Haiti Democracy Project

www.haitipolicy.org

Haiti's President Aristide Upholds Democracy

Proposed Solution Fulfills OAS and U.S. Stipulations

BRENTWOOD, MD - President Jean-Bertrand Aristide has restated the position of his government, first taken in March, to pursue a solution to the political impasse in the country. President Aristide has proposed a solution that fulfills his agreement with the United States and takes into consideration all the suggestions made by the Organization of American States (OAS). President Aristide's attempts have been welcomed by the U.S. and the OAS, as well as civil society representatives, the business community and opposition parties in Haiti.

President Aristide has committed to rerun the contested senate seats from the May 2000 elections. According to the OAS, the U.S. and all international observers, the elections held in May 2000 were free, fair and democratic. The only source of controversy has been the determination of winners in 7-9 senate seats which were called on the first round. In a further attempt to negotiate a compromise, President Aristide has proposed an accelerated electoral calendar that will shorten the terms of all parliamentarians from the May 2000 elections. Several attempts made by the President to initiate dialogue between his party, the Lavalas Family, and an outspoken opposition coalition have been met with stubborn resistance from that coalition, the Democratic Convergence. Parties who have attended recent negotiations with President Aristide unanimously deplore the Convergence for refusing to move forward in consultations and for deepening the suffering of the people during this transition.

Although the media continue to label the situation a political or electoral crisis, there is no crisis, as all but one group have participated in negotiations with a positive outcome. The Convergence, which lost credibility with the Haitian people by naming an alternative president and calling for the restoration of the army (which terrorized the Haitian population for most of the 20th Century), does not represent the majority of Haitians.

President Aristide, the democratically elected president of Haiti, represents the majority of Haitians. In his speech Wednesday Aristide responded to the call from the Convergence to re-stage the entire local and legislative elections of May 2000. He made clear his position that it would be a direct contradiction to the will of the people to nullify their votes. Addressing local leaders Aristide stated, "Since we are talking about democracy, you and I are elected officials. We all should remember that, so that no one changes the choices the people have made during the election When I am here talking to each of you, I am talking to the many people who voted you in, because you are the elected representatives of the people."

Melinda Miles, coordinator of Haiti Reborn/Quixote Center, reacted to Aristide's statements saying, "It would be an assault to democracy in Haiti to rerun every seat from the May 2000 elections. The majority of Haitians mobilized, exercising their democratic rights and expressing their will, and the international community validated their vote. President Aristide's proposal represents the most appropriate step to uphold democracy and respect the will of Haitian voters."

For more information, contact Melinda Miles, Haiti Reborn/Quixote Center at (301)699-0042, cell: 240-432-7414. A detailed report of the elections held in Haiti in 2000 is available at http://www.quixote.org/haiti/elections.