Elections unlikely to bring peace to Haiti: UN expert

Friday, January 23, 2004

GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP): General elections are unlikely to put an end to escalating violence in Haiti because of the deteriorating rule of law, a UN-appointed human rights expert said in a report published Thursday.

"The institutional crisis in the country is such a source of insecurity that an early return to peace through elections seems to be unrealistic for as long as the rule of law is being replaced by a state of impunity," said Louis Joinet.

He cited the persecution of and violence against journalists as well as party, union and human rights activists and students as signs of the prevailing insecurity.

President Jean Bertrand Aristide, who is under mounting opposition pressure to resign, pledged last week that legislative elections would be held in the impoverished Caribbean nation within the next six months. 

More than 20,000 people marched through the Haitian capital on Wednesday in a show of support for Aristide.

The demonstration came hours after police used tear gas to prevent an attempted anti-government opposition by students at Port-au-Prince university.

The UN expert said anti-government rallies were "being broken up more and more violently with support from pro-government counter-demonstrators who are sometimes armed". 

"The fight against impunity (for the perpetrators of such violent acts) and insecurity are linked to the end of the political crisis," Joinet said at a press conference.

"How can elections be held in a country where violence has been on the rise for two months," he added.

"With or without Aristide, the real issue is the rule of law and the disappearing State."

The special rapporteur on the freedom of opinion and expression, Ambeyi Ligabo, and the special rapporteur on extra-judicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Asma Jahangir, meanwhile expressed their strong concern about the human rights situation in Haiti.

The situation has notably deteriorated since the start of violent confrontations between militias supporting and opposing the government, as well as with members of the police, they said in a communiqué.

Calling on Haitian authorities to stop the violence, they said that the last few months had also seen numerous attacks against political activists, journalists and radio stations. 

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