The CNO, the ISC, the RNDDH, the CONHANE, the CERESS, the MOFKA, organizations involved in election observation, note with concern, for few days, a rise of verbal and physical violence, to the approach of the second round of the parliamentary and presidential elections. Ambushes are set up, rallies were disrupted by throwing stones, gunfire, threats are made ​​against journalists, media or candidates, murders are committed, calls to violence on the streets are already launched in order to influence the vote or under pretext of defending the vote in favor of its candidate.

If this escalation continues, the second round of the elections, that was hoped more democratic and more correct than the first, may cause problems, frustrations and prolonging the crisis.

Also, the organizations signing of this, want to launch to the candidates and their supporters an appeal for calm, to the tolerance, to a burst of patriotism and of civility, to the respect of the popular will and of the election results, to enable our Nation to get out of this slump in peace and dignity.

They invite the National Police to show,a pro-active and dynamic attitude to prevent and counteract the acts of violence. They expect that the Judiciary stands above the parties and rigorously punishes criminal behavior and criminals. In this sense, they benefit to remind to the candidates, the provisions of the the electoral law, which provides very severe penalties against the participants who use violence to disrupt or influence the process: penalty, imprisonment, loss of civil rights, political and of family, exclusion of the race and any elective function for five years. They very much hope that the judicial and electoral, will not have to use, these extreme penalties.

Finally, the observation organizations launch a final appeal to the entire Haitian population

so that it participates in large numbers in this historic vote, Sunday, March 20, 2011.

The signatures :

National Council of Observation (CNO) : Nael Laguerre

Civil society initiative : (ISC) Rosny Desroches

National Human Rights Defense Network (RNDDH) : Pierre Espérance

Haitian Council of Non State Actors (CONHANE) : Edouard Paultre

Mouvman Fanm Kafou : Magdala Jn-Pierre

Center of Studies and of Research in Social Sciences And Criminal (CERESS) : Woldson Bertrand

HL/ HaitiLibre