Post Election Violence in Haiti

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Haiti Post Election Violence. A Haitian man burns tires in front of the Presidential Palace in Port-au-Prince, December, 2010. Trevor Little

Haiti Post Election Violence. Pro-Martelly supporters march past a UN armored personnel carrier in Port-au-Prince, December, 2010. Trevor Little

Haiti Post Election Violence. Pro-Martelly supporters throw rocks at UN troops in Port-au-Prince, December, 2010. Trevor Little

Haiti Post Election Violence. Haitian protestors walk through a cloud of smoke caused by burning tires in Port-au-Prince, December, 2010. Trevor Little

Haiti Post Election Violence. UN Peacekeepers drive through barricades in front of the CEP office in Port-au-Prince, December, 2010. Trevor Little

Haiti Post Election Violence. A Haitian protestor throws rocks at UN troops in Port-au-Prince, December, 2010. Trevor Little

Haiti Post Election Violence. Pro-Martelly supporters march past a UN armored personnel carrier in Port-au-Prince, December, 2010. Trevor Little

Haiti Post Election Violence. Haitian protestors run from UN troops in Port-au-Prince, December, 2010. Trevor Little

Haiti Post Election Violence. A Haitian protestor throws rocks at UN troops in Port-au-Prince, December, 2010. Trevor Little

Haiti Post Election Violence. Pro-Martelly supporters protest near a broken barricade in Port-au-Price, December 2010. Trevor Little

Haiti Post Election Violence. A Haitian Police officer clears a barricade of burning tires in Port-au-Price, December 2010. Trevor Little

Haiti Post Election Violence. A Haitian protestor throws rocks at UN troops in Pétionville, December, 2010. Trevor Little

Haiti Post Election Violence. Haitian police arrest a man suspected of being involved in demonstrations in Port-au-Prince, December 2010. Trevor Little

Haiti Post Election Violence. Haitian protestors in Port-au-Prince, December 2010. Trevor Little

Haiti Post Election Violence. Presidential Candidate Jude Celestin marches with supporters in Port-au-Prince, December 2010. Trevor Little

Haiti Post Election Violence. Haitian Police clear suspected protestors from a building in lower Delmas, December 2010. Trevor Little

Haiti Post Election Violence. Port-au-Prince, December 2010. Trevor Little

Haiti Post Election Violence. Port-au-Prince, December 2010. Trevor Little

Haiti Post Election Violence. Haitian police attempt to clear barricades on the road from Port-au-Prince to Pétionville following the announcement of the results from the first round of elections, December 2010. Trevor Little

Haiti Post Election Violence. Port-au-Prince, December 2010. Trevor Little

Haiti Post Election Violence. Port-au-Prince, December 2010. Trevor Little

Haiti Post Election Violence. Protestors march past a barricade on the way to Port-au-Prince from Pétionville, December 2010. Trevor Little

Haiti Post Election Violence. Protestors in Pétionville following a standoff with UN Peacekeepers and Haitian Police, December 2010. Trevor Little

Post-Election Violence in Haiti

December 2010
by Trevor Little

On November 28, 2010 the people of Haiti went to the polls for the first time since the January earthquake to elect a successor to President René Preval. The election was quickly criticized by many Haitians as well as the international community for its lack of organization with accusations of corruption and ballot stuffing. Many Haitians were unable to find their names on the voter lists at the polling stations, or lacked the proper identification required to cast their ballot.

Ten days later the CEP (Provisional Electoral Council) announced the official results with President Preval’s hand picked candidate Jude Celestine going into the second round against ex-first lady Mirlande Manigat. This announcement effectively removed the pop sensation Michel Martelly (aka Sweet Mickey) a candidate with massive amounts of support from the displaced Haitian community residing in the camps and slums of Port-au-Prince.

Within minutes of the announcement Haiti’s capitol city went into lock-down as protestors took to the streets. Black smoke filled the air as roadblocks constructed from burning tires blocked the main arteries of Port-au-Prince. Jude Celestine’s campaign office was set ablaze. With Haiti’s military fully disbanded by Aristide, the United Nations stepped in to try and maintain order and defend key buildings which were being targeted by the Haitian protestors. This quickly escalated to violent standoffs between the UN peacekeepers and the protestors.

After 3 days of protests and pressure from the international community the CEP announced that they would recount the ballots postponing the second round. On April 4th 2011 Haiti went back to the polls and elected Michel Martelly to be the next President of Haiti, defeating Mirlande Manigat with almost 70% of the vote.