HAITI ELECTIONS: ORDERLY WITH LIGHT TURNOUT

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT AU PRINCE 000720

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: DECL: 12/11/2010
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM HA
SUBJECT: HAITI ELECTIONS: ORDERLY WITH LIGHT TURNOUT

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Douglas M. Griffiths for reasons
1.4(b).


1. (SBU) Summary. Voting for the second round of
parliamentary elections is proceeding smoothly with light
turnout as of 1330. Estimates range from 10 to 20 percent
participation so far. The CEP has taken to the airwaves to
encourage voting, emphasizing better organization at voting
centers and minimal wait times. MINUSTAH reports calm
throughout the country, except for one incident in the city
of Saint Marc in the Artibonite Department. A clash between
supporters of the L,Espwa and Artibonite in Action (LAAA)
parties has reportedly led to the closing of the main voting
center in the city. Embassy officers have observed marked
improvement in the organization of voting centers, much more
visible security presence throughout the country, and a
notably calm atmosphere. The low turnout has generated
continued commentary among political observers bemoaning
Haitians' low regard for parliament compared to the
traditional authority they confer on the president. End
Summary.

Turnout
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2. (U) Media and Embassy observers report turnout as of
mid-day in a range between 10 and 20 percent. CEP Director
General Jacques Bernard stated on the radio that turnout in
the provinces was higher than in Port-au-Prince. Embassy
observers based in three departments outside of
Port-au-Prince also report that enthusiasm seems to be
greater in the countryside than in the cities. The Embassy
observer in the North Department reported nearly 75 percent
turnout at a voting center in a district outside Cap Haitian
where the deputy race is tightly contested, and turnout as
low as 5% at voting centers in the city. Embassy officers in
Port-au-Prince observed medium-sized lines to vote in one of
the larger voting sites serving the Cite Soleil slum at 1030,
but only handfuls of voters at sites minutes away.


3. (U) CEP President Mathurin has gone on the radio to
encourage Haitians to turn out, emphasizing the improvements
the CEP has made to make the process easier and the lack of
lines at voting centers. Local press coverage is focused on
the low turnout and the reasons for it, in some cases casting
blame on the organizers for lack of a publicity campaign or
the Haitians for their lack of interest.


4. (U) Complaints stem principally from voters who were
unofficially added to voting lists and allowed to vote during
the first round, but whom elections officials are now turning
away. The CEP emphasized between rounds that only those
persons already on the voting list for a particular voting
center would be allowed to vote and posted the voting lists
at voting centers three days in advance of election day. The
CEP has publicly restated the position for the media several
times today and established a hotline for voters with
problems and complaints.

Security
--------------


5. (C) MINUSTAH,s joint operation reported no major
security concerns as of 1130 with the exception of Saint
Marc. In that city, clashes between rival supporters from
President-elect Preval,s L,Espwa party and the LAAA party,
led by the prime minister's nephew Yuri Latortue, and reputed
to have the support of local gangs, reportedly resulted in
the destruction of ballots and tally sheets and the
indefinite closing of the city's main voting center.
Unconfirmed additional reports suggest that disturbances
around Saint Marc may affect other voting centers, and
MINUSTAH has sent reinforcements . MINUSTAH,s political
chief lamented to Polcouns that although MINUSTAH had
identified the area in advance as the source of potential
trouble, their advance deployment failed to prevent the
incident.


6. (U) Apart from that incident, observers around the country
report a calm and peaceful atmosphere. Embassy Observers
noted the significantly increased presence of MINUSTAH
military, UNPol and HNP personnel moving around the country
and stationed in voting centers. Embassy officers at a site
serving Cite Soleil observed a Brazilian military contingent
directly helping elections officials maintain order in the
line to vote. Officers also met with the same joint
UNPol/HNP roving patrol at two separate sites. The Canadian
UNPol officer in charge stated they had met with no trouble
at any of the designated "hot spots" during their rounds.
Embassy observers in the field reported that MINUSTAH had
concentrated security personnel in areas where tensions
reportedly ran high before election day, but that no
disruptions had materialized.

Organization
--------------


7. (U) Organization is visibly improved from the first round.
Elections authorities have posted much clearer signage
identifying voting bureaus within the voting centers and the
corresponding voting lists they serve. Poll workers appeared
to be much better trained and prepared at the opening of the
polls. Lower turnout has resulted in a far greater ratio of
elections workers able to help voters at any given site.
Polls generally opened on time opened even where authorities
encountered administrative problems.

Comment
--------------


8. (U) The lack of a sense of "event" for the decisive second
parliamentary round underlines the disparity between the
importance of the presidency and the parliament in the minds
of the Haitian people. A Haitian journalist at the voting
center outside Cite Soleil told Emboffs that the Haitian
people needed to better understand their constitution, which
gives parliament powers as great as the president,s. He
hoped that this election would be the first step in an
education process and that it would produce a parliament that
would at least attempt to carry out its constitutional
functions.
SANDERSON