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<h5><b>Tens of thousands of Fanmi Lavalas supporters demonstrate in
support of the Constitution and President Aristide's term in office<br>
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<br><br>
</b></h5><font face="Trebuchet MS" size=2><b>Port-au-Prince, December 16,
2003-(AHP)-</b> Several tens of thousands of members and supporters of
Fanmi Lavalas demonstrated Tuesday in and around the Champ-de-Mars
in Port-au-Prince in support of the Haitian Constitution and for respect
for the constitutionally-specified length of President Aristide's term in
office. <br><br>
The demonstration took place at the close of the 2nd National Conference
of the Fanmi Lavalas that opened Sunday at the Hotel Karibe.
<br><br>
The demonstration also marked the 13th anniversary of the first election
of Father Jean Bertrand Aristide on December 16, 1990 as President of
Haiti. <br><br>
Since the morning, thousands of people have gathered near the National
Palace, while thousands more were dispersed throughout the neighboring
areas. <br><br>
"We are here to say the President Aristide is not alone. We are
present today just as we were on December 16, 1990 and November 26
2000" (the second time President Aristide was elected), they said,
adding "we can not betray our blood because our blood is the blood
of President Aristide".<br><br>
Many other demonstrators said they are ready to give their lives to
ensure respect for the decisions made through the popular vote.
<br><br>
"We will never again be forced into hiding, like after the lethal
coup d'Etat of September 30, 1991 that caused more than 5,000
deaths", they shouted.<br><br>
The demonstrators have accused the leaders of the Group of 184, who
spearheaded demonstrations seeking the ouster of the government, of
having financed the coup d'Etat of Raoul Cédras. <br><br>
Toward late afternoon, more than 10,000 people who took part in the
closing session of the conference converged at the Champ-de-Mars,
creating a tide of human beings, together with those who were already
there.<br><br>
" We voted for a president for five years. He must complete his term
in keeping with the Constitution", said the demonstrators in chorus,
adding that all who hope to take power will have to do so through
elections. <br><br>
They reaffirmed their determination to see the democratic process through
all the way, and called on those they labeled the forces against change
to give the country a chance to celebrate the bicentennial of its
independence in peace on January 1st, 2004. <br><br>
Since Thursday, supporters of Fanmi Lavalas have been holding what they
call "patriotic vigils" near the Palace, in the wake of
an attempt by the opposition, led by former members of the Haitian
military, to occupy the seat of presidential power in order to then take
over the government by force. <br><br>
<br>
</font><h5><b>AHP December 16, 2003 12:45 PM<br><br>
<br><br>
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The strike call by the opposition is ignored by a majority of the
public<br>
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<br><br>
</b></h5><font face="Trebuchet MS" size=2><b>Port-au-Prince, December 16,
2003-(AHP)-</b> The call to strike in the Port-au-prince metropolitan
area, issued for Tuesday by the new coalition of the political
opposition, was not widely heeded by the public. <br><br>
This political platform directed by the President of the Group of 184 and
which also includes the Democratic Convergence and the Populist Star,
launched the strike to seek the departure of the elected government.
<br><br>
Mass transportation functioned normally. Many drivers interviewed by AHP
affirmed that they were not affected by the strike or had not heard about
it. <br><br>
The larger retail businesses in town and the private banks were closed.
The small traders and public markets were open as usual. <br><br>
Several small shopkeepers said they would not stand in solidarity with
people who are cut off from the masses, who have never done anything for
them and who are today making fallacious promises for their own benefit.
<br><br>
For their part, the customers at several commercial banks said they were
shocked that the directors of these institutions would associate
themselves with a strike without worrying about the needs of their
customers. <br><br>
They said that the banks are managing their customers' money. Some
customers threatened to withdraw their savings from these banks in order
to deposit them, they said, in public banking institutions. <br><br>
As for the schools, the majority of them have been closed since Friday
for Christmas vacation. However some students who needed to take exams
went to school this Tuesday. <br><br>
<br>
</font><h5><b>AHP December 16, 2003 12:45 PM<br><br>
</b></h5><x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
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