ABC NEWS: Eight days before national polls in Haiti, four of the 19 presidential candidates are seeking an election delay so officials can focus on a cholera outbreak that has killed nearly 1,200 people.
“We urge authorities to postpone the date of the elections, and to establish and publish a plan to battle the cholera epidemic that threatens the lives of all Haitians,” the presidential hopefuls, none of whom is a frontrunner in the polls, said in a joint statement.
Josette Bijou, Gerard Blot, Garaudy Laguerre and Wilson Jeudy also demanded the establishment of an independent inquiry to determine the outbreak’s origin and assess responsibility, stating there were “several indications” that the UN mission in Haiti may have imported the disease to the impoverished nation.
There are claims Haiti’s cholera outbreak began when infected feces leaked from septic tanks at a base for UN peacekeepers from Nepal into a tributary of the Artibonite River, which runs through central Haiti and is used by locals for drinking and bathing.
The United Nations has countered that the demonstrations, some of which turned deadly, have been “orchestrated” ahead of the elections.
Other candidates, including poll leaders, have urged the elections be held as scheduled on November 28 to avoid further political crises in the country.
“It is not reasonable to talk of postponement. We are at a point where people are willing to go vote,” argued Mirlande Manigat, one of the frontrunners to replace outgoing President Rene Preval.
Officials fear the scale of the epidemic could increase exponentially if cholera infiltrates makeshift camps around the capital where hundreds of thousands of survivors of the cataclysmic January earthquake live in cramped and unsanitary conditions.
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COMMENT:HAITIAN-TRUTH.ORG
Unfortunately, these 4 have little if no leverage to influence cancellation, or delay of the vote. Between themselves, they probably control about a half-percent of the vote. The “Press on regardless”… concept forced upon Haiti by it occupier – MINUSTAH – is like having your family all sick with the flu…vomiting all over the place…as someone insists that they hold a planned birthday celebration and feast. The election is far too important to be risked, at this stage. Under the present circumstances, the Preval-conrtrolled electoral council, backed by the corrupt MINUSTAH leadership…will install a candidate of their choice. Remember, Preval did not win the 2005 election. He had 23% and this was expanded by MINUSTAH to 51% in order to avoid the requirement for a constitutionally mandated run-off. |
you know that and all u do is talking do something then.
if so many of you know this so called true stop one man from doing so many things afevting an entire nation.
at the end he is just a man you can stop him then go ahead act, stop talking