27760: (Comment) Manigat (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

> From Raber

After receiving death threats, Manigat has decided to teach a civics lesson to 
the Haitian electorate.   He is bent on having a second round if Preval gets 
less than 50%.  Even is he had entertained the idea of conceding (before 
rioting started), at this point, he may be right to insist on a run off.  If 
there is not a second round, the hot-headed young men of Haiti will assume that 
their antics yesterday produced the results they wanted.   This will cause 
street rioting every time they do no agree with anything.     It still amazes 
me that people take to the street even before results are announced.  This does 
no show discontent but rather an attempt to influence the results by using 
violent means.    I know there may be others trying to influence results behind 
the scenes and there will always be (see the last 2 US elections).  However, 
paralyzing the country and causing death is going back to the "koupe tet, boule 
Kay" mentality that has stalled Haiti in the 1800's.

It is pretty clear that outside of Port-au-Prince, Preval had more competition 
showing a general pattern of fairness in these elections since various 
candidates led according to the region.  He will still win in a run-off.   In 
the May 2000 elections, a clear sign the elections were rigged was that there 
was a set pattern all around Haiti.   Lavalas people won everywhere even for 
the local positions where some of the most hated local people became mayors and 
Kazeks.