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Spokesman Says UN Not to Blame for Ballots Found on Haitian Dump

Posted on: Thursday, 16 February 2006, 06:00 CST

Text of report by Haitian Metropole radio on 15 February

[Announcer] The UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti [Minustah] has denied all responsibility as regards the ballots discovered on a rubbish tip in Truitier, north of Port-au-Prince, yesterday. According to Minustah spokesman David Wimhurst, all of the ballots and poll materials delivered to Minustah have been placed in a sealed container under the control of the blue helmets. He took the opportunity to reject all accusations of crooked dealings brought against the mission by supporters of Lespwa [Hope] leader Rene Preval. Wimhurst explained as follows:

[Wimhurst] The first thing I can say is that the Minustah has secured all the ballots and materials entrusted in its care by the Provisional Electoral Council [CEP]. We took all the electoral materials handed to us by the CEP and put them in a safe place. If there are other materials outside of those we have received, then they were not entrusted to our care. We are keeping all the materials the CEP gave us in a safe place.

[Correspondent Rotchild Francois, Jr] But what is Minustah's opinion on all of the ballots that were discovered in the dump in Truitier? Were they plundered?

[Wimhurst] There are several hypotheses. One of them is that these materials could have come from one or more polling places that were vandalized on election day, when the people stole the ballots and all the materials. This is one possibility. But it is also possible that there were other materials that the CEP did not give us. They could have come from some other sources.

[Francois] The CEP thinks it could be a trick. What does Minustah think it could be in this case?

[Wimhurst] Well, I just do not know. This is obviously something very suspicious. But we know that there were people who stole polling materials on election day in several polling places in the country. For instance, we know that in Bombardopolis, four candidates looted the polling centre and took the ballots. This is just one example, but there are other instances. We do not know why they did it. One thing is certain: All the materials entrusted in our care by the CEP are well looked after in a secure place.

[Francois] Does this mean there was no chance that someone took these ballots and went and dumped them in Truitier?

[Wimhurst] Absolutely not. But we also know that, on several occasions, they [polling station officials] gave us electoral materials and we transported them to Port-au-Prince. But soon after that, the polling station workers would call us saying: Ah, we still have some more. We forgot to give them to you. Here they are. So, some people often showed that they forgot to complete the process.

[Francois] But the pro-Preval demonstrators are already holding Minustah responsible for the incident.

[Wimhurst] Yes, but they are accusing us without any proof. They are doing so out of ignorance. In a situation like this, people need to be prudent and calm. The CEP will need to investigate to find the source of these ballots that were dumped in Truitier.

[Francois] Do you think Minustah would be in favour of Rene Preval being proclaimed president of the republic, or would they rather see the process follow its course? By this, I mean if Minustah would be in favour of a run-off?

[Wimhurst] The electoral process is the responsibility of the CEP. It is the responsibility of the Haitian authorities.

Source: BBC Monitoring Americas

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