What Election?

Thanks again for your prayers.  It turned out to be a terrible election, but not because people were killed, but because the voice of the people was not heard.  Yesterday morning, it seemed like we had more people in our church for first service than there were on the streets of Port-au-Prince all day.  People were either too scared or generally uninterested in this election to go out and vote.  A pre-election survey conducted recently revealed that less than 5% of the voting population was prepared to go vote, and my guess is that less than 5% actually followed through.  I guess, if people actually went out to vote things might have gotten bad… unless these were just empty threats in the first place, aimed at silencing the REAL voice of the Haitian people.

Another thing that I did not fully understand was that all public transportation was stopped yesterday.  I was told that, in the past, criminals would use taxis and tap-taps in election day crimes.  I can understand the need to get greater control over the streets on this day, but how is the common person supposed to go vote without a car?  If civilian operated public transportation had to be stopped, why weren’t state-sponsored voting buses provided to transport Joe Schmo to the polls?  If the state wanted a real election, they should have taken this as their duty.

But maybe they don’t really want Joe Schmo to go to the polls…  I don’t know about Joe, but If I found out that I would be walking more than 15 minutes just to go vote, I would be a little adverse to the idea, especially when I hear that there may be men on the streets with machetes ready to take my lid off and mail my body to the address written on my foot.  So, Joe stayed home yesterday, and I don’t blame him.  While he sat at home listening to the radio with his family, a select few, perhaps the ones who were in charge of the negative propaganda, hopped into their heavily tinted cars and went out to choose “our” leaders.

I would propose a simple solution: a quorum in which no election can be counted if less than 50% (at least) of the voting population is represented, but of course the problem there could be that we may never again have a valid election…  Someone out there clearly knows how to keep people at home.  If things aren’t going their way prior to the election, there are people who would rather stop the election altogether by using the same threats that were used in this election.

There were two notable incidents yesterday, one of which led to the cancellation of the elections in Plateau Central, and another that made me laugh.  In a certain district in the Department of Artibonite, a Christian candidate was favored to win.  In an attempt to turn the tide, representatives of two other candidates went out to try to shut people in in their churches.  Before they got very far, the people of one church revolted saying “Today we’re not gathered to discuss church business.  Today is election day and you’re not gonna stop us.”  A fight broke out which ended after fire was set to cars of these men cars, sending them home on foot, defeated. The people got their victory and went out and let their voices be heard.  I don’t usually promote violence, but in this case, the rules had changed.  They made the right choice to do all that they could to stop these criminals from choosing for them.  If they didn’t stand, no one would have stood for them.

Stay posted in the coming days…  Results day can sometimes be just as bad as election day.

All is Peaceful so Far

I didn’t expect such a great response from everyone. More than 200 people have clicked on my blog since yesterday morning. I hope that means that at least 200+ people are praying. At the moment things are quiet and people are going about their business as usual, but everyone is waiting to see what might go down tomorrow. Keep praying. Only God can keep the peace.

Tension is Mounting

Driving home from the airport last night in Port-au-Prince, I saw more police officers than I thought existed in Haiti. I saw all types of troops, even some in heavy black armor. They are all over the streets, anticipating something big.  Senatorial elections are this Sunday… and it’s not looking good.

A little over a month ago all 16 of the senatorial candidates from the Lavalas party were eliminated from the race.  The reasons for their exclusion are a bit confusing, and some claim that the reasons are sketchy and invalid.  I don’t know enough to choose a party, but even as a non-supporter I would say that was a horrible move to exclude Lavalas from the race.  It was a horrible move even if there was reason for them to be excluded.  First, they are the most popular party.  Second, some say they are the most forceful and most prone to violence.  Five years later, they are still vying for the return of their exiled leader, former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, and there were times during these years that our government was fearful of them.  To go further and “exile” all of their Senatorial candidates is a political slap in the face.  Some suspect that someone actually wants to prod Lavalas and incite them to violence.  Some even suspect that someone wants to anger the Lavalas party and then do violence themselves while hiding behind their name.  Some even think that these are empty threats intended to rile up every criminal in the country and give them an excuse to take the streets.  Why?  No one could really tell you…  There are lots of dirty hands at play…

In Haiti, all of these things are possible.  There are many things going on behind the curtains, but all that we, the people, know is that someone has been anonymously distributing propaganda saying to anyone who goes out on Sunday, whether or not they are voting, their blood is on their own hands.  They have been threatening people with decapitation saying to write their names and phone numbers on their feet if they feel bold enough to go out, so that their families can identify them.  There have been many more threats and I sincerely believe that without divine intervention Sunday will be a very bloody day.  Please pray for Haiti.  It is more urgent than ever.

Please forward this blog to everyone who knows how to pray…  As for me, if something happens and I lose communication, do know that I have more than one safe place to go.  Furthermore… I’m supposed to be here… so I can’t die…. like my dad after all he’s been through in 39 years of ministry.  So don’t be anxious for me, just pray.