By: Staff Writer
February 12, 2021
The Haitian president retired three judges and arrested tens more who posed a threat to his rule, sparking a fresh wave of protests in the streets of Haiti.
A Reuters report said that the American government was “deeply concerned” about Haiti’s fragile institutions, although it stopped short of chastising president Jovenel Moise after his government retired three Supreme Court judges who posed a threat to his leadership.
The Oranisation of American States (OAS), said in a statement about the unrest in Haiti: “The OAS General Secretariat is closely monitoring the current situation in Haiti. We are concerned with the respect for human rights and the independence of powers.”
“The OAS General Secretariat has an essential interest in the protection of democratic institutions and the political rights of its citizens. It is fundamental that state institutions work together to resolve the problems afflicting Haiti.”
“We call for democratic structural changes in Haiti through the discussion of a new Constitution and an effective participation in general elections this year.”
“The OAS General Secretariat renews its support for the electoral process as the only option consistent with the Democratic Charter to replace the current constitutional President with another President on February 7, 2022.”
The Reuters report continued, however: “Fresh political turmoil engulfed the volatile Caribbean nation this weekend after Moise alleged there was an attempt to overthrow the government and 23 people were arrested, including a Supreme Court judge and a senior police official.
The U.S. Embassy in Port-Au-Prince said in a statement that it had seen the executive order about the judges.
“We are deeply concerned about any actions that risk damaging Haiti’s democratic institutions. The Executive Order is now being scrutinized to determine whether it conforms to Haiti’s constitutions and laws,” the embassy said.
Haiti’s opposition claims Moise should step down as his five-year term in office expired on Feb. 7 following 2015 elections, which were disputed and the result cancelled by the electoral counsel.
The detained judge was one of three Supreme Court justices who the opposition approached as possible candidates to be interim leaders of a transitional government to take over from Moise until elections are held.
On Monday, the government issued an executive decree ordering the three judges to be retired from the court.
CARICOM, on the other hand, said: “The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) continues to monitor very closely, and views with deep concern, developments in Haiti.
The Community urges all stakeholders to be guided by the Constitution, respect for the rule of law and the electoral process and in that regard is heartened by the fact that an electoral timetable has been set.
The Community is also deeply anguished about the security situation including the actions of armed gangs which threaten the maintenance of law and order in the country and disrupt the lives and livelihoods of its citizens.
The Community encourages all parties to engage in meaningful dialogue in the interest of peace and stability and strongly urges that action be taken to foster a safe environment, a return to normal life and the building of sustainable democratic institutions.
Haiti’s opposition claims Moise should step down as his five-year term in office expired on Feb. 7 following 2015 elections, which were disputed and the result cancelled by the electoral counsel.
Moise rejects those claims, pointing out he took power in February 2017 after winning fresh elections in 2016 and has pledged to step down next year.
Washington last week appeared to back Moise’s timeline, with a State Department spokesperson saying a new leader should replace Moise in February 2022.
The U.S. Embassy said “all political actors should focus on restoring to the Haiti people the right to choose their lawmakers by organizing overdue legislative elections as soon as technically feasible and presidential elections soon after”.
The opposition accused Moise of violating the constitution as his government failed to hold legislative elections in 2019, leaving the parliament without lawmakers and allowing the president to rule by decree since January 2020.