OEA/Ser.G CP/Doc.3383/00 13 December 2000 Original: French
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PERMANENT COUNCIL OEA/Ser.G CP/doc.3383/00 13 December 2000 Original: French NOTE FROM THE SECRETARY GENERAL TRANSMITTING THE FINAL REPORT OF THE ELECTION OBSERVATION MISSION FOR THE LEGISLATIVE, MUNICIPAL, AND LOCAL ELECTIONS IN HAITI (February to July 2000) This document is being distributed to the permanent missions and will be presented to the Permanent Council of the Organization. Organización de los Estados Americanos Organização dos Estados Americanos Organisation des États Américains Organization of American States 17th and Constitution Ave., N.W. • Washington, D.C. 20006 SG/UPD- 1194/00 December 12, 2000 Excellency: I have the honor to submit to Your Excellency the report of the OAS Electoral Observation Mission in Haiti and to kindly request its distribution to the members of the Permanent Council. The report reflects the activities undertaken by the Mission during the observation of the general elections in Haiti, held from February to July, 2000. Please accept, Your Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest and most distinguished consideration. César Gaviria Secretary General His Excellency Peter M. Boehm Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Canada Chairman of the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States Washington, D.C. iii ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES FINAL REPORT THE ELECTION OBSERVATION MISSION FOR THE LEGISLATIVE, MUNICIPAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS IN HAITI FEBRUARY TO JULY, 2000 Unit for the Promotion of Democracy v TABLE OF CONTENTS Pages Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................. 1 I. Structure of the Mission ......................................................................................................... 5 II. Electoral Structure and Actors ............................................................................................. 7 A. The Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) .................................................................... 7 1. The Electoral Structure ................................................................................... 7 2. Observations ................................................................................................... 8 3. Relations between the CEP and the Government ........................................... 9 4. Relations between the Electoral Apparatus and the Mission.......................... 9 B. Haitian Political Parties.............................................................................................. 10 C. National Council of Observers (CNO) ...................................................................... 12 D. The Haitian National Police....................................................................................... 14 III. Delays in the Electoral Process ............................................................................................ 15 IV. National Registration of Voters ........................................................................................... 17 V. Other Electoral Preparations............................................................................................... 19 A. The Provisional Electoral Council ............................................................................. 19 B. Candidate Registration and the Printing of Ballots.................................................... 19 C. Payment of Registration Workers and Registration Sites .......................................... 20 D. The Lists of Bureaux de Vote and Bureaux de Vote Workers................................... 20 E. Training of Bureaux de Vote Workers....................................................................... 20 F. Security and Election Materials ................................................................................. 21 VI. The Security Situation ......................................................................................................... 22 A. Overview.................................................................................................................... 22 B. Political Parties .......................................................................................................... 22 C. Incidents..................................................................................................................... 23 VII. The Media and the Electoral Campaign ............................................................................. 24 A. Civic Education and the Media.................................................................................. 24 B. Campaign Coverage................................................................................................... 24 C. Coverage of the Campaign by Privately-owned Media ............................................. 25 D. Freedom of Expression in the Electoral Campaign.................................................... 25 vii VIII. Summary of Observations.................................................................................................... 28 A. Recompilation of Data Collected on Election Day.................................................... 28 B. Regional Incident Reports from May 21, 2000.......................................................... 31 1. West .............................................................................................................. 31 2. Artibonite ...................................................................................................... 32 3. Center............................................................................................................ 33 4. North............................................................................................................. 35 5. Northeast....................................................................................................... 36 6. Northwest...................................................................................................... 37 7. South............................................................................................................. 38 8. Southeast....................................................................................................... 40 9. Grande Anse (June 11, 2000) ....................................................................... 41 10. Area of Nippes (June 11, 2000) .................................................................... 43 11. Maniche, South Department (June 11, 2000) ............................................... 44 C. Table of Elections Affected by Irregularities............................................................. 45 IX. Complementary Elections .................................................................................................... 47 A. Les Irois, Grand’ Anse............................................................................................... 47 B. Dame Marie, Grand’ Anse......................................................................................... 47 C. Bahon, North Department.......................................................................................... 48 X. Analysis of the Results .......................................................................................................... 51 A. Introduction................................................................................................................ 51 B. The Transmission and Processing of Results............................................................. 51 C. Calculation of Percentages for the Senatorial Elections ............................................ 52 1. Chronology ................................................................................................... 52 2. The CEP Method of Calculating Absolute Majority..................................... 53 3. The Effect on the Results.............................................................................. 54 4. Alternative Methods to Calculate Absolute Majority in Accordance with the Electoral Law.................................................................................. 54 5. The Position of the OAS Mission ................................................................. 55 6. The Alleged Use of this Method in Previous Elections ................................ 56 D. Comparison of Results Provided by BEDs with those Provided by the CEP............ 57 1. Introduction................................................................................................... 57 2. Elections for Senate ...................................................................................... 57 3. Elections for the Chamber of Deputies......................................................... 65 E. The System of Addressing Electoral Challenges....................................................... 69 1. Legal Framework.......................................................................................... 69 2. Considerations of the Mission....................................................................... 70 XI. Conclusions and Recommendations.................................................................................... 71 A. Conclusions................................................................................................................ 71 B. Recommendations...................................................................................................... 72 1. Recommendations Regarding the Institutions .............................................. 72 2. Recommendations