HAITI GOVERNMENT APPROVES ELECTIONS GUARANTEE

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 002668 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR DRL S/CRS SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM HA SUBJECT: HAITI GOVERNMENT APPROVES ELECTIONS GUARANTEE COMMITTEE ¶1. In a meeting at the National Palace on October 27, the Interim Government of Haiti (IGOH) approved the formation of the Elections Guarantee Committee (EGC). A coalition of civil society groups and political parties requested the EGC after the formation of the Support Committee (SC) to the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) in early October. Osner Fevry, member of the new EGC and of the non-aligned parties group, announced October 28 that the EGC will be composed of eleven members: three from civil society; three from the churches (Protestant, Catholic and Voodoo); three from the political parties; one from the IGOH; and one from the National Council for Observation (CNO). Fevry said the EGC would investigate accusations of electoral fraud, vigilantly watch over the electoral process, and ensure electoral transparence. Like the support committee and the Nationality Commission, the EGC is not yet a legal body. According to Fevry the new EGC and IGOH will agree on a charter to be published in the coming days by decree or executive order. ¶2. Comment: In theory, establishing this committee could serve a useful purpose in providing a mechanism for non-partisan observation of the electoral process, complimenting the efforts of the CNO and other domestic observers. Some civic leaders view the SC as an unconstitutional IGOH transgression on fair elections and believe the EGC could hinder IGOH manipulations. If our experience with the CEP is any guide, however, a committee of this size and composition will only lead to further unproductive meddling in the process and further distract the IGOH. GRIFFITHS