[News] Haiti Update

[News at freedomarchives.org]

Friends - this in response to yesterday's AFP story:

Claude - You've been sending out great stuff about Haiti, but this piece is 
quite inaccurate.  It blames Aristide for the failure to hold elections, 
when the opposition has simply refused to participate.  It quotes the 
opposition extensively without balance.  It highlights a "distinction" 
between the peaceful opposition and the armed gangs - led by ex-FRAPH 
leaders and other paramilitaries -- which simply does not exist.  One uses 
the other which uses the other.  It attempts to equalize the blame for the 
violence in Haiti in the midst of a series of armed attacks on government 
supporters. The article neglects to mention the outpouring of support for 
Aristide in Port-au-Prince and in St. Marc.  The police are actually 
outgunned in many situations and have only beaten back attacks with popular 
support. Haiti right now is defending itself from a coup -- pure and 
simple.  Too much disinformation is already in the air.    Robert






An official of the Foundation to Echo the Voice of Dominique comments on 
what he termed an imposing demonstration organized Saturday by supporters 
of Fanmi Lavalas
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Port-au-Prince, February 9, 2004 -(AHP)- Patrick Elie, an official from the 
Fondation Echo Voix Jean Dominique (Foundation to Echo the Voice of Jean 
Dominique) declared Monday that he was impressed by the large demonstration 
organized Saturday by supporters of Fanmi Lavalas.

Hundreds of thousands of supporters of Fanmi Lavalas demonstrated Saturday 
in Port-au-Prince to reaffirm their attachment to President Jean-Bertrand 
Aristide and to plead in favor of respect for the president's serving out 
his full term in office.

Patrick Elie said that the impressive crowd that he saw marching Saturday 
in the streets of Port-au-Prince gave him renewed hope for better days for 
Haiti despite the difficulties facing the country.

He felt that this massive participation by the population in the streets of 
the capital should persuade those who wish to drag the country into a civil 
war to reconsider carefully.

"Those who wish at any cost to propel the country into a civil war should 
know that this is not the best way out of the crisis", declared Mr. Elie. 
He urged those who are in a rush to war to follow instead the road of 
dialogue and concerted action.




AHP February 9, 2004 12:20 PM



------------------------------------------------------------------------

The police announce that they have regained control of the police stations 
of Saint-Marc and Grand-Goâve, and are studying strategies for liberating 
the population of  Gonaïves
------------------------------------------------------------------------


St-Marc, February 9, 2004 -(AHP)- Government authorities affirmed Monday 
that the police have largely reasserted control of  the situation in 
St-Marc, where armed partisans from the opposition set fire Saturday to the 
city's police station and forced the police to flee to safety.

The violence was committed by an opposition organization named RAMICOS, 
that was responsible last month for setting on fire and looting two radio 
stations and the homes of some Lavalas partisans.

The Director General of the Interior Ministry, Bell Angelot, commented that 
the government refuses to respond to the lethal acts of the opposition by 
committing violence itself.

He asked the population to carry out non-violent resistance in response to 
the climate of terror put in place through violence.

Mr. Bell downplayed rumors that the police had fired directly at members of 
the population. He asked those who are spreading these rumors how many 
people were killed by the police.

However the senior Interior Ministry official explained that the police 
must utilize appropriate means in liberating the population from the 
control of the armed partisans of the opposition.

According to Biron Odigé, who leads a populist organization close to the 
government, the members of the Platform of the 184 have caused considerable 
damage to the St-Marc police station.

The attackers have also looted containers and set fire to police vehicles.

Mr. Odigé said the authorities are in the process of taking steps to free 
the population from the grip of the bandits and to make possible the 
resumption of normal activities in the city, notably business activity and 
school classes.

The police also took control of the situation in Grand-Goâve where armed 
men claiming to be from the opposition, led by Ti Nènè, set fire to the 
police station.

The fugitive said Sunday that he was working for the opposition. He also 
indicated that his men have set fire to several government vehicles and 
were preparing to commit acts of violence in Petit-Goâve and Léogane.

The police are currently examining strategies for ensuring that the armed 
partisans of the opposition sowing terror in the city of Independence and 
led by fugitive Jean Tatoune, can do no harm.




AHP February 9, 2004 11:25 AM

------------------------------------------------------------------------



Armed supporters of the opposition commit acts of vandalism in the township 
of Saint-Raphaël
------------------------------------------------------------------------


St-Raphaël, February 9, 2004 -(AHP)- Armed partisans of the opposition set 
fire this Monday to city hall, the mayor's home and the police station for 
the community of St-Raphaël (in the North of Haiti).

St-Raphaël's mayor, Sévère Adonija, denounced this escalation in brute 
violence being committed, he said, by members of the Platform of the 184, 
in order to take power.

Mayor Adonija, who had to go into hiding to escape the fury of the 
opposition supporters, asked the population to continue to go about daily 
activities normally and not to yield, he said, to the violence of those who 
seek power without taking part in elections.

The mayor also called on the population to remain mobilized to defend the 
five year term in office for President Jean- Bertrand Aristide.




AHP February 9, 2004  2:25 PM


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The president condemns the acts of terrorism committed by opposition 
supporters in Gonaïves and once again appeals for dialogue
------------------------------------------------------------------------


Port-au-Prince, February 9, 2004 -(AHP)- President Jean-Bertrand Aristide 
in remarks Saturday, condemned the acts of terrorism he said were committed 
by opposition partisans in Gonaïves.

Jean-Bertrand Aristide, speaking at the inaugural ceremony for two public 
spaces at the airport crossroads, stated that democracy has a need for a 
political opposition and not a terrorist opposition that kills people and 
burns down police stations.

The Chief of State declared it is unacceptable that on the 18th anniversary 
of the fall of the Duvalier dictatorship, certain sectors believe they can 
solve their political problems through violence.

President Aristide asked the police to take all appropriate steps to 
re-establish order and security in Gonaïves and in other regions where 
armed opposition groups operate.

The president, celebrating the third anniversary of his inauguration for 
his second term in office, reiterated that he will serve the full five year 
term provided for under the Constitution.

He criticized those who, he said, are utilizing violence and lies as the 
means to take power.

"Elections are the only democratic path for taking office" declared the 
Chief of State. He urged the opposition to move forward along the path of 
dialogue to resolve the crisis.

Mr. Aristide also denounced "a campaign of disinformation" led, he said, by 
one sector to try to manipulate public opinion.

Jean Bertrand Aristide contends that this is the same sector that tried to 
gain control of the body of the young activist Lyonel Victor for political 
purposes.

The Chief of State asked this sector to come to its senses so as not to be 
condemned by history.


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