|
17 December 2010 By Stephen
Lendman It's almost surreal following
Haiti's November 28 elections, a process elevating
fraud to a new level. So bad, in fact, most candidates
demanded voiding it and starting over, but no matter.
On December 9, New York Times Deborah Sontag
headlined, "Haitian Vote Results to Be Reviewed,"
saying: "Seeking to defuse the violent
protests that have shut down this country for two
days, Haiti's electoral council (CEP) promised....to
rapidly review the widely mistrusted preliminary
results...." Honest observers and most
candidates condemned them, citing brazen fraud,
widespread ballot box stuffing, polling stations
opening late, closing early, or not opening at all,
staffing them with functional illiterates, omitting
voter names from rolls, others told their ID cards
were invalid, and numerous other examples of electoral
illegitimacy, mocking a free and open process. Nonetheless, the recount was
ordered to validate it as well as placate angry voters
and candidates. It didn't so diplomats considered Plan
B, including France's Ambassador Didier Le Bret saying
alternative solutions have been discussed to prevent
Haiti from slipping into political chaos. They
include: -- disgruntled candidates given
three days through December 15 to appeal; -- establishing a transitional
government to organize new elections; -- letting all candidates
participate in the scheduled January 16 second round;
and -- letting new approved ones
participate, excluding those representing Fanmi
Lavalas. The Electoral Act's Section 40.1
(1) permits a runoff possibility with more than two
candidates, stating: "....if there is a tie between
candidates who obtained the greatest number of votes
in the first round, they all participate in the second
round." An electoral tie or close to it may mean "very
similar results between two or more candidates"
because contrary to Section 42, there's no mention of
"perfect equality." As a result, perhaps compromise
is allowed, Article 40.1 saying if first round
balloting produces no majority winner, a runoff
between the two highest vote getters will do so.
However, in case of virtual ties among more than two,
they can all participate in a second round. The combination of mass protests,
violence, public embarrassment, and rare dominant
media indignation dictate something be done to resolve
things, more than putting a brave face on transparent
fraud, bad enough to bother some right-wing
journalists who never met "free market" despots they
didn't love, including in Haiti. The Wall Street Journal's Mary
O'Grady for one, an earlier article describing her
unmatched extremism; her space a virtual truth-free
zone; her language hateful and vindictive; her tone
malicious and slanderous; her style bare-knuckled
thuggishness; and her material calculating,
mendacious, and shameless. Yet on December 13 she surprised,
in part at least, headlining her latest op-ed,
"Haiti's Preval Tries to Steal an Election," saying: "....Preval seems to regard
election fraud as an entitlement." It's a refreshing
change from her usual rhetoric, a nice try, but not
good enough. Washington controls Preval. Blaming him
takes the easy way out in lieu of pointing fingers
where they belong - at Obama power brokers
choreographing everything, blaming Preval for what
went wrong, reportedly with marines close by aboard
one or more ships ships, ready to storm ashore if
needed to restore calm and take over. Preval merely followed orders,
what O'Grady won't admit, even while criticizing
Arturo Valenzuela, Assistant Secretary of State for
Western Hemisphere Affairs, AWOL in Honduras on other
business, not in Port-au-Prince where she wants him,
resolving the electoral crisis before it spins more
out-of-control than already. Did he go? "Nope," and what about
Haitians. Again she surprised, saying they "displayed
near-saintly patience and stoic resilience (in spite)
of Mr. Preval's dismal performance. (The election) was
supposed (to) change horses. Mr. Preval and his
henchmen had other ideas, and for good reason,"
ignoring the obvious, citing instead Haiti's
"legendary....government corruption." Nonetheless, she described a
selection, not an electoral process for Jude Celestin
(Preval's choice) and ruling INITE party legislative
control. He made the runoff, finishing second while
INITE candidates won a two-thirds parliamentary
majority in first round balloting, angering even
O'Grady by their brazen fraud. "The US may be waking up to this
reality," she said, disingenuously expressing
"concern," not outrage like Haitians and honest
observers. "The CEP responded (saying) it will
'recount' the presidential votes. That's not good
enough coming from the institution that has had
custody of the ballots for two weeks, and Haitians
know it. Someone needs to break the news to Mr. Preval."
More urgently, to Washington, the real scoundrel
deserving blame, one O'Grady won't name, especially
when extremist Republicans have control, her
favorites. So far, two of top three presidential candidates, Mirlande Manigat, finishing first, and Michel Martelly, third best (both establishment figures) rejected the proposed recount. Others denounced the process, most demanding new elections. Then on December 11, former Alaska governor, vice presidential candidate, and caricature of a political leader, Sarah Palin, arrived in Port-au-Prince with evangelist Franklin Graham (a pro-war, Islamophobe hatemonger) on a bogus humanitarian mission. Likely, it was a presidential aspirant's campaign stunt, one unqualified for any public office let alone the nation's highest. AP said her "trip was largely closed to the press and she declined to take questions at (a carefully orchestrated) news conference." So far, Haiti's political crisis is unresolved. Sporadic violence continues. Greater eruptions may resume anytime. Raging cholera keeps spreading. Aid for stricken earthquake victims remains woefully inadequate, and Preval's CEP opened a hearing, inviting disgruntled candidates to appeal, trying to restore calm. A joint US, France, Canada, Brazil, Germany, Spain, UN, EU and OAS statement "encourage(d) the use of all legal avenues to advance a credible electoral process to ensure that the final results fully reflect the will of the Haitian voters," stopping well short of condemning electoral fraud, demanding first round balloting be voided, and calling for new elections as soon as possible. On December 12, AP reported that US deportations to Haiti will resume, saying: ICE spokeswoman Barbara Gonzalez said "the US expects to begin flying deportees with criminal records back to Haiti in January in coordination with Haiti's government," no matter how dire the conditions. She left unexplained what alleged criminality she means or if something contrived is being used to remove unwanted people, ones America never welcomed and doesn't want now. US Senator Patrick Leahy (D. VT) wants Haitian aid halted and visas for officials and their families suspended until a credible settlement is reached, or at least the appearance of one. Senator Richard Lugar (R. IN) blamed Preval for poor organization. Haitians demand justice, what Washington and world leaders refuse, manipulating events for some discrete solution, benefitting them, not popular need under real democratic governance.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening. http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/. |
Add Comments