HTH -- Haiti Earthquake

November 23, 2010. Violence mounting ahead of elections in Haiti

SOURCE: Altegrity Risk International

Late on November 22nd, gunmen attacked the motorcade of INITE ruling party candidate Jude Celestin during a campaign stop in the southeastern municipality of Beaumont. One person was injured in the shooting and windows of vehicles in the motorcade were shattered; Mr. Celestin was not harmed. A senior INITE candidate has blamed opposition members for the violence. Meanwhile, clashes erupted as supporters of longtime opposition leader and former first lady Mirlande Manigat vandalized Celestin's campaign headquarters, protesting the presence of electoral registration officers which they accuse of being fraudulent government lackeys. Offices of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) were also attacked in several cities, including in Miragoane.

Elections are currently scheduled for November 28th, although the recent cholera epidemic, which has now killed more than 1,300 people, has prompted calls for the election to be postponed.