Haiti to hold general elections in 2005
by Dominique Levanti
Tuesday, April 6, 2004
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP): Haiti's rival
political groups have agreed to hold national elections next year, Prime
Minister Gerard Latortue announced Monday in a new boost for the Caribbean
state's efforts to restore calm. Tough
conditions will be put on candidates hoping to take part in the presidential,
legislative and municipal elections in an effort to avoid intimidation and
violence, officials said. Latortue announced
the accord as US Secretary of State Colin Powell visited Haiti in a show of
support for the temporary government that is trying to pick up the pieces
after Jean Bertrand Aristide resigned and fled the country on February 29.
The United States has provided about 2,000 of the 3,600 member international
stabilisation force that arrived in Haiti soon after Aristide escaped a
mounting uprising and demonstrations. The
agreement between the various parties, including Aristide's former ruling
Lavalas party, was signed late on Sunday night.
"A political agreement has been reached between the political parties and the
representatives of civil society for general elections to be held in 2005,"
Latortue told a press conference with Powell at his side.
"The new president will be able to take over February 7, 2006, at the latest,"
he added. The prime minister, a respected
former UN worker, said no-one from the transitional government would be
allowed to stand in the election. "Those who were in the old (Aristide)
government must publicly renounce violence to be a candidate," he added.
"Violence must be ruled out for anyone who wants to be in power," Latortue
said. Latortue, whose government has said it
wants Aristide extradited to face legal action, strongly condemned the former
president, who has claimed he was forced out of power.
"The country is in a state of total bankruptcy," Latortue said. "Those who
were here before left the country with absolutely nothing."
"They took everything they could and they emptied the coffers, including the
central bank's vault before leaving," he said.
A new Provisional Election Council will start work in a few weeks and Latortue
also said a truth, justice and reconciliation commission, similar to one
created in South Africa after apartheid, would be set up.
The economy ministry will establish an anti-corruption agency, said Latortue,
who expressed hope that Haiti will "end with corruption."
Latortue was given the task of leading the political transition after Aristide
fled. The US secretary of state said the
United States would contribute nine million dollars to an Organisation for
American States 'democracy mission' in Haiti.
"Today the Haitian people have the chance for a new beginning," Powell said.
"I urge the proud people of Haiti to come together in peace, to seize this new
chance to put your country firmly on the path to democracy."
Latortue said he spoke to Powell about the country's security problems,
including the need to train more police officers and disarm armed groups.
Back...
Most popular
articles: viewed, printed and e-mailed
Printable
version
| 
