Haiti: The Pitit Dessalines [Pitit Desalin] political platform, including its establishment, structure, founding members and leaders, as well as its program; whether the platform issues membership cards; whether the party’s candidates ran in municipal, legislative and presidential elections and, if applicable, those who were elected; the treatment of its members by the authorities (2014-July 2016)
1. Overview and Structure of the Pitit Dessalines Platform
The Pitit Dessalines platform (Platfòm Pitit Dessalines, PPD) [commonly referred to as Pitit Dessalines, which can be translated as [translation] "children" (RFI 19 Dec. 2014) or "descendants" of Dessalines (AlterPresse 14 Jan. 2015)] is described on its website as [translation] "a coalition of political parties" (Pitit Dessalines n.d.). Haitian media describe the organization as a [translation] "political structure" (AlterPresse 14 Jan. 2015; Le Nouvelliste 3 Feb. 2015). An article posted on the website of Radio Métropole, a private station that broadcasts out of Port-au-Prince (Radio Métropole n.d.), reports that the Pitit Dessalines platform was established in December 2014 (ibid. 10 Dec. 2014).
According to the daily Le Nouvelliste, one of the founding members of Pitit Dessalines stated that the platform was to the political left, but was open to everyone [translation] "sharing the Dessalinian ideal" (Le Nouvelliste 7 Apr. 2015). Sources explain that Jean-Jacques Dessalines is viewed as a father of Haitian independence (Léon 14 June 2016; Le Nouvelliste 20 Mar. 2015; Miami Herald 31 Dec. 2014).
The Reuters news agency reports that Pitit Dessalines has ties with the leftist movement of former Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide (Reuters 23 Jan. 2016). According to Radio Métropole, the political platform was apparently established by [translation] "parties such as Jonas Coffy’s Ayisyen pou Ayiti and popular organizations, most of which are close to Fanmi Lavalas [JeanBertrand Aristide’s party (The World Post 19 Sept. 2014)], such as the Patriotic Force for Respect of the Constitution (Force patriotique pour le respect de la constitution, FOPARK)" (Radio Métropole 10 Dec. 2014). According to article posted on Haiti Elections, a website providing information on Haitian elections that was established by a number of Haitian and international organizations and associations (Haiti Elections n.d.), Pitit Dessalines is among the political parties that receive support from the grass roots of the Lavalas movement (Haiti Elections 11 Nov. 2015).
According to Le Nouvelliste, during the first Pitit Dessalines congress in February 2015, [translation] "several hundred supporters and delegates from the country’s 10 geographic departments and the diaspora were in attendance" (Le Nouvelliste 3 Feb. 2015). Information on the structure of the Pitit Dessalines platform, the number of members it has or the existence of membership cards could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
1.1 Founding Members and Leaders
Several sources report that Jean-Charles Moïse is the head of Pitit Dessalines (Le National 15 Dec. 2015; Le Nouvelliste 3 Feb. 2015). Sources indicate that he is a former mayor of the city of Milot (AlterPresse 27 Apr. 2016; HPN 19 Oct. 2015; Haiti Elections 11 Nov. 2015). He is also a former senator who represented the Northern Department (ibid.; Le Nouvelliste 20 March 2015; Le National 15 Dec. 2015). Sources describe Jean-Charles Moïse as a vocal opponent of Michel Martelly (Le Nouvelliste 3 Feb. 2015; Haïti Libre 11 Jan. 2015). According to the Haitian current affairs website Haïti Libre, he threatened to resign from his post as senator in January 2015 rather than accept extended mandates for senators and deputies, which he considered to be representative of the [translation] "excesses of President Martelly" (ibid.). Articles published subsequently describe Jean-Charles Moïse as a former senator (AlterPresse 27 Apr. 2016; Le National 15 Dec. 2015; Le Nouvelliste 7 Apr. 2015).
In an open letter published on the Haitian current affairs website Rezo Nodwes, Eddy Jackson Alexis states that he is an [translator] "initiator" of Pitit Dessalines, with Assad Volcy and Jean-Charles Moïse (Eddy Jackson Alexis 5 Apr. 2016). According to sources, Eddy Jackson Alexis oversaw communications within the political platform before joining the cabinet of the interim Haitian president Jocelerme Privert in February 2016 (ibid.; Anmwe 3 May 2016).
The media describe Assad Volcy as another leader of Pitit Dessalines (Le Nouvelliste 24 Dec. 2015; RFI 19 Dec. 2014; Reuters 23 Jan. 2016). He is also described as one of the party’s spokespersons (Le Nouvelliste 20 March 2015; Tout Haïti 2 Apr. 2015).
According to Radio Métropole, Mathias Pierre is a member of the Pitit Dessalines leadership (5 Jan. 2016). According to the Haitian online newspaper Le National, he served as spokesperson for Jean-Charles Moïse (15 Dec. 2015). Sources report that he was a Haitian presidential candidate [in the fall 2015 presidential elections (Radio Kiskeya 20 Oct 2015)] (La Dépêche 24 Feb. 2016; Le National 15 Dec. 2015; Radio Kiskeya 20 Oct. 2015) before joining Pitit Dessalines (ibid.).
Sources report that Daly Valet [a well-known journalist in Haiti (Média Mosaïque 6 Sept. 2015; Loop 6 Sept. 2015)] joined the party (Loop 6 Sept. 2015; Tout Haïti 2 Apr. 2015) in March 2015 (ibid.). He was appointed presidential campaign director of Jean-Charles Moïse in September 2015 (Média Mosaïque 6 Sept. 2015; Loop 6 Sept. 2015).
Sources describe Rony [or Rosny] Timothée as another Pitit Dessalines spokesperson or representative (Le Nouvelliste 15 June 2016; Radio Métropole 5 Jan. 2016; Le National 23 May 2016). According to Le Nouvelliste, Rony Timothée was also a Pitit Dessalines candidate who ran for deputy in the 2015 elections (Le Nouvelliste 29 Dec. 2015).
Le Nouvelliste describes Byron Odigé as one of the party’s leaders (Le Nouvelliste 15 June 2016).
According to an article published by the Haiti Press Network (HPN), Ronique Paul oversees women’s affairs within the platform (24 Feb. 2016).
1.2 Program
Radio Métropole reports that during their first press conference in December 2014, the leaders of Pitit Dessalines stated that they wanted to [translation] "pursue and especially encourage anti-governmental mobilization, which has, for the last 3 years, tried to overthrow the regime of 'tèt Kale'," the political party of President Martelly (10 Dec. 2014). Jean-Charles Moïse described the party as [translation] "'a political movement mobilized against the government in power'" (quoted in Le Nouvelliste 20 Mar. 2015). The Haitian media report that Pitit Dessalines is seeking to bring about a [translation] "'peaceful revolution'" in Haiti (ibid.; AlterPresse 14 Jan. 2015; Radio Métropole 10 Dec. 2014).
Sources state that Pitit Dessalines was part of the radical opposition against President Martelly’s administration (Haïti Libre 11 Jan. 2015; RFI 19 Dec. 2014). Sources note that Pitit Dessalines refuses to engage in any dialogue with that administration (ibid.; HPN 23 Dec. 2014).
According to the political party’s website, Pitit Dessalines states that [translation] "it is committed to working for a just society based on national sovereignty and economic and social development for all of its sons, in accordance with Dessalinian ideals" (Pitit Dessalines n.d.). Sources indicate that the platform is especially focused on the masses (AlterPresse 14 Jan. 2015; Le Nouvelliste 3 Feb. 2015), notably the [translation] "disadvantaged" (ibid.).
2. Participation in Municipal, Legislative and Presidential Elections
According to Le Nouvelliste, in April 2015, Jean-Charles Moïse stated that Pitit Dessalines would be running candidates at [translation] "every level" in the upcoming elections (7 Apr. 2015). Sources explain that a first round of legislative elections was held on 9 August 2015, whereas the first round of presidential elections and the second round of legislative elections were held on 25 October 2015 (Haiti Elections 11 Nov. 2015; NLG and IADL Nov. 2015, 5). Haiti Elections specifies that the purpose of the legislative elections was to elect members of the Chamber of Deputies and 20 Senate members (Haiti Elections 11 Nov. 2015). According to a report on the conduct of the elections prepared by the National Lawyers Guild (NLG) and the International Association of Democratic Lawyers Delegation (IADL), mayoral elections were also held on 25 October 2015 (NLG and IADL Nov. 2015, 5).
According to the election results published by the Provisional Electoral Council (Conseil électoral provisoire, CEP) of Haiti, during the second round of legislative elections, the Pitit Dessalines candidate, Pierre Ricard, was elected senator in the Southeast Department (Haiti n.d.a) and Appolon Enel was elected deputy in the Central Department (Haiti n.d.b). Information on Pitit Dessalines’ participation in the mayoral elections could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
Sources report that Jean-Charles Moïse was Pitit Dessalines’ presidential candidate in the October 2015 presidential elections and that he came in third place (UN 8 Mar. 2016, para. 6; Le Nouvelliste 3 Mar. 2016; NLG and IADL Nov. 2015, 19). According to sources, he obtained 14.3 percent of the vote (ibid.; Haiti Elections 16 Nov. 2015; UN 8 Mar. 2016, para. 6).
Sources report that the October 2015 elections were tainted by fraud, irregularities and violence, and that the results were rejected by Haitian civil society (Haiti Elections 11 Nov. 2015; NLG and IADL Nov. 2015, 3, 20). Jean-Charles Moïse joined a group of eight presidential candidates calling for an inquiry into those elections (Anmwe News 17 May 2016; Le National 15 Dec. 2015; Le Nouvelliste 24 Dec. 2015). Reuters reports that in December 2015, the second round of the presidential elections was delayed indefinitely (Reuters 23 Jan. 2016). The same source indicates that Pitit Dessalines advocated for new elections rather than a second round of elections (ibid.).
3. Participation within the Interim Government of Jocelerme Privert
Haitian media report that following the appointment of Jocelerme Privert as interim president [in February 2016 while awaiting new presidential elections (HPN 24 Feb. 2016)], leaders of Pitit Dessalines stated their intent to closely monitor the actions of his administration (HPN 24 Feb. 2016; La Dépêche 24 Feb. 2016; Infohaiti.net 24 Feb. 2016). According to Radio Métropole, Pitit Dessalines representatives wanted [translation] "to be entitled to monitor" the formation of the interim government and the choice of the interim prime minister (18 Feb. 2016).
However, party representatives stated that the political party would not join Privert’s transitional government (Le Nouvelliste 3 Mar. 2016; Radio Métropole 3 Feb. 2016). The political platform stated that it was neither in power nor in the opposition (Infohaiti.net 24 Feb. 2016; 2; La Dépêche 24 Feb. 2016). However, according to Le Nouvelliste, Daly Valet and Eddy Jackson Alexis joined the close-knit team of Interim President Privert (Le Nouvelliste 3 Mar. 2016). Sources add that Assad Volcy was appointed Minister of Social Affairs and Labour within that administration (VBI 5 May 2016; AHP 4 May 2016).
Sources indicate that Jean-Charles Moïse ordered Assad Volcy to leave Interim President Privert’s administration if he wanted to retain his position within the Pitit Dessalines political platform (VBI 5 May 2016; AHP 4 May 2016). According to the Agence haïtienne de presse (AHP), Jean-Charles Moïse gave the same warning to other Pitit Dessalines members who joined the interim president’s team (ibid.). Information on reactions to this warning could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
According to Vant Bèf Info (VBI), a press agency made up of [translation] "professional and citizen journalists in Haiti and abroad" (VBI n.d.), Rony Timothée, Byron Odigé and Assad Volcy were allegedly assaulted by Pitit Dessalines militants as they were about to give a press conference in May 2016 (5 May 2016). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
Sources note that Jean-Charles Moïse threatened to have Pitit Dessalines join the opposition if Interim President Privert did not rectify the errors made since his coming to power (VBI 5 May 2016; AHP 4 May 2016). However, Le Nouvelliste reports that Rony Timothée and Byron Odigé, as Pitit Dessalines spokespersons, stated that the platform would support President Privert in order for him to remain in power until new elections were held (15 June 2016).
4. The Treatment of Pitit Dessalines Members by the Authorities
Sources consulted by the Research Directorate report the following on the treatment of Pitit Dessalines members by the authorities:
- While he was still senator, Jean-Charles Moïse was arrested, questioned and detained for approximately half a day in January 2015 during a demonstration against the Martelly government in Port-au-Prince (Haïti Libre 11 Jan. 2015).
- In March 2015, the Pitit Dessalines platform stated that it had peacefully thwarted a police raid on the party’s offices; according to the political party, the police allegedly acted on the basis of [translation] "unlawful" warrants that were issued by a "judge known to be progovernment" (AHP 25 Mar. 2015). According to platform representatives, the purpose of the raid was to intimidate party members before the publication of the list of political parties authorized to run in the next elections (ibid.).
- A Pitit Dessalines militant stated having cheated death when he was hit by a rubber bullet fired at close range by Haiti’s national police during a Pitit Dessalines rally on 12 May 2015 (MOLEGHAF et al. 24 Mar. 2016, para. 40).
- According to Pitit Dessalines, over 30 activists and party members were arrested in November 2015 on the order of the police chief, including 15 or so in Delmas, 6 in Croix-des-Bouquets, close to 10 in Cap-Haïtien, 5 in the La Saline district of Port-au-Prince, and others in various places (AlterPresse 9 Nov. 2015). According to AlterPresse, Pitit Dessalines claimed that the police’s actions were politically motivated, but a police spokesperson allegedly stated that the police had arrested only 20 or so people for disturbing the peace following demonstrations related to the publication of the preliminary results of the presidential election (AlterPresse 9 Nov. 2015).
- Sources note that a Pitit Dessalines activist was killed in November 2015 following the announcement of the preliminary results of the first round of presidential elections (AlterPresse 9 Nov. 2015; NLG and IADL Nov. 2015, 19). AlterPresse reports that, according to Pitit Dessalines, Maxo Gaspard, a logistics lead for the platform, was shot and killed near the political party’s offices by an officer of the Operational and Departmental Intervention Brigade (Brigade d’opération et d’intervention départementale) [translation] "to intimidate protesting activists" (AlterPresse 9 Nov. 2015). According to the same source, the national Haitian police apparently denied its involvement in this case (ibid.).
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
Agence haïtienne de presse (AHP). 4 May 2016. Daniel Daréus. "Le secrétaire général de la plateforme politique 'Pitit Desalin' dénonce des faux pas du président Jocelerme Privert et menace de passer à l’opposition : Moïse Jean Charles s’en est également pris à des cadres de son parti auxquels il donne 48 heures pour divorcer d’avec le président Privert." [Accessed 4 July 2016]
Agence haïtienne de presse (AHP). 25 March 2015. "Des responsables et militants de Pitit Desalin font échouer une tentative d'incursion de la police dans les locaux." [Accessed 4 July 2016]
Alterpresse. 27 April 2016. "Haïti-politique : La plateforme politique Pitit Desalin projette de manifester contre Privert." [Accessed 4 July 2016]
Alterpresse. 9 November 2015. "Haïti-Élections : La plateforme ‘Pitit Desalin’ dénonce des persécutions politiques contre ses militants." [Accessed 4 July 2016]
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Anmwe News. 17 May 2016. "Haïti : Fin de mission et dissolution du G8 ou groupe des huits." [Accessed 5 July 2016]
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La Dépêche. 24 February 2016. "Haïti : Choix d’un nouveau PM, Pitit Dessalines suit Privert de près." [Accessed 4 July 2016]
Eddy Jackson Alexis. 5 April 2016. "Flash : Pitit Dessalines perd son responsable de communications!" Rezo Nodwes. [Accessed 30 June 2016]
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Léon, Joël. 14 June 2016. "L’influence de Moïse Jean Charles sur le discours politique haïtien." [Accessed 5 July 2016]
Loop. 6 September 2015. Jetry Dumont. "Daly Valet, directeur de campagne de Moïse Jean-Charles." [Accessed 29 June 2016]
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Mouvement de liberté, d’égalité des Haïtiens pour la fraternité (MOLEGHAF), Mouvement des étudiants pour libérer Haïti (MELA) et al. 4 March 2016. Sur les violations du droit de voter et de la liberté de réunion et d’association en Haïti : soumission par une coalition des organisations haïtiennes des droits de l’homme, des activistes, étudiants, femmes et travailleurs engagés dans la lutte pour la respect des droits de représentation, de la souveraineté haïtienne, et la démocratie transparente. [Accessed 30 June 2016]
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Le Nouvelliste. 15 June 2016. Michelson Césaire. "Piti Dessalines soutient le maintien au pouvoir du président Jocelerme Privert." [Accessed 29 June 2016]
Le Nouvelliste. 3 March 2016. Danio Darius. "Moïse Jean-Charles ne veut pas faire partie du gouvernement mais n'a rien contre ses anciens collaborateurs qui y entrent." [Accessed 5 July 2016]
Le Nouvelliste. 29 December 2015. Michelson Césaire. "12 380 procès-verbaux exposés par Pitit Dessalines pour prouver qu’il y avait abus." [Accessed 23 June 2016]
Le Nouvelliste. 24 December 2015. Robenson Geffrard and Danio Darius. "G8 et Lapeh apprecient différemment la Commission d'évaluation électorale." [Accessed 4 July 2016]
Le Nouvelliste. 7 April 2015. "La plateforme Pitit Dessalines n'a pas encore de candidat à la présidence." [Accessed 23 June 2016]
Le Nouvelliste. 20 March 2015. Robenson Geffrard and Louis Joseph Olivier. "Plus de 180 partis et regroupements politiques se sont inscrits." [Accessed 30 June 2016]
Le Nouvelliste. 3 February 2015. Yvince Hilaire. "La Plateforme Pitit Desalin organise son premier congrès national." [Accessed 4 July 2016]
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Radio France internationale (RFI). 19 December 2014. "Crise en Haïti : Des manifestants exigent le départ de Michel Martelly." [Accessed 30 June 2016]
Radio Kiskeya. 20 October 2015. "Mathias Pierre jette l’éponge au profit de Jean Charles Moïse." [Accessed 5 July 2016]
Radio Métropole. 18 February 2016. "Le G8 et Pitit Dessalines n'intègreront pas le gouvernement." [Accessed 4 July 2016]
Radio Métropole. 3 February 2016. "Pitit Dessalines n'entend pas rencontrer la mission de l'OEA" [Accessed 4 July 2016]
Radio Métropole. 5 January 2016. "Pitit Dessalines soutient que la commission confirme les fraudes massives." [Accessed 4 July 2016]
Radio Métropole. 10 December 2014. "Une nouvelle plateforme politique baptisée ‘Pitit Dessalines’ a vu le jour." [Accessed 29 June 2016]
Radio Métropole. N.d. "Radio Métropole /Histoire." [Accessed 8 July 2016]
Reuters. 23 January 2016. Joseph Guyler Delva and Frank Jack Daniel. "Haiti Protesters Stoke Political Crisis While Powers Seek Consensus." [Accessed 4 July 2016]
Tout Haïti. 2 April 2015. "Daly Valet a rejoint la plateforme 'Pititi Dessalines' de Moise Jean Charles." [Accessed 23 June 2016]
United Nations (UN). 8 March 2016. Security Council. Rapport du Secrétaire général sur la Mission des Nations Unies pour la stabilisation en Haïti. (S/2016/225) [Accessed 29 June 2016]
Vant Bèf Info (VBI). 5 May 2016. "Haïti-politique : Moïse Jean Charles menace de passer dans l'opposition." [Accessed 30 June 2016]
Vant Bèf Info (VBI). N.d. "Vant Bèf Info." [Accessed 21 July 2016]
The World Post. 19 September 2014. Danny Glover. “Stop the Political Persecution of Aristide and Fanmi Lavalas once and for All.” [Accessed 22 July 2016]
Additional Sources Consulted
Oral sources: Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti; Plateforme Pitit Dessalines; Réseau national de défense des droits humains.
Internet sites, including: Amnesty International; Ayitinews; ecoi.net; Factiva; Freedom House; Le Grand Soir; Haiti Infos; Haïti Liberté; Haiti Sentinel; HG News Network; Human Rights Watch; Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti; International Crisis Group; The New York Times; Pikliz; Political Handbook of the World; Radio Tginen; Radio Vision 2000; United Nations – Refworld; United States – Department of State.