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<font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=4><b>Bush accused of supporting
Haitian rebels</b></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=2>
(please note the source is very pro US policy)<br><br>
By Isabelle D. Lindenmayer<br>
</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=1>Published 2/27/2004 6:47
PM<br><br>
</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=2>WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 (UPI) --
Haitian activists Friday accused the Bush administration of covertly
supporting opposition forces to oust President Aristide from
power.<br><br>
"The Bush administration is again engaged in regime change by armed
aggression," former U.S. attorney general Ramsey Clark said.
"This time, the armed aggression is against the administration of
the democratically elected president of Haiti."<br><br>
Activists at a Friday press briefing outlined what they believe to be a
well-crafted plan by the Bush administration to overthrow Aristide.
Former Haitian military members, drug dealers and militants were armed
and trained in the Dominican Republic thanks to military support from the
United States. They have now crossed the border into Haiti, activists
said.<br><br>
The rebel insurrection that erupted three weeks ago has left roughly 80
people dead, nearly half of whom were police officers.<br><br>
U.S.-supported coups in Latin America and Africa during the Cold War were
referenced by many as models for what they perceive to be the Bush
administration's current strategy in Haiti. <br><br>
"Policy is being engineered, just like when the U.S. wanted to
overthrow the Sandinista government," said Ben Dupuy,
secretary-general of the National Popular Party of Haiti. Covert CIA
operations in Guatemala, the Dominican Republic and the Congo were also
mentioned by activists, who repeatedly called for the United States to
cease any involvement in the Caribbean nation.<br><br>
The crisis in Haiti has been looming since flawed legislative elections
were held in 2000 during which Aristide's party claimed victory with an
overwhelming majority of votes. In response, international donors froze
millions of dollars in aid, cutting off a vital lifeline for one of the
poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere.<br><br>
In addition, Aristide, who became Haiti's first freely elected leader in
1990, has been accused of not doing enough to alleviate poverty,
condoning corruption, and using violence to quell political
opposition.<br><br>
Activists blamed the American government for the failure of Aristide's
social programs. <br><br>
"The U.S. brought this about by keeping an embargo on the country
since 1994. How could Aristide have succeeded?" former attorney
general Clark asked. "His goal has always been to move the people of
Haiti from a state of poverty to a state of dignity."<br><br>
Participants pointed to differing ideologies on democracy as the
motivating force behind the Bush administration's alleged support of
opposition forces. <br><br>
"The U.S. talks about democracy, but it's their democracy, not the
people's democracy," Dupuy said.<br><br>
Using Venezuela as an example, Dupuy and Clark accused the administration
of not supporting governments that replace any group of ruling elites.
"Any government that has the support of the majority of its people
will have a problem with the United States," Dupuy said.<br><br>
Regarding evidence linking the U.S. government with opposition forces,
Kim Ives, an activist and journalist working in Haiti, said that he had
proof of collaboration between Special Forces in Haiti and the Dominican
military. He said the Pentagon has sent military aid to the Dominican
Republic, including 20,000 M-16 rifles. <br><br>
"It's not unlikely that some of those M-16s are some of the hardware
we see in the hands of the rebels today," Ives said.<br><br>
"It is clear that the rebel forces crossed the Dominican border
heavily armed with equipment that even the former Haitian military did
not have, which could not have been done without the knowledge of the
Dominican army," another participant said. "We also know that
the Dominican government would not have allowed this to happen unless it
had clearance from the United States government."<br><br>
As Aristide supporters presented their case for covert U.S. support of
insurgent groups, the Haitian president's fate was being discussed in
Paris at a meeting between Dominique de Villepin, the French foreign
minister, and a representative of the Haitian government. <br><br>
France is pressuring Aristide to step down and cede to a transitional
government. <br><br>
Strengthening the French government's position and further distancing the
White House from the Haitian leader, Secretary of State Colin Powell said
Thursday that Aristide should make a "careful examination" of
whether he should step down.<br><br>
So far, the Bush administration remains committed to a political
solution, and would be supportive of an international security force
going into Haiti only after a political agreement has been reached, White
House Press Secretary Scott McClellan said Friday.<br><br>
Participants at the National Press Club briefing had harsh words for both
the French and U.S. governments regarding the resignation of the
embattled leader. "We call on the Bush administration and the French
government to cease their efforts to overthrow a democratically elected
government and to allow democracy and freedom to continue," said Ray
Laforest, director of Haitian Constituency U.S.A.<br><br>
Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, who said he was a personal friend of Aristide,
spoke on behalf of the Haitian government adding, "I protest the
actions of the United States government -- especially Secretary
Powell."<br><br>
Some Aristide loyalists do, however, see a role for the United States in
the days to come. "People must compel the organizations that are
relevant to immediately demand that the rebels stop and be held
accountable, and that they stay out of Port-au-Prince. The United States
government must say that out loud," Clark said.<br><br>
Roger Ervin, a consultant to the Haitian government, pointed to three
actions the U.S. should take to address the crisis in the Caribbean
nation: join those in the international community who want to send a
security presence to restore order before a peace agreement, publicly
choose a side, and send humanitarian assistance.<br><br>
"A wink and a nod from the U.S. is not going to get us
anywhere," Ervin said.<br><br>
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