PORT-AU-PRINCE — More than 180 groups, from chambers of commerce to student associations, on Thursday declared they won’t support holding legislative elections until Haiti’s government does more to ensure security and freedom of speech.
The government of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide is planning for early legislative elections by June. But the civil society groups signing Thursday’s declaration said several conditions must be met before Haiti can begin a “credible, democratic electoral process.”
Among their conditions, the 184 groups — unions, business associations, human rights groups, media and neighborhood committees — demanded authorities disarm criminal gangs, arrest perpetrators of political violence and take more steps to guarantee security.