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No foreign interference in Haiti, UN official says

Sunday, 31 January 2016 9:33 AM [ Last Update: Sunday, 31 January 2016 9:34 AM ]

Haiti's President Michel Martelly (L) speaks with Sandra Honore, the head of the UN mission in Haiti (C), and new Communications Minister Rotchild Francois Jr, during the swearing-in ceremony for Martelly's new cabinet at the National Palace in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, January 19, 2015. (AP photo)

The head of the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti rejected Sunday claims of foreign interference in the internal affairs of the Caribbean Sea country after its presidential election was postponed indefinitely.

Sandra Honore, the head of MINUSTAH, said, “I reject this notion that the international community is trying to influence the electoral process... These negotiations are taking place between various Haitian political actors. The United Nations is not participating in the negotiations.”

The comments came after the opposition and some civil society groups accused the international community of interfering in the dialogue between Haiti's political actors.

On Friday, hundreds of opposition protesters took to the streets in the capital, Port-au-Prince, to express anger at the Organization of American States (OAS), which they believe is meddling with the country’s future presidential polls.

Police confront demonstrators during a march in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, calling for the resignation of Haitian President Michel Martelly, January 30, 2016. (AFP photo)

The OAS is planning to deploy a special mission to Haiti with the declared aim of alleviating the country's political crisis. The move comes at the request of outgoing President Michel Martelly, but opposition activists insist that the leader and his foreign sponsors intend to rig the election in favor of the government’s hand-picked candidate.

Martelly’s favorite presidential contender, Jovenel Moise, managed to win last October’s first round polls with nearly a third of the vote. However, opposition candidate Jude Celestin, who came second, refused to campaign ahead of the second round of vote, accusing the government of working against him.

Last Friday, authorities put off indefinitely the presidential runoff, originally scheduled for December 27, 2015. It was supposed to be held on January 24.

The UN Security Council said the delay in the election might weaken Haiti's ability “to address the security, economic and social challenges it faces.”

Honore, for her part, described the delay over safety concerns as a “step backward.”

Ravaged by poverty and the after effects of a destructive earthquake in 2010, Haiti has been struggling for years to hold credible elections.

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