Preval protesters demand results of Haiti election

[mom cat]

Preval protesters demand results of Haiti election
11 Feb 2006 20:13:38 GMT

Source: Reuters

By Joseph Guyler Delva and Jim Loney

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Hundreds of people marched in Haiti's capital on Saturday in support of ex-president Rene Preval, and some accused elections officials of trying to steal the first vote since Jean-Bertrand Aristide was ousted two years ago.

Preval, the one-time Aristide ally was leading with just over 50 percent of the vote -- the majority he would need to avoid a second round of voting on March 19.

Four days after the election, less than two-thirds of the votes had been counted, creating suspicion among residents of Preval's stronghold in the Cite Soleil slum that the vote was being manipulated.

Demonstrators swarmed the National Palace, where they tore down large posters of the nearly three dozen presidential candidates that had been attached to the metal fence surrounding the palace grounds -- all but Preval's.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N11170080.htm

[magellan]

1. How does an election go from this:

Officials said that with 283,000 votes, support for Mr Préval - who was president between 1996 and 2001 - stood at 61 per cent. His closest rival, Leslie Manigat - also an ex-president - stood at around 13 per cent.

To this in a day?

Preval, the one-time Aristide ally was leading with just over 50 percent of the vote...

Here's how:

Preval's campaign demanded copies of vote-count forms after the latest tallies from Tuesday's election showed at least 105,000 spoiled ballots.

An elections council member said the number of spoiled ballots was "suspect" and called for an investigation.

BushCo's corrupt brand of "democracy" has been successfully transplanted in Haiti.

[HuffleClaw]

2. 'spoiled ballots' my foot

i thought the UN was monitoring this this, what is their view i wonder.

[mom cat]

5. There is an amazing lack of information about the elections.

The votes were supposed to be counted by yesterday. Suspicions are rising among the Hatians that I know that major vote tampering is underway.

[mom cat]

4. It looks like we are exporting "American Style Democracy" again.

[KeepItReal]

3. "Since I will not lose, they try to help them cheat." - Jay-Z

I hope Bush & Co's affiliates down there ease up off the election hijinks.

Haiti knows what a Democracy looks like, and they are not gonna go out just letting a stolen election carry the day.

[mom cat]

6. You are right. I am afraid there will be more violence, but Bush prefers

destabilization to having a leader that he cannot control.