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PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — The US State Department says it has revoked the visas of about a dozen Haitian officials, <span style="font-weight: bold">increasing pressure on the government to drop its favoured candidate from the presidential runoff in favour of a popular contender who is warning of renewed protests if he is not on the ballot</span>.
Revoking visas that let prominent Haitians enter the United States <span style="font-weight: bold">is the latest step in an escalating effort to persuade Haiti's government to accept international monitors' finding that Michel Martelly rightfully belongs on the second-round ballot</span>
Martelly has adopted a combative stance and urged his supporters to take to the streets peacefully if the electoral council does not allow him to run against top vote-getter Mirlande Manigat in the runoff, in place of Jude Celestin. Demonstrations in December shut down all Haiti's major cities for days, hampering earthquake reconstruction and efforts to halt a cholera outbreak that has killed nearly 4,000 people.
"We are ready to fight for justice for everyone," Martelly said at a news conference while surrounded by bodyguards. "We won't accept an electoral coup."
Preliminary official results from the first round of voting showed Martelly failing to reach the runoff -- finishing just behind Celestin, President Rene Preval's chosen successor.
But an international team of experts from the Organisation of American States found problems with the count. Its calculation indicated<span style="font-weight: bold"> Martelly, a singer known as "Sweet Mickey," beat Celestin and should be in the runoff</span>. The US and other foreign forces have been pushing the government to accept that ruling.
A senior State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of privacy concerns, would not specify the names of the officials whose visas were revoked or state the specific reason for the action.
But State Department spokesman PJ Crowley stressed to reporters that the US wants to see the Haitian government accept the OAS recommendations.
"To the extent that there are individuals who are connected with episodes of violence or corruption, you know, we will not hesitate to take appropriate action," he said.
Haiti has been in a political crisis since the announcement of results from the November 28 election, which featured documented cases of fraud and widespread disorganisation.
The second round was originally scheduled for January 16 but postponed amid the wrangling. Critics including the left-leaning Washington think tank Center for Economic and Policy Research have argued that the entire election was flawed and should be thrown out and done over.
If the Haitian government accepts the OAS recommendation, Martelly -- a populist who says he will be more active than Preval and advocates re-establishing Haiti's banned military -- would be a strong challenger to Manigat, a former first lady and law professor who is a more muted conservative and finished comfortably in first place.
Though he accepted the OAS team's presence during the election, Preval is reportedly unhappy with its recommendations and incensed that its report was leaked to the press before he had officially received it. He has not commented publicly.
The provisional electoral council, appointed by Preval, played down the OAS recommendations, saying it would consider them as one appeal among others filed by candidates and observers.
But on Thursday, the US Ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice made it clear that Washington wants the report implemented.
"Sustained support from the international community, including the United States, requires a credible process that represents the will of the Haitian people," Rice said.
Washington is waiting to release nearly $1 billion in promised post-earthquake reconstruction aid to Haiti. Billions more have been promised by other nations.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/US-r...4#ixzz1BpcThIvG
Revoking visas that let prominent Haitians enter the United States <span style="font-weight: bold">is the latest step in an escalating effort to persuade Haiti's government to accept international monitors' finding that Michel Martelly rightfully belongs on the second-round ballot</span>
Martelly has adopted a combative stance and urged his supporters to take to the streets peacefully if the electoral council does not allow him to run against top vote-getter Mirlande Manigat in the runoff, in place of Jude Celestin. Demonstrations in December shut down all Haiti's major cities for days, hampering earthquake reconstruction and efforts to halt a cholera outbreak that has killed nearly 4,000 people.
"We are ready to fight for justice for everyone," Martelly said at a news conference while surrounded by bodyguards. "We won't accept an electoral coup."
Preliminary official results from the first round of voting showed Martelly failing to reach the runoff -- finishing just behind Celestin, President Rene Preval's chosen successor.
But an international team of experts from the Organisation of American States found problems with the count. Its calculation indicated<span style="font-weight: bold"> Martelly, a singer known as "Sweet Mickey," beat Celestin and should be in the runoff</span>. The US and other foreign forces have been pushing the government to accept that ruling.
A senior State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of privacy concerns, would not specify the names of the officials whose visas were revoked or state the specific reason for the action.
But State Department spokesman PJ Crowley stressed to reporters that the US wants to see the Haitian government accept the OAS recommendations.
"To the extent that there are individuals who are connected with episodes of violence or corruption, you know, we will not hesitate to take appropriate action," he said.
Haiti has been in a political crisis since the announcement of results from the November 28 election, which featured documented cases of fraud and widespread disorganisation.
The second round was originally scheduled for January 16 but postponed amid the wrangling. Critics including the left-leaning Washington think tank Center for Economic and Policy Research have argued that the entire election was flawed and should be thrown out and done over.
If the Haitian government accepts the OAS recommendation, Martelly -- a populist who says he will be more active than Preval and advocates re-establishing Haiti's banned military -- would be a strong challenger to Manigat, a former first lady and law professor who is a more muted conservative and finished comfortably in first place.
Though he accepted the OAS team's presence during the election, Preval is reportedly unhappy with its recommendations and incensed that its report was leaked to the press before he had officially received it. He has not commented publicly.
The provisional electoral council, appointed by Preval, played down the OAS recommendations, saying it would consider them as one appeal among others filed by candidates and observers.
But on Thursday, the US Ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice made it clear that Washington wants the report implemented.
"Sustained support from the international community, including the United States, requires a credible process that represents the will of the Haitian people," Rice said.
Washington is waiting to release nearly $1 billion in promised post-earthquake reconstruction aid to Haiti. Billions more have been promised by other nations.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/US-r...4#ixzz1BpcThIvG
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