26319: Craig (news) American Fights to Run in Haiti Election (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Dan Craig <sak-pase@bimini.ws>

American Fights to Run in Haiti Election
By BEN FOX, Associated Press Writer Sat Sep 24, 5:11 PM ET

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - A wealthy U.S. businessman whose bid to run for 
president of Haiti was rejected by electoral authorities defiantly pledged 
Saturday to fight for a spot on the ballot in his native country's first 
election since the February 2004 ouster of Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

Dumarsais Simeus, owner of one of the largest black-owned business in the 
United States, said he has appealed to the Provisional Electoral Council to 
reverse its decision to strike his name from the list of presidential 
candidates in the Nov. 20 election and will do "everything possible," including 
filing a legal challenge if necessary, to participate in the race.

"This election, without us being allowed to participate as a presidential 
candidate, will have no legitimacy whatsoever," Simeus, the son of illiterate 
Haitian rice farmers, said at a news conference in the capital.

The electoral council late Friday issued a list of 32 approved presidential 
candidates — a diverse group that includes former government officials from 
across the political spectrum and a leader of the rebellion that forced 
President Aristide out of office and into exile in South Africa.

Simeus, the 65-year-old owner of a Texas-based food services company, was 
rejected because he has U.S. citizenship, said Rosemond Pradel, the council's 
secretary-general.

The businessman, who has lived outside his native country for more than 40 
years, told reporters that he has always maintained links to Haiti and his 
citizenship should not be an issue.

"I was born in Haiti. I have Haitian nationality. This is not negotiable. 
Period."

Garry Lisade, an attorney for the businessman, said the electoral council 
misinterpreted Haitian election law, which requires that any objection to a 
candidacy be lodged within 72 hours of the Sept. 15 filing deadline. Simeus had 
already received confirmation of the "provisional acceptance" of his candidacy, 
the campaign said.

If the electoral council does not reverse it's decision, Simeus said he would 
appeal to the Supreme Court.

Simeus, who has said he hopes to use his business skills to help the economy of 
the Western Hemisphere's poorest nation, said he asked the council for an 
explanation of its decision but has not received a response. In any case, he 
said he had no intention of abandoning his bid for the presidency.

"We are in this battle to stay," he said. "We are in this battle to change the 
country."

The council, which rejected 22 presidential candidates, accepted the 
candidacies of two presumed front-runners: former President Rene Preval, a 
one-time close ally of Aristide; and Marc Bazin, a former prime minister who is 
running as a candidate of a moderate faction of the ousted leader.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050924/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/haiti_elections