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27197: Hermantin(Editorial)Slogging toward elections in Haiti (fwd)
Leonie Hermantin
Posted on Wed, Jan. 11, 2006
Slogging toward elections in Haiti
OUR OPINION: U.N. MISSION MUST ENSURE SECURITY FOR A CREDIBLE VOTE
Will Haiti ever be ready for elections? After pressure from the United Nations
and the Organization of American States, the nation's electoral authorities
have postponed the vote for the fourth time, this time until February 7.
Delaying elections is a better option than holding them before the groundwork
had been laid for a legitimate vote. Continual delays, however, can also damage
credibility. At some point, the election must go forward -- and that should be
soon.
Stable democracy
The goal is for Haitians to freely elect their own government. That would end
the rule of the transitional administration appointed by the international
community after former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide left office in 2004. At
the same time, the representative government could begin Haiti's journey toward
a stable democracy.
What sounds simple in theory is terribly difficult in practice. The
international community has poured more than $60 million into election
preparations, but much remains to be done. Many of the 3.5 million
voter-registration cards have yet to be distributed, and most of the 40,000
poll workers must be trained.
The latest setback is an increase in kidnappings that is terrorizing
Port-au-Prince. According to recent reports, 10 kidnappings occur each day, and
as many as 20 kidnappings occurred during Christmas weekend. The rash of crimes
by organized gangs prompted the Haitian business community to stage a general
strike on Monday to demand better security from the 9,000-man U.N. peacekeeping
force. Juan Gabriel Valdés, the U.N. chief in Haiti, vowed to take on the slum
gangs and kidnappers and to stop any attempt to destabilize elections. But the
unfortunate death of the U.N. troop commander, an apparent suicide, has hurt
troop morale.
Of the 35 presidential candidates, former President René Préval leads in the
polls. Mr. Préval apparently has distanced himself from his former ally, Mr.
Aristide. Still, the slum gangs who long for Mr. Aristide's return and
sponsorship seem to be betting on Mr. Préval. Other political factions,
meanwhile, may find it in their interest to disrupt the elections simply to
discredit a potential win by Mr. Préval.
Politics and guns
If this sounds confusing, it is. Welcome to Haiti, where politics, chaos and
violence make recurring joint appearances. The U.N. Mission in Haiti seems
determined to ensure credible elections. Providing security alone is a tall
order, one that the mission must achieve if Haiti is to have any chance at all
for a viable government. Even perfect elections won't guarantee Haiti's future
unless its political players learn to resolve differences through the ballot
box and compromise, not guns and threats.