Electoral Observation Mission in Haiti
Press Release - 21 May
Informal Translation
The following are the preliminary observations of the Electoral Observation Mission of the OAS, issued at the close of the polls. The EOM stresses that these observations are only preliminary and that important information still has to be gathered before the publication of a global report.
The Mission has noted that Haitian voters showed their strong desire to go to the polls by the relatively high participation in the elections. The EOM congratulates the voters, the Government, the police and the political parties for having worked together to create the climate necessary for the vote.
As a general observation, the Mission noted that voting took place in a calm environment in almost all areas of the country, despite the late opening of polling stations and the delay in the delivery of electoral materials in a number of these. Nonetheless, some cases of violence were noted, but the Mission does not believe that these incidents had a major effect on polling throughout the country. The EOM is particularly worried by reports it has just received on the activity of armed groups in some areas; these reports will be followed up in order to clarify the facts.
On several occasions, a number of potentially violent incidents were defused due to the professionalism shown by the Haitian National Police and the overall success of operations and the high voter participation can be attributed to the peaceful climate observed in most areas visited. The Mission extends its congratulations to the Haitian National Police for having guaranteed security despite real challenges.
The Mission also congratulates the National Electoral Observation Council (CNOE) on the active participation of national observers in almost all the polling stations visited throughout the country. The widespread involvement of national observers represents an important contribution to the establishment of structures that can guarantee credible and transparent elections in Ha�ti. The EOM encourages the CNOE to continue to train observers with this goal in mind.
A high rate of participation of representatives of political parties in the polling stations visited was noted. Despite some irregularities observed in the accreditation of these representatives, the EOM considers their participation was an important contribution to the transparency of the vote.
It is regrettable though that the legislative, municipal and local elections did not take place in the Grande-Anse today; the EOM encourages the Provisional Electoral Council to work to permit the citizens of this department to go to the polls as soon as possible.
Throughout the day, observers received several complaints from political parties and their representatives. The EOM will follow up on these complaints and will continue to take note of the observations of the
political parties on the poll throughout the course of the next few days.The Mission stresses that it cannot yet present a global evaluation of the polling before the publication of results. Nonetheless, the EOM will continue to observe the count and the compilation of results in the polling
stations, the communal and departmental electoral offices (BECs and BEDs) and the Provisional Electoral Council. The EOM encourages the Government the police political parties and civil society to continue to work for the success of the rest of the process. The Mission also encourages candidates and political parties to respect the will of the Haitian people at the announcement of results.
COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE
Le 21 mai 2000La Mission d�Observation �lectorale de l�O.E.A pr�sente ses observations pr�liminaires sur le d�roulement du scrutin � la cl�ture des urnes. Elle tient � souligner que ces observations ne sont que pr�liminaires et qu�il
reste encore beaucoup d�informations importantes � recueillir avant de pr�senter son �valuation globale.
La Mission constate que l��lectorat ha�tien a exprim� sa volont� d�aller aux urnes par le taux relativement �lev� de sa participation aux �lections. La Mission f�licite les �lecteurs, le Gouvernement, la police et les partis politiques d�avoir travaill� de concert afin de cr�er un climat propice � la tenue du scrutin.
D�une fa�on g�n�rale, la Mission a constat� que le vote s�est d�roul� dans le calme sur la presque totalit� du territoire national en d�pit de l�ouverture tardive des bureaux de vote et du retard caus� dans la livraison
des mat�riaux �lectoraux dans certains bureaux. Cependant, quelques cas de violence ont �t� constat�s, mais la Mission estime que ces �v�nements n�ont pas eu une incidence majeure sur le d�roulement du scrutin au niveau national. En particulier, la Mission est pr�occup�e par des rapports re�us r�cemment sur des actions de groupes arm�s dans quelques r�gions; lesquels vont faire l�objet de suivi afin d��claircir les faits.
Les actions professionnelles de la Police Nationale d�Ha�ti ont pu �viter des incidents majeurs de violence � plusieurs occasions. Le bon d�roulement du scrutin et la participation �lev�e des �lecteurs peut �tre attribu�e au climat paisible dans lequel les �lections ont eu lieu dans la plupart des r�gions visit�es. La Mission tient � f�liciter la Police Nationale d�Ha�ti pour avoir assur� la s�curit� en d�pit de r�els d�fis.
La Mission f�licite �galement le Conseil National d�Observation �lectorale de la participation active des observateurs nationaux dans la presque totalit� des bureaux de vote qu�elle a visit� � travers le pays. Cette
participation massive des observateurs nationaux repr�sente une importante contribution � la mise en place de structures pour garantir des �lections cr�dibles et transparentes en Ha�ti. La Mission encourage le CNO �
continuer la formation d�observateurs dans ce sens.
La Mission a �galement constat� la participation massive des mandataires des partis politiques dans les bureaux de vote visit�s. Malgr� quelques irr�gularit�s observ�es dans l�accr�ditation de ces mandataires, la Mission consid�re que leur participation a apport� une contribution positive � la transparence du scrutin.
La Mission regrette cependant que les �lections l�gislatives, municipales et locales n�aient pas eu lieu dans la Grande-Anse aujourd�hui et elle encourage le CEP � travailler pour que les citoyens de ce d�partement
puissent aller aux urnes le plus t�t possible.
Les observateurs de la Mission d�Observation �lectorale ont re�u au cours de la journ�e plusieurs plaintes des partis politiques et de leurs mandataires.
La Mission tient � pr�ciser que ces incidents vont aussi faire l�objet d�un suivi. Les partis politiques peuvent continuer � faire parvenir leurs observations � la Mission sur le d�roulement du scrutin au cours des prochains jours.
La Mission souligne qu�elle ne peut pas encore pr�senter une �valuation globale sur le d�roulement du scrutin avant la publication des r�sultats.
Toutefois, elle continuera � observer le d�pouillement, le comptage et la compilation des r�sultats dans les bureaux de vote, les bureaux communaux et d�partementaux (BEC et BED) et le Conseil �lectoral Provisoire. Elle encourage le Gouvernement, les autorit�s �lectorales, la police, les partis politiques et la soci�t� civile � continuer � travailler pour la bonne continuation du reste du processus. Elle encourage �galement les candidats et les partis politiques � respecter la volont� du peuple ha�tien � la proclamation des r�sultats.