18526: Esser: Re: 18517: McCalla: Voter Participation Nov. 2000 (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. E s s e r <torx@mail.joimail.com>

     This is obviously wrong to assume the numbers are correct for both
elections. But read the statement below by the State Department (yes:
the U.S. State Department) headlined: "U.S. Reiterates Satisfaction
with High Turnout in Haitian Election". So that does somewhat lay
rest to the idea the legislative elections in 2000 had a low turnout;
the OAS has the same position on this. The legislative and local
elections were on May 21 and later of 2000.

The presidential election in which Aristide got an absolute majority
of votes cast, was on November 26th of 2000. Here's a quote by Guy S.
Antoine:

"...The International observers (the ICIO, not the five CARICOM
members who stayed only in Port-au-Prince), the largest contingent of
national observers, KOZEPEP (a Haitian National Peasant Leadership
organization largely dedicated to the development of an agricultural
policy that favors the interests of the peasants), and the CEP
(Provisional Election Council) all arrived at a "national projection"
of 60% participation of registered voters (not a percentage of the
general population!)..."

Several sources give the numbers for the legislative elections as the
same as the presidential turnout which is obviously false. This can't
be construed as Aristide's fault, but rather to the laissez faire
attitude when it comes to reporting about Haiti. It is the same
mindset, that continuously can't even get the most obvious facts
straight, such as the number of Residents in a Haitian town that are
at times, given conservative estimates, are off by 80%...

If you have access to differing accounts by international observers
that were on location in Haiti at the time of the 2000 presidential
election, would you mind sharing them with us? Sadly, I have not been
able to find them, only estimates of low voter participation by
organizations that weren't on location.

And here are links through which you will find info in regard to the voter
turnout of the November 2000 elections by independent observers they
do not seem to arrive at 15% as Simidor says , but maybe he was there
too and has some more information to add:

http://www.quixote.org/haiti/elections/Dear_Senator_Dec_13_2000.html

http://haitiforever.com/windowsonhaiti/w00511.shtml

http://www.haiti-progres.com/2000/sm001129/xeng1129.htm

http://haitireborn.org/election-2000/



23 May 2000
U.S. Reiterates Satisfaction with High Turnout in Haitian Election
(State Department pleased by peaceful vote)
By Eric Green
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- The United States has reiterated its satisfaction with
the high turnout and "generally peaceful voting" that took place in
the Haitian elections May 21, says State Department Acting Spokesman
Philip Reeker.

Briefing reporters May 23, Reeker said, however, that the United
States is concerned over the reports of confusion in the tabulation of
election results. He said Haitian authorities and the Organization of
American States (OAS) are investigating all reports of irregularities
in that process.

"We have monitors down there working with the OAS, with Haitian
authorities to look into that," Reeker said. "But I would like to
reiterate that we're satisfied with the way things went ... and now
will watch for the results" of the election.

Reeker said the United States was "deeply concerned" over the death of
a mayoral candidate during a disturbance May 22. "We're calling upon
Haitian authorities to identify and bring to justice the responsible
party in that death," he said.

[...]

(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International
Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
http://usinfo.state.gov)



From: Jocelyn McCalla <makala99@yahoo.com>
Subject: 18517:  McCalla:  RE: 18492:  Esser: Re: 18453:  Simidor: Give Haiti


>Re: 2000 electoral results
>
>Thanks for referring to the charts that are posted on the web site. They are
>indeed quite informative. They tell us that the parliamentary elections
>held, I believe in July 2000, and the presidential elections held, again I
>believe in late November or December 2000, had the exact same number of
>registered voters and voter turnout, percentages included. Wow! For Haitians
>to have achieved this feat twice in a row is simply amazing! It's a real
>testimony to the ingenuity, determination and skills of the electoral
>commission, isn't it? With such assets, we shall have no fear. Despite the
>abyss to which the country has descended since then, Haitians will be able
>to fix the country in no time flat... the numbers will be there to prove it!
>
>-JM