Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PORTAUPRINCE355
2006-02-22 20:40:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Port Au Prince
Cable title:
MINUSTAH PROJECTS ONE WEEK DELAY FOR SECOND ROUND
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UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 000355
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CAR, DRL, S/CRS
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM PKAO EAID HA
SUBJECT: MINUSTAH PROJECTS ONE WEEK DELAY FOR SECOND ROUND
REF: A. PORT-AU-PRINCE 336
B. PORT-AU-PRINCE 323
UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 000355
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CAR, DRL, S/CRS
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM PKAO EAID HA
SUBJECT: MINUSTAH PROJECTS ONE WEEK DELAY FOR SECOND ROUND
REF: A. PORT-AU-PRINCE 336
B. PORT-AU-PRINCE 323
1. MINUSTAH officials project a delay of one week from the
previously announced date of March 19 for the second round
run-off election. They blame the slippage primarily on the
delay in vote tabulation, caused by public demonstrations in
reaction to the presidential vote count (ref B). They also
attribute delays in the parliamentary vote count to the
improvised nature of many of the tally sheets that have
handwritten lists of candidates in random order.
2. The timeline proposed by MINUSTAH will require approval
and cooperation by the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP).
The CEP must address any contestations to the results
expeditiously, complying with the 24 hour window provided in
the electoral law. Almost as important as dealing with the
contestation period, will be the CEP's prompt approval and
publication of the final candidate list.
3. MINUSTAH's the proposed timeline follows:
- Final candidate list must be available by:
March 4
- Printing of ballots (in Santo Domingo)
for 9 Departments (not incl. West):
March 5 - 12
- Delivery convoy, Santo Domingo to Port-au-Prince:
March 13 or 14
- Deployment of electoral materials to voting
centers (VCs) for 9 Departments (not incl. West):
March 15 - 25
- Printing of ballots for West Department:
March 16 - 18
- Delivery convoy, Santo Domingo to Port-au-Prince:
March 19 or 20
- Deployment of electoral materials to VCs in West
Department:
March 21 - 25
- Second Round Election Day:
March 26.
4. Comment: According to the Haitian constitution, a
parliament must be in place to swear in the new president.
Thus, any delay in the second round would cause the delay of
a constitutional transfer of power. We have made this point
forcefully to IGOH officials, but, as was the case in
preparing for the first round, we expect to be monitoring CEP
officials and MINUSTAH advisors on a daily basis in order to
hold to schedule. First and foremost, the CEP and the IGOH
must resolve the dispute between CEP director general Jacques
Bernard and his adversaries on the CEP so that Bernard may
resume his management of the process. End Comment.
CARNEY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CAR, DRL, S/CRS
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM PKAO EAID HA
SUBJECT: MINUSTAH PROJECTS ONE WEEK DELAY FOR SECOND ROUND
REF: A. PORT-AU-PRINCE 336
B. PORT-AU-PRINCE 323
1. MINUSTAH officials project a delay of one week from the
previously announced date of March 19 for the second round
run-off election. They blame the slippage primarily on the
delay in vote tabulation, caused by public demonstrations in
reaction to the presidential vote count (ref B). They also
attribute delays in the parliamentary vote count to the
improvised nature of many of the tally sheets that have
handwritten lists of candidates in random order.
2. The timeline proposed by MINUSTAH will require approval
and cooperation by the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP).
The CEP must address any contestations to the results
expeditiously, complying with the 24 hour window provided in
the electoral law. Almost as important as dealing with the
contestation period, will be the CEP's prompt approval and
publication of the final candidate list.
3. MINUSTAH's the proposed timeline follows:
- Final candidate list must be available by:
March 4
- Printing of ballots (in Santo Domingo)
for 9 Departments (not incl. West):
March 5 - 12
- Delivery convoy, Santo Domingo to Port-au-Prince:
March 13 or 14
- Deployment of electoral materials to voting
centers (VCs) for 9 Departments (not incl. West):
March 15 - 25
- Printing of ballots for West Department:
March 16 - 18
- Delivery convoy, Santo Domingo to Port-au-Prince:
March 19 or 20
- Deployment of electoral materials to VCs in West
Department:
March 21 - 25
- Second Round Election Day:
March 26.
4. Comment: According to the Haitian constitution, a
parliament must be in place to swear in the new president.
Thus, any delay in the second round would cause the delay of
a constitutional transfer of power. We have made this point
forcefully to IGOH officials, but, as was the case in
preparing for the first round, we expect to be monitoring CEP
officials and MINUSTAH advisors on a daily basis in order to
hold to schedule. First and foremost, the CEP and the IGOH
must resolve the dispute between CEP director general Jacques
Bernard and his adversaries on the CEP so that Bernard may
resume his management of the process. End Comment.
CARNEY