Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Haiti: Ballots Found Burning in Trash



PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (Reuters) - Haiti's electoral council said on Tuesday it would launch an investigation after burned ballots, many cast a week ago for former president Rene Preval, were found still smoldering in a state dump.

Preval, a one-time ally of ousted president Jean-Bertrand Aristide opposed by the same wealthy elite who helped drive Aristide from power two years ago, said on Tuesday that only "massive fraud" had prevented him from winning a first-round victory in the February 7 election.

A few hours later, reports that hundreds and maybe thousands of ballots had been found discarded in a massive garbage dump in Port-au-Prince rippled through the ranks of Preval supporters, triggering anger and demonstrations after nightfall.

"That's absolutely unacceptable," said Rosemond Pradel, secretary-general of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) charged with organizing the impoverished Caribbean country's presidential election -- the first vote since Aristide was ousted by an armed revolt and international pressure to quit.

2 Comments:

Blogger jsb said...

Democracy prevails in Haiti. Preval declared winner. The people have spoken..unlike in your favorite paradise of Cuba. Cubans deserve the same right of self determination.

4:54 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Cubans DO have self-determination. Unfortunately, they've determined that they don't want the US interfering in their country. TAKE A HINT.

9:42 PM  

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