HAITIAN HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION URGES CEP TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 000159 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/EX, WHA/CAR, S/CRS, AND INR/IAA STATE PASS AID FOR WHA/CAR SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/11/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM EAID HA SUBJECT: HAITIAN HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION URGES CEP TO RECONSIDER LAVALAS EXCLUSION FROM SENATE CANDIDATE LIST Classified By: Janet A. Sanderson for Reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Haiti's leading human rights organization criticized the electoral authority's decision to exclude Fanmi Lavalas from competing in partial Senate elections planned for April as politically motivated. The National Human Rights Defense Network (RNDDH) fears the decision, if not rectified, could lead to political instability. Lavalas is nevertheless angry that this organization fingered some of its candidates for past criminal associations. The RNDDH will seek immediate talks with the CEP, Fanmi Lavalas and other parties in an effort to prevent derailing of the elections process. End summary. ¶2. (C) RNDDH Executive Director Pierre Esperance and Deputy Director Marie Yolene Gilles told PolOff February 6 that the CEP excluded Lavalas in order to advantage Lespwa, which would have been heavily challenged by Lavalas in the elections. Esperance said Lavalas represents a significant constituency. Its exclusion will not only raise concerns about the CEP's objectivity, but will lead to increased political tension and possible instability. EXCLUSION OF SOME LAVALAS CANDIDATES IS A GOOD THING -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) From a human rights perspective, RNDDH reps said they were glad to see several Senate candidates implicated in serious crimes excluded from the list. Esperance said that their inclusion would have made a ''mockery of the political process.'' Disqualifying all the other Lavalas candidates who had no criminal past, based on a narrow interpretation of the electoral law, was very problematic. There was no way the CEP would escape accusations that it was using the institution's authority for political purposes. ¶4. (C) Gilles revealed that the RNDDH had helped the CEP vet the Senate candidates based on information in its database, hoping those candidates with egregious criminal backgrounds would not be allowed to further compete. She showed Poloff a January 27 letter addressed to Esperance from CEP Councilor Ginette Cherubin, soliciting information on all of the candidates. RNDDH responded on February 4 with background information on nine individuals from several parties suspected of a range of crimes. RNDDH released these names and the suspected wrongdoings of the nine candidates, which included four from Lavalas. Gilles said RNDDH was concerned that candidates with no apparent criminal records were expunged from the final list of candidates. FANMI LAVALAS REACTS -------------- ¶5. (C) On February 4, Fanmi Lavalas Executive Committee Coordinator Maryse Narcisse wrote a letter to RNDDH asserting that all Lavalas candidates met electoral requirements, and threatening RNDDH with a lawsuit. Both Esperance and Gilles said their office has received numerous complaints, accusing RNDDH of interfering with Lavalas participation by misrepresenting facts concerning candidates in this organization's published report. Gilles said that she has received personal threats since the release of that report. DIALOGUE AND INCLUSION ARE CRITICAL -------------- ¶6. (C) Esperance said RNDDH representatives plan to meet with the CEP leadership as soon as possible to urge reconsideration of its decision. He also plans to ask Senator Heriveaux (Lavalas) to urge his constituency to remain calm. He will suggest that Heriveaux work with the RNDDH, the CEP and other political parties to reach an amicable solution. ¶7. (C) Esperance worried that if the CEP does not reconsider exclusion of Lavalas, Lavalas hardliners might resort to violence, especially after the Carnival festival at the end of February. Lavalas, he said, will not accept the CEP decision ''lying down.'' If this problem is not resolved, he believed the Senate elections will not take place as planned and the political environment will deteriorate. He predicted that President Preval will do nothing to help resolve the situation since his party, Lespwa, stands to pick up a number of seats without Lavalas competition. Moreover, he added, ''it's no secret that Preval does not want elections.'' Esperance supported the international community's pressing the CEP to reconsider its position. PORT AU PR 00000159 002 OF 002 SANDERSON