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</font><h5><b>AHP News - February 17, 2004 - English translation
(Unofficial)<br><br>
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A lawyer for the victims of the Raboteau massacre says he fears that new
massacres may take place with the return of FRAPH members alongside the
opposition coalition<br>
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</b></h5><font face="Trebuchet MS" size=2><b>Port-au-Prince, February 17,
2004 -(AHP)-</b> Mario Joseph, attorney for the victims of the
Raboteau massacre, declared Tuesday that he fears new massacres may be
carried out in the country with the return of members of the former
Haitian army and the FRAPH paramilitary corps alongside the opposition
coalition. <br><br>
According to Mario Joseph, since the escape from prison of Jean Tatoune,
who had been tried and sentenced to life imprisonment, those close to the
victims of the massacre on April 22, 1994 have had to go into hiding.
<br><br>
Mr. Joseph asserted that the presence in Haiti of former FRAPH
leader Louis Jodel Chamblain is a foreshadowing of macabre events yet to
come in Haiti. <br><br>
Mario Joseph does not rule out the possibility that those he called
"thirsty for power" might carry out abuses that are even more
serious than those committed during the period of the coup d'état of
1991. <br><br>
He called for the mobilization of all Haitians committed to liberty and
democracy to thwart the maneuvers of the opposition. <br><br>
In addition, Mario Joseph said he was shocked at the fact that the
leaders of the opposition coalition sanction the crimes committed by
their partisans together with the FRAPH members contrary to the interests
of the country. <br><br>
There is no doubt that the opposition is behind all the violence that is
presently rocking the country, attorney Joseph said, adding that this
turn in policy by the Platform leaves a heavy threat hanging over the
future of democracy in Haiti. <br><br>
<br>
</font><h5><b>AHP February 17, 2004 3:50 PM <br><br>
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The United States provides a new gift of one million dollars to the OAS
Mission in Haiti<br>
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</b></h5><font face="Trebuchet MS" size=2><b>Port-au-Prince, February 17,
2004 -(AHP)-</b> The Special Mission of the Organization of
American States (OAS) in Haiti announced this Tuesday that $1 million
will be transferred into its account by the United States through the
intermediary of the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP). <br><br>
The head of the OAS Special Mission in Haiti, David Lee, said during a
news conference that this gesture demonstrates the determination of the
international community to facilitate a positive outcome to the crisis
that has gripped the country for more than three years. <br><br>
David Lee explained that this gift by the American government will enable
the OAS Mission to fulfill its obligations relating to the implementation
of a plan of action agreed between President Jean Bertrand Aristide and
CARICOM Heads of States. <br><br>
It will also contribute, he said, to the reinforcement of the actions of
the OAS, notably in the areas of security and the professionalization of
the Haitian National Police. <br><br>
The U.S. Ambassador in Haiti, James B. Foley, said for his part that this
transfer of funds demonstrates the determination of his government to
respond to the appeal launched by the representative of the UNDP in
Haiti, Adama Guido relating to the opening of a humanitarian corridor.
<br><br>
According to Amb. Foley, it is the obligation of all belligerents to
respect the opening of such a channel. <br><br>
The opposition partisans have intensified the violence in Gonaïves
through the murder of several members of the population and police, and
through the looting of the main police station and several homes.
<br><br>
"All those who love Haiti should allow the aid to flow to the most
vulnerable sectors of the population", the American diplomat
declared. <br><br>
For his part, the UNDP representative in Haiti, Adama Guindo, underscored
that this gift by the U.S. to the OAS Mission in Haiti proves that the
U.S. supports the efforts made by the international community relating to
the handling of the Haitian crisis. <br><br>
Adama Guindo took this opportunity to express his profound concerns
pertaining to the socio-political situation in the country. <br><br>
He deplored the violence perpetrated in the hospitals, asking the parties
to the conflict to respect the rights of the population to have access to
health care services. <br><br>
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</font><h5><b>AH February 17, 2004 12:55 PM <br><br>
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The populist sector is mobilized to counter the joint action of the
armed partisans of the opposition Platform and the FRAPH, according to
Paul Raymond <br>
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</b></h5><font face="Trebuchet MS" size=2><b>Port-au-Prince, February 17,
2004 -(AHP)-</b> The leader of the TKL (Catholic base community) of
Saint Jean Bosco, Paul Raymond, indicated Thursday that the
populist sector is mobilized to counter the joint action of armed
partisans of the opposition and FRAPH that are operating in several
regions of the country. <br><br>
However, Paul Raymond said he continues to favor a peaceful solution to
the crisis, despite, he said, the fact that the opposition has already
become engaged in an armed struggle against the population. <br><br>
Paul Raymond asked the population and the grassroots sector in every
corner of the country to be vigilant night and day to counteract the
activities of those he labeled terrorists, in order to prevent a new coup
d'état in the country. <br><br>
"The opposition Platform has made an alliance with terrorists to
destabilize the country and reconstitute the former Armed Forces of Haiti
and the former paramilitary group FRAPH to exterminate the
population", said Mr. Raymond. <br><br>
Stating that there is no pride in the opposition's throwing itself
blindly into the violence in an attempt to take power, the leader of the
TKL declared that the populist sector and the majority of the population
will not let itself be eliminated by the terrorists. <br><br>
<br>
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