Dear Adopting Parents and Friends:

Several of the candidates have conceded and are asking the election responsibles via radio ... asap, to announce the new president. They are also asking the people to not spoil what has been viewed as good election participation on their part. While many people and officials and observers acknowledges the fact that the election was poorly organized, they continue to congraulate the people.

The series of demonstrations began yesterday and let it be well know that these were not VIOLENT demonstrations that I am hearing but these have been peaceful demonstrations (w/the exception of one or two threat demonstrators) by the people who have made it clear that they will not accept having to vote again...they feel that since Feb 7th, it has been clear that Preval was in the lead and they are not accepting anything else. NOW...there were some areas where the people were extremely dogmatic and actually blocked the roads (THERE was tire burning) and the peple said if it Preval isn't the president then....etc., etc., BUT this was by far NOT the majority and concensus of the people to act in this matter.

There were announcements that some of the candidates want to redo the election; however, the people are chanting that they will not participate in a second voting process because they know that Preval earned the most votes and if there are attempts to ruin the election a revoting would be of no benefit as it would end up against Preval anyway. So you can see that one would have to admit that this is an extremely DELICATE situation.

During the demonstration at the Hotel Montana, the people did ACTUALLY take over the hotel and had completely filled the hotel. This could have turned into an ugly situation; however, the well known South African Desmond TuTu who is visiting Haiti as a missionary was able to speak to the people asking them to remain calm and wait for the election results. His appeal was effective and the people listened and moved on to the bureau of the CEP.

It seems as of this moment 4:25 PM...that things are calm for the moment. I have not heard any comments from the CEP. There have been other candidates who have conceded and have spoken on the radio encouraging the people to remain peaceful and wait. Schools remain closed. I haven't dared to go out so I don't know about businesses. The demonstrators have been marching throughout Haiti filling the streets as far as the eye could see and very peaceful holding pictures of Preval; playing music, dancing and waving tree limbs which are symbolic of victory and joy.

4:40: A spokeswoman for the Montana Hotel has communicated that they will not be the place for CEP to make the announcement of the election finales. They said that they are not political and under the circumstances and the incidents of today, this is the right decision for them to make.

Bin