In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a representative of the National Human Rights Defense Network (Réseau national de défense des droits humains, RNDDH), a Haitian organization that aims to contribute to the establishment of the rule of law in Haiti (RNDDH n.d.), stated that [translation] "the Fanmi Lavalas party has various titles" in Haiti (RNDDH 24 Aug. 2017).
In particular, according to the RNDDH representative, "Rassemblement Lavalas [Lavalas Rally]" is an accepted name of the Fanmi Lavalas party (RNDDH 24 Aug. 2017). Similarly, in correspondence with the Research Directorate, a representative of the Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti (IJDH), a non-profit human rights organization located in the United States that "support[s] the Haitian people in their struggle to achieve universal human rights, access to a just legal system, social justice, a society without violence, and the right to participate fully in choosing their government" (IJDH n.d.), it is possible that "some people" use the expression "rassemblement Lavalas," with a "small r," to refer to the Fanmi Lavalas party (IJDH 24 Aug. 2017).
Furthermore, sources state that the expressions "Chimère [Chimè]" and simply "Fanmi Lavalas" are also used to identify the Fanmi Lavalas party (IJDH 24 Aug. 2017; RNDDH 24 Aug. 2017). The RNDDH representative stated that the expressions "Rat pa kaka," "Lavalas" and "Baz Fanmi Lavalas (Base de Fanmi Lavalas [Fanmi Lavalas Base])" are the names most used by Haitians when referring to the Fanmi Lavalas party (RNDDH 24 Aug. 2017).
According to the representative of IJDH, the Fanmi Lavalas party is a political party founded in 1996 by some people who had participated in Lavalas Rally (Rassemblement Lavalas) (IJDH 24 Aug. 2017). That same source stated that Lavalas Rally, which ran candidates in the Haitian legislative elections of 1995, was a coalition of three Haitian political parties, the Lavalas Political Organization (Organisation politique Lavalas), the Movement for the Organization of the Country (Mouvement pour l'organisation du pays) and Pati Louvri Baryè (IJDH 24 Aug. 2017). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
For further information on the Fanmi Lavalas party in Haiti, consult Response to Information Request HTI105745 of February 2017.
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.
References
Institute for Justice & Democracy (IJDH). 24 August 2017. Correspondence from a representative to the Research Directorate.
Institute for Justice & Democracy (IJDH). N.d. "About." [Accessed 30 Aug. 2017]
Réseau national de défense des droits humains (RNDDH). 24 August 2017. Correspondence from a representative to the Research Directorate.
Réseau national de défense des droits humains (RNDDH). N.d. "Objectif global." [Accessed 30 Aug. 2017]