US embassy cable - 05PORTAUPRINCE2668

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 002668 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CAR 
DRL 
S/CRS 
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD 
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR 
INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KDEM, HA, Elections 
SUBJECT: HAITI GOVERNMENT APPROVES ELECTIONS GUARANTEE 
COMMITTEE 
 
 
1. In a meeting at the National Palace on October 27, the 
Interim Government of Haiti (IGOH) approved the formation of 
the Elections Guarantee Committee (EGC).  A coalition of 
civil society groups and political parties requested the EGC 
after the formation of the Support Committee (SC) to the 
Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) in early October.  Osner 
Fevry, member of the new EGC and of the non-aligned parties 
group, announced October 28 that the EGC will be composed of 
eleven members: three from civil society; three from the 
churches (Protestant, Catholic and Voodoo); three from the 
political parties; one from the IGOH; and one from the 
National Council for Observation (CNO).  Fevry said the EGC 
would investigate accusations of electoral fraud, vigilantly 
watch over the electoral process, and ensure electoral 
transparence.  Like the support committee and the Nationality 
Commission, the EGC is not yet a legal body.  According to 
Fevry the new EGC and IGOH will agree on a charter to be 
published in the coming days by decree or executive order. 
 
2. Comment: In theory, establishing this committee could 
serve a useful purpose in providing a mechanism for 
non-partisan observation of the electoral process, 
complimenting the efforts of the CNO and other domestic 
observers.  Some civic leaders view the SC as an 
unconstitutional IGOH transgression on fair elections and 
believe the EGC could hinder IGOH manipulations.  If our 
experience with the CEP is any guide, however, a committee of 
this size and composition will only lead to further 
unproductive meddling in the process and further distract the 
IGOH. 
GRIFFITHS