Spectre of violence looms in run-up to Haiti elections (News Feature)

By Silvia Ayuso Nov 25, 2010, 8:18 GMT

Port-au-Prince, Haiti - 'You haven't seen anything yet. Just wait until Sunday,' Itcmael Harold said as he ran alongside hundreds of protestors who took to the streets of Haiti's capital, calling for a boycott of the weekend's general election.

The demonstrators protested Wednesday against the government of incumbent Rene Preval and the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) on streets near the remains of the Presidential Palace, which crumbled in a devastating January earthquake.

The crowd travelled to the rhythm of popular local compas music through several neighbourhoods, chanting slogans against Preval, his Inite party and the UN mission.

One chant was 'Inite, cholera, it's no coincidence' in reference to an epidemic that has broken out across the country still reeling from the impact of the quake, which killed close to 230,000 people.

Other protestors carried oversized referee-style cards proclaiming, 'Red card for MINUSTAH, red card for the government.'

Emboldened by the swelling numbers of the crowd, demonstrators started pulling down the campaign placards of Jude Celestin, Preval's designated successor, trampling the posters, tearing them up or setting fire to them among shouts of rage.

The mob also set fire to a car belonging to a state company after pelting it with rubble.

After protests last week against the UN mission, which left at least five dead across several cities, including the Port-au-Prince, Wednesday's unrest in the capital raised fears of more violence to come.

Many of the demonstrators made no secret of their allegiance to opposition groups such as Famni Lavalas, the party of former president Jean Bertrand Aristide, which has been excluded from Sunday's ballot.

The protestors have threatened ongoing action until the day of the elections.

Fritz-Gerald Charles, one of the organizers of the protests, explained what he saw as the reasons to boycott Sunday's poll.

'Elections can't bring about change in Haiti,' he said. 'Here, they are only ever to keep the same small group in power. We must say no to the elections.'

The international community shares the blame, said Wisly Simeon, another demonstrator.

'The international community is also responsible,' Simeon said. 'It has always supported the elections but has not urged the government to assume its responsibilities on behalf of the people who are suffering.'

International agents, in particular the Nepalese members of the UN force, have also been blamed for the cholera outbreak, which has killed more than 1,400 people and has shown no signs of abating.

The UN peacekeepers 'brought cholera here,' Charles charged.

Harold added, 'It is a force of oppression. It is not a force to help the country.'

The demonstrations followed several cases of violence recorded among the political rallies of the 18 presidential candidates, which left two people dead Monday.

The Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) has called for calm and reiterated its support for the ballot.

'In light of the intensification of verbal attacks, intimidation and violence, which have spilled over into unacceptable physical aggression, the CEP once again must request the candidates and their supporters to stay calm,' council President Gaillot Dorsinvil said.

Several foreign embassies have issued travel warnings. 'Further violence is expected,' the US embassy said in a statement. 'Demonstrations are recurring regularly and are expected to continue during the electoral period.' It recommending that all travel to the affected areas 'should be avoided.'

The German embassy advised travellers to 'keep away from political gatherings and other large groups of people' and to avoid areas close to the voting stations on Saturday and Sunday.

Wednesday's demonstrations saw less violence than previous disturbances with two arrests, one burned car and the pelting of police with stones before the crowd was dispersed with tear gas.

Few doubted, however, that the protests - and their violence - would intensify as election day approaches.

'We are prepared to shut down the length and breadth of the country,' Harold said.

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