And It Continues...

This week the world of politics in Haiti is in a rumble. Haiti is in the process of electing a new official into its presidential office but word has it that the results for the November 28th elections were manipulated. Mirlande H. Manigat and Jude Celestin were the two candidates with the highest number of votes but another candidate, Michel Martelly, will be running against Manigat for presidency instead of Celestin. Apparently, the results for this election were manipulated in Celestin's favor but later on Martelly was declared the second candidate. Manigat and Martelly are scheduled to face off on March 20, 2011.

Speaking of the March 20th elections, US officials are saying Haiti's former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide should not return to the country before this date. Aristide has been granted a passport to Haiti and is planning to return soon. After being in exile in South Africa, Aristide has been trying for seven years to return. The country is already facing problems with politics and US officials believe having Aristide back may create more problems. Surprisingly, many citizens of Haiti are in favor of Aristide's return, hoping he can fix the country's problems.

Former President Aristide isn't the only former ruler returning to Haiti. Recently, dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier, also known as Baby Doc, returned to Haiti only to be charged for embezzlement and human rights crimes that occurred during his 15 year reign. In the last blog I mentioned that Haiti's media was still in its developing stage because of all the abuse citizens faced during Baby Doc's reign. Journalist were harassed, sometimes killed and the main radio station at the time, Radio Haiti Inter, was shut down by Baby Doc's paramilitary. Apparently, Haiti's regular citizens endured the torture as well which is why Baby Doc's return was met with much protest. The UN has offered to help Haiti in prosecuting Baby Doc Duvalier.

Also in the news this week we learned about the slaying of a broadcast journalist outside a bank in Port Au Prince. Thirty year-old Jean Richard Louis Charles, who worked for Radio Kiskeya, was shot dead as he tried to fight off assailants trying to rob him. One of the robbers was shot dead by an off-duty officer while two others escaped. The journalism world is rattled because if this death.

Until next time.....

Aristide's Return is Anticipated