Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PORTAUPRINCE2103
2006-11-03 14:25:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Port Au Prince
Cable title:  

LOCAL AND MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IN 33 DAYS: KEY TASKS

Tags:  PGOV PREL KDEM HA 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO8941
PP RUEHQU
DE RUEHPU #2103/01 3071425
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 031425Z NOV 06 ZFR
FM AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4445
INFO RUEHZH/HAITI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 1268
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA PRIORITY 1105
RUEHQU/AMCONSUL QUEBEC PRIORITY 0610
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1020
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 002103

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/EX AND WHA/CAR
S/CRS
SOUTHCOMALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR
INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA)
WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM HA
SUBJECT: LOCAL AND MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IN 33 DAYS: KEY TASKS

PORT AU PR 00002103 001.4 OF 002


///ZFR///ZFR///ZFR///ZFR///
PLEASE CANCEL PORT AU PRINCE 2103
TELEGRAM WILL BE RESENT UNDER NEW MRN.
THANK YOU.
///ZFR///ZFR///ZFR///ZFR///


PORT AU PR 00002103 002.2 OF 002


segments, beginning November 8. This training will last 2
days. The 800 members of the different local appeals offices
(the BECE) have completed their training.


5. Campaigning and Civic Education


The CEP on October 30 formally opened the campaign season,
though there is little noticeable political activity. CEP
President Max Mathurin in an October 5 meeting with the
Ambassador expressed concern about voter participation. CEP
should, however, begin a voter education campaign. The
original timeline provided by the CEP indicated that civic
education would begin on October 8 though it has not yet
begun. The CEP claims that they plan to begin radio and
television ads three weeks prior to elections.


6. Security


MINUSTAH, with assistance from the Haitian National Police
(HNP),is responsible for security. SRSG Edmond Mulet has
instructed all MINUSTAH sections to give elections priority.
MINUSTAH,s central and departmental coordinating authorities
(JESC and DJESC) have been reactivated in preparation for
December 3. Force Commander General Elito is working on
final December 3 deployment plans and has said that MINUSTAH
will be ready.

Comment: OAS generated final ballot layouts, however,
MINUSTAH EAS, informal review of the ballots reveal
discrepancies in candidate names, which presented a problem
in 40-50 communes. Given that local elections tended to be
more personal, and thus more prone to violence, EAS indicated
that these errors were more than printing errors but raised
serious security concerns as impetus for local fighting.
According to Carlos Currie, Deputy Director of EAS, the
errors cannot be corrected and security implications of the
errors are being discussed among the units of MINUSTAH. In
these "hot zones," security will be reinforced.


7. Budget


The projected budget by MINUSTAH for the elections is 16.9
million USD, with only 13 million USD pledged. Canada,
promising 4 million Canadian dollars (approximately 4 million
USD),and the EU, promising 4 million euro (approximately 5
million USD),have not yet delivered their pledges to the
UNDP. The CEP, in a meeting with the Ambassador on October
5, stated that the lack of funds was a problem and urged her
to press her colleagues on this issue. Since then, Canadian
funds have become available for disbursement. The GoH has
agreed to loan the EU portion to the UNDP and the EU will
reimburse the GoH when the funds become available. Brazil
announced a $1 million pledge at the Prime Minister's October
23 meeting.
TIGHE