Gilles. The government has repeatedly denied such
accusations.
     But that did not stop the moderate and more radical wings of Lavalas
Family from registering separate candidates.
     The moderates, led by Rudy Heriveaux and Yvon Feuille, registered
former World Bank official Marc Louis Bazin.
     Bazin, who ran against Aristide in the 1990 presidential election, was
one of his fiercest adversaries and served as prime minister under a
military regime that overthrew Aristide during his first presidency. In
2001, however, Bazin became Aristide's minister for external cooperation.
     Representatives of the other faction rejected Bazin and instead
registered Gilles as the party's candidate.
     The ballot is being conducted under the watchful eye of more than
7,000 U.N. peacekeepers and police. But the lead-up to the election has
been marred by instability and violence in which hundreds have been killed.
     Only about 2.8 million of an estimated 4.5 million potential voters
have registered to cast ballots.