[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 106 (Tuesday, June 27, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1341-E1342]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                           ELECTIONS IN HAITI

                                 ______


                          HON. LEE H. HAMILTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 27, 1995
  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I received the following 
statement from the Presidential delegation to the June 25, 1995, 
Haitian elections.
  The text of the correspondence follows:

[[Page E 1342]]


 Departure Statement, United States Presidential Delegation To Observe 
                          the Haiti Elections


                  june 26, 1995, port-au-prince, haiti

       Yesterday's elections represent a step in the building of 
     democracy in Haiti. A peaceful balloting process occurred in 
     a country where violence has so often marked past elections. 
     This feat is truly impressive when one considers that but 
     nine months ago Haiti was under the yoke of a military 
     dictatorship. However, the process was affected by 
     irregularities and administrative flaws that need to be 
     addressed for the second round and the future.
       Members of the presidential delegation visited five of 
     Haiti's nine departments and more than 300 polling sites. We 
     observed a complicated balloting procedure, involving 
     elections for more than 2100 legislative, mayoral and local 
     council offices. Dedicated polling officials and pollwatchers 
     representing 25 political parties surmounted various 
     obstacles in allowing the Haitian people, in most localities, 
     to choose their representatives.
       Procedural and administrative problems before and on 
     election day, nonetheless, prevented citizens in several 
     municipalities from expressing their voting preferences. The 
     failure to include the names of certain approved candidates 
     on the ballots contributed to the cancellation of elections 
     in seven communities and created disquiet in other areas. We 
     also have received critical reports regarding the failure to 
     follow proper procedures during the initial counting phase, 
     with most serious consequences in the Department of the West, 
     which covers the Port Au Prince area.
       Despite repeated misunderstandings over the actions of 
     election officials at all levels, the delegation saw little 
     evidence of any effort to favor a single political party or 
     of an organized attempt to intentionally subvert the 
     electoral machinery. At many points, the Provisional 
     Electoral Council's actions and public statements raised 
     questions about the credibility of the process. The most 
     significant of the problems was the failure to explain the 
     reasons candidates were rejected. Political parties raised 
     these and other concerns relating to the transparency of the 
     elections in their contacts with the delegation.
       President Aristide and his government performed a positive 
     role in repeating often the theme of reconciliation. In 
     meeting with some rejected candidates and in a public 
     statement on the eve of the elections, the President 
     demonstrated his concern over the controversies surrounding 
     the process and underscored his desire to be President of 
     every Haitian citizen.
       We wish to emphasize that this electoral process is far 
     from over and thus a definitive evaluation is premature. The 
     counting of ballots and the adjudication of electoral 
     complaints are pending. There may even be a need to rerun 
     elections in certain jurisdictions. We will remain in close 
     contact with other observer delegations, most notably the 
     Organization of American States, which has organized coverage 
     of these elections throughout the country.
       A determined effort is required to remedy the most 
     significant problems affecting the electoral process before 
     the next round of elections. Sincere consultations with a 
     broad range of political parties and transparent 
     decisionmaking by the electoral authorities should have 
     occurred and are indispensable to strengthening Haiti's 
     democratic institutions. The government also should consider 
     carefully the recommendations of the United Nations, various 
     observer delegations and technical election experts who have 
     worked closely with their Haitian counterparts in assisting 
     the electoral process. In this context, we note the very 
     positive role that the United Nations Mission played in Haiti 
     during the entire transition period.
       Despite the problems associated with the pre-election 
     period and observed on election day, the Haitian people voted 
     freely and seemingly without fear. Haiti is now one step 
     closer to establishing a functioning parliament and viable 
     local government.
       It is our firm belief that further steps to correct the 
     identified problems will encourage a perception of fairness 
     about this process, despite the inevitable difficulties of 
     conducting an election in Haiti. The Haitian people have 
     demonstrated that they have earned the respect associated 
     with participating in the individual act of casting a ballot. 
     For our part, we will continue to work with the government 
     and people of Haiti in supporting the strengthening of 
     democratic institutions in this country.
     

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