(Image source: NPR)
BY HANNAH MYRICK
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This year, Haitians have endured an earthquake, a cholera epidemic and now what many are calling a fraudulent election.
Demonstrations erupted Tuesday night in Port-au-Prince as the presidential election results were announced. The popular candidate Michel Martelly came in third place, and will therefore not take part in the second round run-off. Haitians say Martelly was pushed from the running by the current president Rene Preval, who favors another candidate - Jude Celestin.
According to NPR, the violence has spread past the capital city.
“The streets of Port-au-Prince are in flames. There are bottles in the streets. There are dumpsters that have been dragged out into the streets, and radio reports are saying this is happening all across the country.”
The international community, including the United States, has also expressed its concern that the election was, at the very least, questionable.
CNN reports the charges of fraud actually preceded the unveiling of the results.
“…before Martelly charged fraud Tuesday evening, the entire electoral process had come into question. ... Martelly said aloud what many others in Haiti were thinking: Preval would go to any lengths to ensure a win for Celestin and preserve the power of his party.”
The Telegraph quotes Preval, who warns protesters to cut down on the violence.
“Demonstrate, that is your right. But don't attack public buildings, businesses or private property…You are giving Haiti a bad image. Conflicts are not resolved by setting things on fire and breaking things. Pull yourselves together Haitians.”
However, some protesters claim that they are not the ones originating the violence.
“We started this protest peacefully and then all the way downtown there were no problems. But then the police started using violence to disperse the crowd.”
A runoff is scheduled to take place in January, but Haitians say they still want Marcelly.
“They will now contest a run off in January, but there are now calls for Marcelly to be included. He has until the 10th of December to launch an appeal.”
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