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</font><h5><b>AHP News - February 23, 2004 - English translation
(Unofficial)<br>
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<br><br>
<br>
Prime Minister Yvon Neptune calls on the opposition Platform to adopt the
plan proposed as a way out of the crisis by the international community,
and thus put an end to the escalation of terrorist violence<br>
------------------------------------------------------------------------</b></h5><font face="Trebuchet MS" size=2><b>Port-au-Prince,
February 23, 2004 -(AHP)- </b>Prime Minister Yvon Neptune called Monday
on the opposition political Platform to adopt the proposal put forward by
the international community as a way out of the crisis in order to bring
to an end the escalation of terrorist violence and to take part in the
efforts to enable the Haitian people to participate in the construction
of a State based on the rule of law. <br><br>
" We are asking the opposition Platform to draw inspiration from the
example of wisdom on the part of President Aristide, to join in endorsing
the peace plan of the international community, which calls for compromise
and sacrifice on the part of both parties", declared Mr.
Neptune.<br><br>
On Sunday, armed men claiming to be with the opposition took another step
by forcing their way into Cap Haitien (the country's second city), where
they killed at least ten people, and looted as well as burned public
offices and radio stations owned by supporters of the governing power.
<br><br>
The Prime Minister said he deplores that drug and arms traffickers
together with former members of the FRAPH terrorist group continue to sow
death in the North, the Artibonite and the Central Plateau. <br><br>
" The terrorists have destroyed all the sources of life for the
population in Hinche and Cap-haïtien. They paralyzed all access to water,
food, health care, schools and electricity," said an indignant Yvon
Neptune, affirming that it is to preserve the constitutional right of the
Haitian people to choose their representatives in the elections that
President Aristide signed the proposal for resolving the crisis presented
by the international community.<br><br>
Mr. Neptune said that the authorities are working together with the
police to find the resources to prevent the drug traffickers and the
former members of FRAPH from continuing to commit murders and burn down
police stations and government offices. <br><br>
" We are asking the entire population to remain mobilized in a
peaceful manner to thwart the terrorist plan", said the head of the
government, who also pointed out that the international community has
taken on commitments to the Haitian people. <br><br>
AHP has learned that some fifty U.S. Marines are expected to arrive in
Port-au-Prince at any moment.<br><br>
<br>
</font><h5><b>AHP February 23, 2004 3:00 PM <br><br>
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The political Platform of the 184 rejects the plan by the international
community for ending the crisis<br>
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</b></h5><font face="Trebuchet MS" size=2><b>Port-au-Prince, February 23,
2004 -(AHP)- </b>The political Platform of the 184 rejected Monday the
peace plan proposed by the international community, accusing the
diplomats of having failed to call for the departure of President
Jean-Bertrand Aristide.<br><br>
The President formally approved the plan on Saturday. Among its
provisions, the plan calls for President Aristide to serve out his term
in office, which expires in February, 2006. <br><br>
The Platform made a counter-proposal containing more than ten provisions
to be implemented between now and March 15 including the nomination of a
Prime Minister based on a list to be submitted by the Platform as well as
the naming of a new president. <br><br>
And it is only after the new government has been established that the
opposition would call for an end to the violence, said the leaders of the
opposition. <br><br>
The number one official in the Platform, André Apaid Jr, accused
President Aristide of being responsible for violence committed in
Gonaives, Cap-Haïtien and elsewhere by armed men claiming to be with the
opposition. <br><br>
These individuals on Sunday killed at least ten members of the
Cap-Haitien population, burned and looted public offices, and radio and
television stations owned by supporters of the governing party, Lavalas.
They also released many prisoners including drug traffickers. <br><br>
For his part, former Senator Paul Denis said that President Aristide has
not respected the commitments he took vis-à-vis the international
community with regard to the political crisis. <br><br>
The violence will not cease until after the departure of President
Aristide, he asserted, while proclaiming that the Platform of the 184 is
carrying out a peaceful struggle. <br><br>
Asked to condemn the abuses committed by men claiming to be with the
opposition, another leader of the opposition, Evans Paul said only
that his coalition has received guarantees from the armed bands that they
will put down their weapons immediately after the departure of the Chief
of State. <br><br>
"They made promises to us; why shouldn't we trust them", said
Evans Paul.<br><br>
Leaders of the Platform have refused to communicate the contents of a new
document submitted by the international community which is said to give
the opposition additional guarantees to encourage them to endorse the
latest proposal for a way out of the crisis. <br><br>
Evans Paul promised to provide details of this document at a news
conference to be held at the end of the afternoon for the foreign press.
<br><br>
"I don't know if we will have time to do it", he said, without
further clarification. Many took this to mean that he was referring to
the threats of the armed men who announced Saturday that they would march
on the capital. <br><br>
Members of populist organization and of civil society have decreed a
mobilization to prevent, they said, armed partisans of the opposition
from carrying out their macabre plan. <br><br>
" There is nothing that we would not do in order not to go back into
hiding and protect the public from members of FRAPH and the former armed
forces of Haiti, warned groups of men who erected barricades Sunday in
the Canapé-Vert area. <br><br>
Reliable sources indicated Sunday to AHP that the armed men who are
operating in Gonaïves have exerted pressure on the leaders of the
Platform in Port-au-Prince to persuade them to reject the plan of the
international community. <br><br>
On the previous day, an opposition spokesperson in Gonaïves, Buteur
Métayer, wondered what would happen to him if the Platform were to come
to an understanding with the government authorities. <br><br>
The peace plan submitted to the parties in the conflict makes no
reference to the armed bands that took the population of Gonaïves
hostage. <br><br>
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell had indicated Saturday that "it
is time for the opposition to realize that its grievances, whether
legitimate or not, will not be dealt with if they fall in league with
thugs and murderers". <br><br>
In Haïti, numerous sectors expect that the international community will
shoulder its responsibilities in light of the violence committed by the
armed bands led by members of the former army and the "FRAPH
terrorist group" and also in light of the refusal by the opposition
to favor a peaceful outcome to the crisis. <br><br>
Despite the violence, several hundred thousand Haitians took part in the
third evening of the Haitian Carnaval. However, a homemade explosive
device set by unknown individuals exploded, killing one person and
leaving several injured. <br><br>
<br>
</font><h5><b>AHP February 23, 2004 2:35 PM <br>
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