[News] Haiti: Lavalas demonstrates to support peace & Aristide

[News at freedomarchives.org]

From: Mike Levy <mlhaiti at cornernet.com>


Hundreds of thousands of Fanmi Lavalas supporters demonstrate in support of 
peace, education and respect for the mandate of President Aristide
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Port-au-Prince, January 21, 2004 -(AHP)- Hundreds of thousands of 
supporters of Fanmi Lavalas demonstrated this Wednesday in Port-au-Prince 
to advocate respect for President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's constitutional 
prerogative to serve out his five year term in office.

This demonstration in support of peace and reconciliation also sought to 
ask the leaders of the opposition political platform to put an end to the 
opposition's campaign which the demonstrators described as anti-education 
and anti-knowledge that was launched more than two weeks ago to prevent 
schools from dispensing classes.

The demonstrators, including many mothers who had come from many corners of 
the capital, called on the opposition to participate in the next 
legislative elections if it wishes to take power and to no longer utilize 
violence.

Opposition leaders such as Evans Paul called this week for the closing of 
schools and hospitals until such time as the elected government has been 
ousted.

Four schools have been set on fire in Léogane and Cayes Jacmel. A strike 
organized at the General Hospital in Port-au-Prince by doctors and 
residents in support of the opposition's campaign is said to have already 
contributed to the deaths of some 30 patients.

The hundreds of thousands of demonstrators who marched this Wednesday in 
several streets of the capital called on the opposition to disassociate the 
operation of schools from the practice of politics.

They paused in front of several schools that chose to keep their doors open 
despite the threats weighing against them.

Parents then spoke out to denounce those who wish to punish the children to 
satisfy what they called their petty interests.

The demonstrators also paused at a public market in the Christ-Roi 
neighborhood where demonstrators from the Group of 184 had smashed vendors 
stalls and looted or damaged their goods.

"All Haitians in general and all journalists recognize today that when we 
demonstrate, all the stores, boutiques, banks and public markets can 
continue to carry on their activities without worry", said some of the 
demonstrators, explaining that their objective is peace and reconciliation 
through dialogue.

Indeed, no incident has been reported over the course of this long peaceful 
march that started in Bel-Air and finished up in front of the National 
Palace, after passing through Delmas, Bourdon, Canapé-Vert and Lalue.

All the way along the route of the march people were massed outside their 
homes to greet the demonstrators. Some were perched in trees or on the 
roofs of their home.

Small shopkeepers, elderly people, women and children in uniform were seen 
on television holding up five fingers or waving photos of President 
Aristide while in front or on the balcony of their homes as the 
demonstration passed by that drew Fanmi Lavalas supporters from every 
social stratum.

Two lower level officials of the opposition Democratic Convergence were 
also seen enthusiastically greeting the demonstrators.

Some foreign journalists including some from French media, said they were 
astonished at the discipline displayed by the marchers, in stark contrast 
they said, with some reports published in their countries.

The leader of the organization named Jeunesse Pouvoir Populaire (Populist 
Youth Power), René Civil, who participated in the demonstration, asked 
opposition leaders to listen to the voice of the majority and to honor the 
constitution and President Aristide's mandate for five years in office.

René Civil appealed to all sectors for unity and peace to bring the country 
out of the impasse. He held what he described as a sort of populist straw 
vote, asking all those in favor of the five year presidential term to raise 
their hands.

For his part, the spokesperson for APEL-Démocratique, André Fardeau, also 
recalled that the objective of the march is to demand that schools be able 
to function and that elections be held to resolve the political crisis.

"One can not construct a society through violence and in which learning is 
banned", declared André Fardeau. He appealed for reason to those who are 
going around with gallons of gasoline to be used to set fire to schools 
that continue to hold classes.

On that topic, several members of the opposition including  Mr. Vladimir 
Jeanty were arrested this Wednesday as they were reportedly throwing stones 
at schools that were holding classes.

In addition to members of populist organizations, many members of women's 
organizations, socio-professional organizations, Fanmi Lavalas officials 
and members of Parliament took part in the demonstration this January 21st 
that ended up in mid-afternoon in front of the National Palace where the 
participants sang the national anthem.

Reporters from media of every tendency recognized in their live reporting 
that this January 21st demonstration was a sea of humanity.

The demonstrators were prevented from passing in front of the offices of 
the State-run TNH television station, which was pelted with rocks on Sunday 
by demonstrators from the group of 184 who also attacked small retailers at 
a public market located a few meters from TNH.

A group called ACEH (Citizen Action of Haitian Students) announced plans to 
hold a "peaceful march" this Thursday January 22 through the streets of the 
capital to denounce "those who are holding the university space hostage".



AHP January 21, 2004  4:15 PM



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A demonstration in Port-au-Prince planned by the opposition is blocked by 
the police, who cited legal justification for their decision
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Port-au-Prince, January 21, 2004 -(AHP)- The demonstration announced by 
leaders of the opposition to call for the departure of President Aristide 
and to prevent the resumption of classes in schools was blocked, with 
officials claiming that not all the legal requirements had been met.

The demonstration was scheduled to start out from the Faculty of Social 
Sciences. It was prevented from taking place by the police.

According to a press release from the offices of the Haitian National 
Police, the organizers of the demonstration had not only failed to inform 
the police of their plans in a timely manner, but they had also failed to 
provide contact information that would have enabled the police to get in 
touch with them to work out details of the demonstration to guarantee 
adequate protection for the demonstrators.

Students and members of teachers' organizations who were very eager to go 
ahead with their demonstration, threw stones at the police officers at the 
scene, chanting slogans expressing hostility toward President Aristide..

The sound of gunfire was also heard coming from the Faculty of Social 
Sciences. .

The police felt compelled to use tear gas to persuade the would-be marchers 
inside the Faculty of Social Sciences, which is considered by the 
opposition to be a key center in the struggle of the anti-government 
sectors,  to abandon their demonstration.

On a related topic, the leader of the PARADIS party, Pastor Richard 
Vladimir Jeanty, as well as several students, were arrested during a police 
operation to disperse an anti-government demonstration on what the police 
said were legal grounds.

These individuals were reportedly witnessed throwing stones at schools that 
were holding classes in the capital.

They appeared Wednesday before Judge Gabriel Ambroise at the magistrate's 
court for the southern section of Port-au-Prince.

In Léogane, several dozen opposition supporters demonstrated Wednesday to 
call for the departure of the elected government.

In line with efforts by opposition leaders in Port-au-Prince, they 
advocated for the closing of schools until the opposition is in power.

In Les Cayes, eight people were injured, including two who suffered gunshot 
wounds, during an anti-government demonstration organized by supporters of 
the opposition.

The demonstration was held following a mass celebrated at the Cathedral of 
Les Cayes in memory of  the 12th anniversary of the killing of Claudy 
Museau during the period of rule by the leaders of the military coup d'état.



AHP January 21, 2004  2:15 PM


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