Peru, Haiti government transitions

Mennonite Central Committee
Wednesday, 29 November 2000

As Canada's Liberal party made a strong showing in recent elections and the United States sorts out its own presidential election, several Latin America/Caribbean countries where MCC works are also experiencing transitions in government.

Controversial elections in Haiti will probably return Jean-Bertrand Aristide to power. The elections, held Nov. 26, were boycotted by major political parties other than Aristide's Lavalas party. Aristide, a former Catholic priest, was Haiti's first freely-elected president. He was ousted in a military coup in 1991 and restored to office by a U.S.-led invasion in 1994. After five years out of the public eye -- Haitian law does not permit presidents to serve consecutive terms -- Aristide has reemerged to popular support but also accusations of betraying his earlier principles of integrity and concern for the poor.

Haiti country co-representative Edwin Dening said pre-election violence probably lowered voter turn-out, but the day of the election was peaceful. Dening accompanied a Haitian friend to vote; like many Haitians, the friend considered Aristide the only option and was eager to support him.

Billboards erected in Port-au-Prince before the elections "show a jubilant Aristide under the heading 'February 7, 2001' (the inauguration date) and 'Lape nan vant , lape nan tet" (peace in the stomach, peace in the head)," Dening said.

In Peru, uncertainty has followed the resignation of president Alberto Fujimori in a corruption scandal. "Most of the people we know have adopted a 'wait and see' philosophy," said Paul Drumm, MCC worker in Peru.

Valentin Paniagua has been named interim president. Drumm noted that the Ashaninca indigenous group with whom MCC works "generally favor Fujimori because he is credited with the suppression of terrorism [from Shining Path guerillas], which affected the Ashaninca directly and adversely."

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