Haitian defenders refuse to push US elections after Moise’s death Election news

The top U.S. diplomat has called on Haitian political leaders to work for elections this year, with major Haitian civil society activists and other experts backing down as a “mistake,” amid deep political instability.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on Haitian leaders to “gather around a more inclusive, peaceful and secure view of the country and pave the way for free and fair elections this year.”

USA and United Nations say the nationwide legislative and presidential election scheduled for September should move forward despite being killed last week President Jovenel Moise.

But the assassination has shaken the country, which has already faced widespread political instability and major tambourine violence, – and leading civil society groups and rights activists say voting will not be the best way out of the crisis.

Political instability

Haitian authorities have charged 26 Colombians and two Haitian Americans in the first hour of July 7 when Moise and his wife, Martine Moise, were shot while they were members of the Mercenary crew.

Authorities have reported that seventeen Colombian suspects have been arrested and three killed after interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph ordered a 15-day “state of siege” across the country.

On Sunday, Haiti said he allegedly arrested the brain Behind the murder of Moses, a Haitian living in the US state of Florida was named Christian Emmanuel Sanon.

But the reason is not clear and questions remain as to who was involved in the assassination, as well as what comes out of the broken and largely extinct political system in Haiti.

Moise has been ruling by decree since last year, while opposition groups, civil society organizations and senior jurists said the presidency ended in February. mass protests asking him to resign.

Many state institutions do not function, and the country’s constitution does not make it clear who should run the government. Joseph claimed power, but this has been challenged by two other high-ranking officials, Prime Minister-designate Ariel Henry and Senate President Joseph Lambert.

US troops

After Moses died, Joseph The US and UN called for the deployment of troops To secure key infrastructure in Haiti last week. The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden so far has said it has no plans to do so, but has not completely ruled it out.

Haitian journalist and activist Monique Clesca rejected the idea of ​​sending U.S. troops, and in an interview on Sunday told Al Jazeera that the history of such expansions in Haiti is “horrible.”

“It’s a great help we can get in terms of a research team,” he said, referring to what’s underway research He was involved in the murder of Moses. “But we certainly don’t need US boots on the ground and I’m very happy because they said no, and I hope they continue to say no.”

U.S. government officials traveled to Haiti on Sunday and later met with three major Haitian political leaders: Joseph, Henry, and Lambert. Emily Horne, a spokeswoman for the U.S. National Security Council, said the U.S. delegation had encouraged an open and constructive dialogue to reach an agreement on free and fair elections in Haiti.

The United States occupied Haiti from 1915, when the president of Haitian Guillaume Sam, Jean Vilbrun, was assassinated until 1934. “It was an occupation that left Haiti worse off than before,” Clesca said, adding that historically the UN has also had Haitian missions. negative effect.

“We don’t want that,” he said. “We need to be clear on the way forward, and the way forward is to have Haitians, civil society and politicians together.”

“Embarrassing Results”

Meanwhile, Pierre Esperance is Haiti’s chief human rights defender on July 9th push Biden took a different approach to the country than before.

“In the current state of insecurity in Haiti, the Biden administration must work with Haitians, not the United States and the international community, to decide the future of our country, strengthen the conditions and guarantee our democracy. Our basic human rights,” Esperance wrote in a column on Just Security.

Esperance pointed out the violence of the gangs turned on Under the presidency of Moses – and which resulted in hundreds of murders, kidnappings and mass displacements – and said it was “shameful” that Washington would continue to hold elections in September in the face of that atmosphere.

That is “the path that will result in embarrassing results for Haitian citizens and dozens of deaths,” he said.

“In this violent and lawless environment where unbelievable state institutions work – how did Moses deal with the situation that eventually cost him his life – how could opposition candidates campaign safely? How could people vote and know they will come home alive? How can people be trusted in the results? “

Haitian lawyer and opposition political leader Michel Michel also said on Friday night that “the solution to the political crisis must be Haitian and largely agreed between the political class, civil society, the diaspora and popular groups.”

“Any other process is unhealthy and is dead on arrival,” he said he tweeted.

The Biden administration’s push for elections has raised questions in the US.

“Haitian politics is at a crossroads,” Congressman Andy Levin said he tweeted on Monday. “Will we support democracy in an empty way, even if we demand elections ASAP, even if they are not free to choose between those who pretend to be in power? Or will we support Haitian civil society while working to restore true democracy?”

Peter Mulrean, who was US ambassador to Haiti from 2015 to 2017, also wrote in another Just Security column Forcing Haiti to hold elections this year “would be a mistake.”

“The degradation of Haitian democracy is at a critical juncture, perhaps at a point of no return. It is thought that the new elections will clarify the situation and restore stability, but experience teaches us the complete opposite. All Haiti needs to do is take stock of what has been broken and fix it. That is what a broad coalition of opposition parties and civil society is demanding, ”Mulrean said.