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</font><h5><b>AHP News - March 22, 2004 - English translation
(Unofficial)<br><br>
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</font><h5><b>Fanmi Lavalas denounces a campaign of systematic repression
orchestrated against its supporters in several regions of the country
<br>
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<br><br>
</b></h5><font face="Trebuchet MS" size=2><b>Port-au-Prince, March 22,
2004 -(AHP)-</b> The Fanmi Lavalas Political Organization spoke out
Monday against what it termed a campaign of systematic repression
orchestrated against its supporters in several regions of the country,
particularly in the vicinity of Cap-Haïtien, in the Artibonite region, in
Trou du Nord and in the Central Plateau.<br><br>
In a news release copied to AHP, Fanmi Lavalas spokesperson Gilvert
Angervil indicated that many supporters of the party have been
killed, déchoukés (a Kreyol term for "uprooted", often with
violence) or reported disappeared.<br><br>
This is a campaign, he asserted, aimed at dismantling Fanmi Lavalas to
the benefit of the parties belonging to what was until recently the
opposition political Platform. <br><br>
He expressed hope that measures will be adopted to put an end to the
persecution and violence carried out against Fanmi Lavalas activists.
<br><br>
Mr. Angerville also criticized the manner in which the new government
team of Gérard Latortue was put together. <br><br>
According to the former Deputy from La Gonave, this government was formed
in violation of the constitution, as well as the proposal for resolving
the crisis proposed by CARICOM which foresaw, he said, the formation of a
government of national unity. <br><br>
Fanmi Lavalas, which has become the opposition ever since the overthrow
of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, pointed out that the formula for
putting in place this government can not in any way reassure party
supporters who are the object of extremely serious persecution. Nor can
it lead to peace and national reconciliation, said Gilvert Angervil.
<br><br>
Several other officials of the Fanmi Lavalas Party also denounced this
Monday the recent calls for violence issued against members of the party.
<br><br>
In particular they denounced individuals who have publicly urged that
people tie up Fanmi Lavalas supporters with hoops wherever they are to be
found. <br><br>
Three men were discovered dead and tied up with barrel hoops this Monday
at Fronts Forts Street. <br><br>
At least ten corpses were also discovered at Cité Militaire.<br><br>
<br>
</font><h5><b>AHP March 22, 2004 11:45 AM<br><br>
<br><br>
<br>
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A professor who is a member of Fanmi Lavalas denounces the continuation
of abuses against party supporters in the north of the country<br>
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<br><br>
</b></h5><font face="Trebuchet MS" size=2><b>Port-au-Prince, March 22,
2004 -(AHP)-</b> Lorgeat Claude, a young professor who belongs to
Fanmi Lavalas, criticized Monday the physical abuses he suffered at the
hands of members of the Army of the North, who abducted him, he said,
during the night of March 12.<br><br>
In an interview with AHP, Lorgeat Claude explained that these men, who
were hooded and wearing camouflage clothing, had fired rounds of
machine-gun fire at his home in Barrière Bouteille, at the entrance to
the city of Cap-Haitien, before kidnapping him and taking him to a
torture center set up in a customs hall in the city. <br><br>
He stated that his abductors were angry about his political affiliation
and accused him of possessing illegal weapons. <br><br>
Lorgeat Claude said he was released several hours after his abduction and
denied that he possessed any illegal weapons. "No weapon was found
on me at the time of my abduction", he added. <br><br>
Lorgeat Claude has been in hiding since he was released. He said he was
severely beaten, especially on the face and the hip. He said he still
suffers from the blows he received. <br><br>
Mr. Claude also explained that due to this campaign of repression, many
residents of Cap-Haitien are starting to leave the city to take
refuge elsewhere in order to escape the fury of the armed men. <br><br>
They say they fear for their security despite the deployment in the
region of French military forces who are co-habiting, they say, with the
men of the army of the north, who they say remain very active on the
ground. <br><br>
<br>
</font><h5><b>AHP March 22, 2004 11:05 AM <br><br>
</b></h5><font face="Trebuchet MS" size=2> <br>
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**The U.S. Ambassador to Haiti, James Foley, declared Monday that it is
not possible to organize elections at this time in Haiti because, he
said, the country is in ruins. According to the American diplomat, the
government authorities need to focus on the establishment of a credible
electoral council in Haiti to prepare for the holding of good
elections.<br><br>
According to several reports that were communicated previously, the team
of Latortue is to remain in place for two years. <br><br>
For such cases, the Haitian constitution requires elections to be
held within 90 days at the latest, beginning from the date when President
Aristide departed, February 29, under circumstances which continue to
raise many questions. <br><br>
** School activities resumed timidly this Monday in the Haitian capital.
Several parents remained reticent about sending their children to school
in light of the problems of insecurity that prevail in the country.
<br><br>
** Armed thugs shot and wounded several people this Monday at the Soge
X-press located at Monseigneur Guilloux Street during a robbery targeting
that business. The thugs made off with all the money in the bank's tills.
<br><br>
** An individual was shot dead Sunday night in Gonaïves by armed thugs.
The incident occurred as the attackers broke through the enclosure of a
pre-school facility in the city to commit a burglary. The victim is
closely associated with the owner of the pre-school. <br><br>
** The Grand-Goâve police commissioner is currently in the custody of men
armed with firearms and machetes who say they wish to provide security
for the local population. <br><br>
The men are led by "Ti Nènè". He was previously at the
head of the armed opposition group that took over the Grand-Goâve
police station in early February. <br><br>
The police, assisted by members of the population, had succeeded in
re-taking control of the police station. <br><br>
The police station is once again without police officers since the
departure of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.<br><br>
<br><br>
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