27197: Hermantin(Editorial)Slogging toward elections in Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

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.