27097: Arthur (news) "manoeuvres to block Preval" (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

Editorial analysis in Haiti en Marche newspaper, Port-au-Prince, 31 December
2005 - Certain informal opinion polls confirm the irresistible advance of Rene
Préval, the presidential candidate of the Hope platform (Lespwa in Creole) that
is dominated by electoral heavyweights of the Lavalas movement. There is a real
panic reigning in certain sectors of the former opposition which overturned the
Lavalas regime in February 2004, and sent president Jean-Bertrand Aristide into
exile. The elections planned for January 8 2006 have been postponed for the
fourth time - officially for logistical reasons, but nobody can be unaware of
the manoeuvres to try and block the path of the re-emergence of Lavalas. After
all, the majority of members of the electoral commission come from opposition
sectors. No new date has yet been advanced for the holding of the presidential
and legislative elections that are impatiently awaited by the population, and
probably also by the international players, because among the many challenges
to be taken up that require a government elected with a clear and strong
mandate is the fight against crime, which cannot be won without the active
participation of the population. Currently one understands that there is a
kidnapping in the capital every few seconds.

(Translated from French by Charles Arthur for the Haiti Support Group)

www.haitisupport.gn.apc.org




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