HAITI ELECTIONS UPDATE #4: HUGE TURNOUT, SLOW

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 000276 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR DRL S/CRS SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA) TREASURY FOR MAUREEN WAFER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KDEM ASEC HA SUBJECT: HAITI ELECTIONS UPDATE #4: HUGE TURNOUT, SLOW VOTING AS OF MIDMORNING ¶1. Summary. Crowds of Haitians in an upbeat mood began to form long lines at voting centers as early as 0500 this morning. Disorganization caused virtually every voting center to delay opening. Post believes that most voting centers opened between 0700 and 0800, though some opened later. Voting is proceeding slowly because of poorly prepared or low skilled polling personnel. Haitians have responded with an admirable display of forbearance, and cool weather and overcast skies are helping to keep tempers in check. Partisan and non-partisan poll watchers are on hand in great numbers. Many reports of disorder and protests circulating on the radio and through the rumor mill are exaggerated. The most serious problems appears to be in Cite Soleil, where at least one voting center did not open until roughly 1030. MINUSTAH and the CEP have re-focused security and technical personnel on Cite Soleil. Responding to the turnout and slow pace of voting, the CEP announced at 0900 that everyone who wanted to vote can do so. End Summary. Large Turnout -------------- ¶2. Long lines at voting centers began forming in Port-au-Prince well before the official opening of 0600. Voting centers delayed opening in almost every instance, however, as poll workers scrambled to sort voting lists, distribute ballots, and set up polling sites. In many instances, poll workers worked by candlelight before dawn in outdoor areas or buildings without electricity. Once open, bottlenecks formed at the entrances of many voting centers, many of which are schools. Inside, there is further confusion over the location of polling stations. Voters in many instances appear not know or to be misinformed of their numbered polling site, and there were too few officials on hand to direct the flow of people. Slow Voting -------------- ¶3. Polling is proceeding slowly. In many cases, only one voter utilizes a space meant for four. Voters mostly seem to be responding with tremendous patience. They formed long and orderly lines despite a relative lack of visible police presence, who are concentrated at the entrances of the voting centers. Instances of jostling or more serious pushing and shoving centered on the entry points to voting centers where young men pushed through the crowd. In most cases, thousands of other voters calmly waited to enter. Embassy Observation Teams (EOTs) in the provinces report similar problems with disorganization and late openings, but voting centers appear to be functioning relatively smoothly with no confirmed reports of violence. Polcouns sought out a voting center in the upper-class neighborhood of Petionville were the radio had reported serious crowd control issues. A unit of Haitian crowd-control police restored order at the gate of a voting center (a high school) without resorting to force. Polcouns did observe one fatality near the entrance of another voting center, though voters and workers paid little notice: radio reports later confirmed that an elderly gentlemen had died from "asphyxiation." (Note: This is the only confirmed fatality, although media reports there have been other deaths due to overcrowding in Port-au-Prince. End Note.) ¶3. As of 0900 EST, MINUSTAH identified 18 locations nationally where they mobilized additional resources for crowd management. The most serious of these appeared to be in Cite Soleil, where a voting center serving the Delmas 2 area reportedly did not open. MINUSTAH later reported that this voting center opened at roughly 1030. Despite rumors, post has not confirmed that protests or demonstrations by Cite Soleil residents have caused widespread disruption. MINUSTAH officials reported that they had successfully deployed tear-gas at a "mega" voting center in the southern lower-class Port-au-Prince neighborhood of Carrefour Feuilles to manage an unruly crowd and that the voting center had resumed operations. ¶5. The CEP held a press conference at 1000, apologizing for the problems and confusion and stressing that Director General Jacques Bernard was himself working to resolve them. At approximately 1200, the CEP issued a press statement repeating the previous assurances and adding that any Haitian wishing to vote could do so. Prime Minister Lartortue after casting his ballot told the media that the polls would remain open after the original 1600 EST closing time (Note: In fact, polls were originally scheduled to close after all those in line at 1600 had voted. End Note.) ¶6. Comment: The most alarming reports of disorder in Port-au-Prince seem greatly exaggerated. In many cases these stories are later disproved, and we have several eyewitness accounts from supposed trouble spots where order and calm prevail. Voter turnout appears to be heavy both in Port-au-Prince and in the departments. This is encouraging on several scores, indicating that despite another flurry of alarmist rumors circulating in the final days of the campaign, the interim government and MINUSTAH were able to reassure the public that they had taken adequate security measures. Most importantly, the high turnout indicates that Haitians are committed to the democratic process, and look forward to electing a new government. CARNEY