Thousands protests OAS arrival in Haiti
Thousands of people took to Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince on Sunday to protest the arrival of representatives from the Organization of American States. They are protesting against what they say is interference by the Western community in Haitian affairs.
The delegates are meeting with Haitian officials to discuss the next step in Haiti elections, which have been indefinitely postponed.
UN official denials interference in Haiti elections
(AFP) – With a political vacuum now a real possibility in Haiti after presidential and legislative elections were postponed indefinitely, Sandra Honore, chief of the UN’s MINUSTAH mission, rejected accusations of international interference.
“I reject this notion that the international community is trying to influence the electoral process… These negotiations are taking place between various Haitian political actors. The United Nations is not participating in the negotiations. This reflects the UN Security Council’s desire, as expressed in its declaration Friday, indicating that an agreement on a plan of action needed to be set and led by the Haitians. So it’s a Haitian-Haitian process aimed at reach a consensual outcome that’s acceptable for those most interested in what’s best for the Haitian people.”
CEP president resigns
(AFP)- The chairman of Haiti’s electoral council has submitted his resignation to President Michel Martelly, a week after presidential and legislative elections were indefinitely delayed.
Pierre-Louis Opont said in a letter dated Thursday that events beyond his control had “prevented me from carrying out my mission, which was to conduct elections meant to permit Parliament to return on January 11, 2016 and an elected president to be installed on February 7, 2016.”
Opont’s resignation, following that of four of nine other members of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP), renders the panel impotent.