Hip-hop star accuses Haiti election council of 'trickery'
AFP
PORT-AU-PRINCE- Hip-hop star Wyclef Jean charged Monday that Haiti's provisional election council (CEP) used "trickery" and violated the constitution to reject his candidacy for president.
In an audio message in Creole distributed to the Haitian media, Jean called on his supporters to "mobilize without let up" against the council's decision, which struck down Jean's candidacy Friday because he had not lived in Haiti for five consecutive years.
Wyclef Jean
"They violated the constitution to benefit their families and their friends who continue to live off the people's money," Jean said. "Are you going to continue to support people who do not respect the fundamental law of the country?"
"While you mobilize without let up to force them to respect your rights, I am going to continue to fly the flag of Haiti. Stay well, the work has just begun," he said.
Initially, Jean had said he would abide by the council's decision, but then reversed course on Sunday, indicating on his Twitter account that he would appeal the decision.
Pierre Thibaut, director of communication of the election council, said Monday, however, that there was no higher authority than the council on election matters.
He said it was possible to appeal its ruling, but "the final decision rests with the council."
The hip-hop star, who has a popular following in Haiti but no political experience, was one of 15 presidential hopefuls the council barred from running, six of them because they failed to meet the residency requirement.
Born in Haiti, Jean has lived in the United States since the age of nine. But he has taken an increasing interest in the impoverished country in recent years through investments and a charity.
He emerged as a political voice after the January 12 earthquake that devastated Port-au-Prince, killing an estimated 250,000 people and leaving another 1.5 million without homes.
The candidacies of 19 other people were approved by the eight-member council. Two council members, however, did not sign the decision.
Ginette Cherubin, who took part in the council's long debate over the candidates, told AFP that she did not sign because of a "disagreement with some part of it."
Another non-signing council member, Laurette Croyance, was out of the country at the time.
The council normally has nine members, but one had resigned over a financial scandal several days before the publication of the candidates list.
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