Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy
On Elections In Haiti
October 26, 2005

MR. LEAHY.  Mr. President, over a year and a half has passed since President Aristide’s departure from Haiti.  Since then, the country has been run by a weak and largely ineffectual interim government of technocrats with little if any political experience.  The results have been disappointing, characterized by widespread political violence, human rights violations and economic stagnation.

 It is in this context of insecurity and desperation that Haiti is preparing for national elections, and the question must be asked if it is possible to hold free and fair elections in this climate.  Or, alternatively, should they be postponed until more favorable conditions exist?

The interim government of Prime Minister Gerard Latortue has failed to deliver stability and economic progress and, for the fourth time this year, has postponed the elections.  Presently, they are planned for December 15, but there is widespread concern that if held they will be anything but inclusive or fair. 

To begin with, the Haitian people are largely ignorant about the electoral process and have no faith that it will make any difference in their lives.  Out of a total of 4.5 million eligible voters only an estimated 870,000 have registered, with many supporters of the Lavalas Party – a large portion of the electorate – threatening to boycott.  I am told that voter registration stations have been placed in less than 500 locations, a fraction of what was done in previous years.   

Haitians are despairing over the lack of jobs and government services, and, conversely, the prevalence of crime.  As the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, four out of five Haitians live on less than $2 a day and nearly half of the children are malnourished.  In the last year, there have been almost 800 killings, and kidnappings by armed gangs have become endemic.  Only recently, after a shaky start, the United Nations Stabilization Mission (MINUSTAH) has been making progress in preventing even greater violence.  But the security situation remains precarious. 

Equally troubling is our own government’s seeming indifference to the deteriorating situation in Haiti.  Several weeks ago, Secretary of State Rice flew into Port-au-Prince for a five hour visit that amounted to little more than a photo op.  If anything, it only served to remind the few Haitians who were aware of her visit of how little attention we have paid to Haiti since the overthrow of President Aristide.

The Haitian Constitution states that a new government is to take office by February 7, 2006.  Obviously, that would be desirable.  But the stakes are too great for Haiti and for this hemisphere to be bound by an arbitrary date if there is a significant risk that the elections will be seen as divisive or unfair.  I can not assess that risk myself, but I am concerned as I know many people are including Vermonters who have followed this situation closely. 

The Haitian government, the United Nations, the United States, France and other countries in the region need to seriously consider the pros and cons of going forward in December, versus taking a few more months to try to improve the security situation and complete the registration process and other preparations.  Elections that are not seen as legitimate by a large portion of the electorate, or that are conducted in a climate of fear and intimidation, could unleash a violent backlash with far reaching consequences.

The next few weeks are critical.  Significant logistical, political, and security obstacles need to be overcome if Haiti is to have elections with any semblance of credibility.  There are few options left for a country that is already teetering on the brink of failure and cannot afford to lose much more.  We must keep the best interests of the Haitian people in mind and do everything possible to help create the conditions necessary for Haiti to take the next step toward democratic stability. 

# # # # #