HAITI ELECTIONS OBSERVATIONS 1

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 000266 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR S/CRS SOUTHCOM ALSO 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 ASEC PKAO KDEM HA SUBJECT: HAITI ELECTIONS OBSERVATIONS 1 ¶1. Summary: As of 1530 local/EST five of six teams dispatched to the countryside had arrived safely at their cities of observation except for Election Observation Team (EOT) Hinche, which is still on the road. EOT Hinche estimates it should arrive by 1830 local/EST. Three EOTs are on the ground in Port-au-Prince. Port-au-Prince and the countryside appear to be calm. EOTs Port-au-Prince report vigorous campaign activity: street parties/rallies and rah rah bands for Rene Preval and Charles Henri Baker. End Summary. Provincial EOTs: All is Calm -------------- ¶2. All initial provincial reporting is of incident-free campaigning. EOTs traveling by vehicle reported no problems were encountered on the road. EOT Jacmel saw children handing out flowers in support of presidential candidate Leslie Manigat. EOT Gonaives initially reported a closing campaign for Presidential Candidate Evans Paul at 1600 local/EST. Now, however, it appears that Paul, traveling via helicopter from Port de Paix, with a brief stop in Gonaives, will wind up his campaign in Port-au-Prince. EOT Cap Haitien reports six presidential candidates have campaigned without incident in the region recently with MINUSTAH providing support. No incidents were reported. ¶3. Denneth Modeste, Special Representative of the OAS Secretary General, is in Cap Haitien to meet with the Council SIPDIS of Churches. Port-au-Prince: Business as Usual -------------- ¶4. The situation in Port-au-Prince appears normal for a Saturday (businesses are open, Petionville supermarkets are well-stocked, people are shopping, no reports of demonstrations or violence). Port-au-Prince teams have witnessed training at several Voter Centers; some of those Voter Centers visited already completed training of election workers. MINUSTAH security arrangements appear to be in place. At one Voter Center, election workers complained that they had not received their monthly payment, but intended, nevertheless, to report to work at the polls February 7. Embassy Elections Observation Coordination Center -------------- ¶5. Embassy stood up Elections Observation Coordination Center (EOCC) staffed by Mission personnel and TDY staff, including DS representatives. It closed at 1600 local/EST. It will operate Sunday and Monday 0900 - 1600 at the Embassy and from 1700 - 2100 at the EMR. Tuesday, election day, staffing hours at the embassy EOCC will be determined by the situation on the ground. CARNEY