Haiti: Alternative League for Haitian Progress and Emancipation (Ligue alternative pour le progrès et l'émancipation haïtienne, LAPEH), including its structure, leaders and political activities; the relationship between LAPEH and the Youth Progress Movement for the Protection of Haiti (Mouvement de progrès de la jeunesse pour la protection d'Haïti); treatment of party members by authorities and society (2014-October 2015)

Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

1. Overview

Haïti élections ressources informations (HERE-Info), a website providing information on political parties and elections in Haiti (HERE-Info n.d.a), indicates that LAPEH is a Haitian political party that was officially registered in 2011 (ibid. n.d.b). A list of political parties produced by the Provisional Electoral Council (Conseil électoral provisoire, CEP) and posted on HaïtiLibre, a news website, on 1 April 2015 is described by the same source as the definitive list of political parties authorized by the CEP to participate in the 2015 elections. The LAPEH party is on the list (Haiti 2015, 11).

Sources report that according to a survey [1] conducted by the Office of Research in Informatics and Economic and Social Development (Bureau de recherche en informatique et en développement économique et social, BRIDES), a Haitian impact studies office (Brides n.d.), in July 2015, Jude Célestin was first among candidates who received more than 1 percent of voting intentions for the presidential election, with a score of 15.1 percent (AHP 4 Aug. 2015; HPN 4 Aug. 2015).

Sources report that in September 2015, the LAPEH party earned support from grassroots activists from the platform Truth (Verite [Vérité]) after that party's candidate withdrew from the presidential election (Le Nouvelliste 24 Sept. 2015; HPN 23 Sept. 2015).

2. Structure and Leaders

Information on the organizational structure of LAPEH could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. In addition, information on party leaders was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

2.1 Jude Célestin

According to an article posted in May 2015 on the website of Radio métropole, which broadcasts out of Port-au-Prince, Jude Célestin is the [translation] "leader" of the LAPEH party (20 May 2015). Other sources note that Jude Célestin is the LAPEH candidate in the Haitian presidential election (Le Nouvelliste 29 Sept. 2015; Europa World Online n.d.). The election will take place on 25 October 2015 (Haïti progrès 17 Sept. 2015).

Jude Célestin was the Inite party candidate in the 2010 presidential election (Haïti en marche 25 Sept. 2015; PWH 2014, 594). The Political Handbook of the World 2014 (PHW) notes that the Inite party was led by René Préval, the former president of the Republic of Haiti (20062010) (ibid.). An article published in 2010 by the French weekly Le Point reports that Jude Célestin [translation] "[had] been chosen by President René Préval to succeed him as the Inite party candidate should he be unable to run for a third term" (Le Point 8 Dec. 2010).

According to PHW 2014, at the time of the 2010 presidential election,

Célestin was initially credited with a second-place finish in the first round of the presidential poll, but the CEP subsequently placed him third, and he was therefore ineligible for the runoff. Under intense international pressure, Inite officials ultimately accepted that decision, although Célestin personally objected. (PHW 2014, 594)

According to the newspaper Le Monde, Jude Célestin was forced to withdraw from the 2010 presidential campaign because he [translation] "benefited from electoral fraud" during the first round of voting; the source specifies that an international expert mission recommended his withdrawal in favour of Michel Martelly (Le Monde with AFP 26 Jan. 2011). Haitian media also reports that Jude Célestin was pushed aside for Michel Martelly by international stakeholders (Le Nouvelliste 24 Sept. 2015; Haïti-Référence 20 Mar. 2015). According to Radio métropole, Jude Célestin remained [translation] "silent throughout President Michel Martelly's term" (20 May 2015). According to an article published by the Haitian online magazine Mag Haiti in October 2015, Jude Célestin declared that he went [translation] "on a pilgrimage to every department in the country in order to form his own political party during the four-year reign of President Martelly" (1 Oct. 2015). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

2.2 Coordinators

Sources from 2015 indicate that Jean Hector Anacacis is the coordinator of the LAPEH party (HIP 13 Aug. 2015; AHP 12 Aug. 2015; Haïti en marche 25 Sept. 2015). Some sources also report that Jean Hector Anacacis is a former senator (ibid.; HIP 13 Aug. 2015; Haïti progrès 17 Sept. 2015). The Port-au-Prince news magazine Haïti en marche states that he was previously affiliated with the Inite party (25 Sept. 2015).

An article published in September 2015 on the Haitian news website Presse Alternative reports that Bernadel Audain is LAPEH's national campaign coordinator (15 Sept. 2015). Additional information on Bernadel Audain could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

3. Activities

A dispatch from news agency Haiti Press Network (HPN) indicates that on 26 February 2015, LAPEH representatives took part in discussions with the CEP on the electoral calendar (HPN 26 Feb. 2015). The same source also states that the parties in attendance, including LAPEH, objected to the CEP's proposals (ibid.). Radio Télévision Caraïbes notes that a meeting on a similar topic between the CEP and political parties, including LAPEH, took place in September 2015 and that no consensus was reached (19 Sept. 2015).

Haitian media report that in August 2015, the LAPEH party opposed voiding the results of the legislative elections held on 9 August (AHP 12 Aug. 2015; HIP 13 Aug. 2015). According to the online news agency Haïti Inter Presse (HIP), Jean Hector Anacacis stated at a press conference that the LAPEH party was not in favour of [translation] "a complete shake-up, but polls in areas affected by the violence [had] to be reviewed" (ibid.). According to a Radio France internationale (RFI) article, the first round of the legislative elections on 9 August was [translation] "marked by violence and serious logistical problems" (28 Sept. 2015). Haïti Inter Presse also notes that the LAPEH party called for "a second round for all legislative candidates in order to make up for the lack of legitimacy that could surround those who were elected in the first round" (13 Aug. 2015).

According to the Haitian news site AlterPresse, Jude Célestin started his presidential campaign in the Plateau Central department during a public meeting in Hinche on 24 September 2015 (29 Sept. 2015). The Port-au-Prince daily Le Nouvelliste also reports that Jude Célestin held an electoral meeting in that city on that day (29 Sept. 2015). A public meeting held on 27 September 2015 in Croix-des-Bouquets [a city northeast of Port-au-Prince (AlterPresse 29 Sept. 2015)] is considered by these same sources to be the launch of Jude Célestin's presidential campaign (Le Nouvelliste 29 Sept. 2015; AlterPresse 28 Sept. 2015).

4. Relationship Between LAPEH and the Youth Progress Movement for the Protection of Haiti

Information on the Youth Progress Movement for the Protection of Haiti could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. Accordingly, information on a possible relationship between the LAPEH party and this movement could not be found.

5. Treatment of LAPEH Members by Authorities and Society

Information on the treatment of LAPEH members by authorities and society was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

Some sources report that in August 2015, Jacques Vilsaint, LAPEH candidate for deputy of Pétion-Ville, was [translation] "severely" beaten by police officers, specifically, by members of the Brigade of Operation and Departmental Intervention (Brigade d'opération et d'intervention départementale, BOID) (Haitinews 2000 n.d.; Référence Haïti 27 Aug. 2015). According to an article posted on the Haitian news site Référence Haïti, the incident occurred at the West 1 departmental electoral office, in Frères, [translation] "as hearings were taking place on the various challenges made by candidates in the partial legislative elections" (ibid.). Similarly, Haiti Press Network (HPN) reports that Jacques Vilsaint [translation] "was manhandled by BOID officers … as hearings were taking place at the BED [departmental electoral office] for West 1" (HPN 27 Aug. 2015). According to the same source, Jacques Vilsaint and other candidates [translation] "tried to disrupt the hearings by chanting 'No election, no challenges,'" and police officers [translation] "used force to calm the candidates" (ibid.). Some sources state that Jacques Vilsaint was taken to hospital after a report from a justice of the peace (ibid.; Référence Haïti 27 Aug. 2015).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Note

[1] The survey was conducted from 27 to 31 July 2015 (AHP 4 Aug. 2015; HPN 4 Aug. 2015). Additional details were not provided by the sources.

References

Agence haïtienne de presse (AHP). 12 August 2015. "PEH demande la reprise des élections dans les endroits où il y a eu d'importants troubles et estime qu'aucun candidat ne devrait être déclaré vainqueur dès le premier tour : Le candidat Rony Thimotée de Pitit Desaline accuse PHTK, Bouclier et Vérite d'en avoir trop fait." [Accessed 28 Sept. 2015]

_____. 4 August 2015. "À quelques jours des législatives partielles, le BRIDES publie les résultats d'une enquête qu'il dit avoir réalisée sur les intentions de vote pour la présidentielle : un sondage qualifié de bidon par le candidat Jean Henri Céant." [Accessed 2 Oct. 2015]

AlterPresse. 29 September 2015. "Haïti - Élections : les premières réunions publiques dans la campagne pour la présidentielle 2015." [Accessed 6 Oct. 2015]

Bureau de recherche en informatique et en développement économique et social (BRIDES). N.d. "Accueil." [Accessed 9 Oct. 2015]

Europa World Online. N.d. "Ligue alternative pour le progrès et l'émancipation haïtienne." London: Routledge.

Haiti. 2015. Conseil électoral provisoire (CEP). Élections 2015 : bilan de l'enregistrement des partis politiques, groupements ou regroupements au CEP. [Accessed 5 Oct. 2015]

Haïti élections ressources informations (HERE-Info). N.d.a. "Qui sommes-nous?" [Accessed 5 Oct. 2015]

_____. N.d.b. "Partis/Plateformes - LAPEH - Informations de base." [Accessed 5 Oct. 2015]

Haïti en marche. 25 September 2015. "Haïti - Élections : le temps des grands rassemblements." [Accessed 2 Oct. 2015]

Haïti Inter Presse (HIP). 13 August 2015. Amose Chouloute. "LAPEH contre l'annulation du scrutin du 9 août." [Accessed 30 Sept. 2015]

HaïtiLibre. 1 April 2015. "Haïti - Élections : liste définitive des partis politiques agréés." [Accessed 5 Oct. 2015]

Haitinews 2000. N.d. "Haïti - Élections : Les contestations sont entendues, un candidat battu sévèrement." [Accessed 1 Oct. 2015]

Haiti Press Network (HPN). 23 September 2015. "Haïti - Élections : LAPEH fixe sa position." [Accessed 30 Sept. 2015]

_____. 27 August 2015. "Haïti - Élections : un député malmené au BED de l'Ouest." [Accessed 29 Sept. 2015]

_____. 4 August 2015. "Haïti - Élections - Sondage : les 15 candidats à la présidence en tête d'un sondage de BRIDES." [Accessed 2 Oct. 2015]

_____ . 26 February 2015. "Haïti - Élections : Des partis politiques proposent leur calendrier électoral au CEP." [Accessed 2 Oct. 2015]

Haïti progrès. 17 September 2015. "LAPEH reste dans la course pour les présidentielles." [Accessed 9 Oct. 2015]

Haïti-Référence. 20 March 2015. "Partis et coalitions politiques en Haïti." [Accessed 2 Oct. 2015]

Mag Haiti. 1 October 2015. "Top 5 des candidats à la présidence les plus populaires sur le net." [Accessed 5 Oct. 2015]

Le Monde with Agence France-Presse (AFP). 26 January 2011. "Haïti : Le parti au pouvoir annonce le retrait de son candidat à la présidentielle." [Accessed 5 Oct. 2015]

Le Nouvelliste. 29 September 2015. "Jude Célestin jure devant la Vierge Marie de respecter ses promesses envers Haïti." [Accessed 1 Oct. 2015]

_____. 24 September 2015. "La base de Verite rejoint Lapeh, Jean Hector Anacacis fuit René Préval." [Accessed 29 Sept. 2015]

Le Point. 8 December 2010. "Jude Célestin, candidat-bâtisseur du pouvoir haïtien en place." [Accessed 5 Oct. 2015]

Political Handbook of the World 2014 (PHW). 2014. "Haiti." Edited by Tom Lansford. Washington, DC: CQ Press.

Presse Alternative. 15 September 2015. "Haïti - LAPEH - Élections : LAPEH, en train de concerter ses membres du département de l'ouest pour les prochaines élections du 25 octobre 2015." [Accessed 15 Sept. 2015]

Radio France internationale (RFI). 28 September 2015. "Haïti : seulement dix candidats élus au premier tour des législatives." [Accessed 6 Oct. 2015]

Radio métropole. 20 May 2015. "Jude Célestin à nouveau candidat à la présidence." [Accessed 5 Oct. 2015]

Radio Télévision Caraïbes. 19 September 2015. "Rencontre CEP/parti politique : Les conseillers électoraux ont filé à l'anglaise." [Accessed 2 Oct. 2015]

Référence Haïti. 27 August 2015. Diego Charles. "Un candidat à la députation violenté par un policier." [Accessed 29 Sept. 2015]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti; Ligue alternative pour le progrès et l'émancipation haïtienne; Plateforme des organisations haïtiennes des droits humains; Réseau national de défense des droits humains.

Internet sites, including: Amnesty International; Ayitinews; Bertelsmann Stiftung; BBC; Bureau de recherche en informatique et en développement économique et social; Council on Hemispheric Affairs; ecoi.net; E-Haiti Network; Factiva; Europa World Online; Freedom House; Haiti - Conseil électoral provisoire; Human Rights Watch; IHS Global Insight; International Foundation for Electoral Systems; The Miami Herald; Organization of American States; Radio Kiskeya'; United Nations - Refworld; United States - Department of State.