1/27 Haiti News Update

Agence Haitienne de Presse
Agence Haitienne Presse is an indepedent news agency based in Haiti
http://www.ahphaiti.org to see originals in French


AHP News - January 27, 2004 - English translation (Unofficial)
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Thousands of opposition demonstrators speak out against dialogue and
elections Tuesday as a means of resolving the post-electoral conflict in Haiti
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Port-au-Prince, January 27, 2004 -(AHP)- Several thousand supporters of the
opposition demonstrated Tuesday in Port-au-Prince, calling once again for the
departure of the current government and the closing of schools until the
opposition political coalition is in power.

The demonstrators shouted threatening and vulgar remarks against the
government, saying they may occupy the National Palace.

The demonstrators began their march at the Place Boyer in Pétion-Ville,
determined to pass through densely populated districts where schools and public
markets are located, in the hope of increasing their numbers as they went along.

Despite the invitation made to the market vendors by the demonstrators at the
Christ Roy market, the vendors did not respond.

On January 1st, opposition demonstrators broke stalls and damaged goods
belonging to vendors, criticizing them for never following the strikes called by
the Group of 184.

Merchants who were interviewed by an AHP reporter regarding their apathy
toward the marchers said they are only concerned with selling their goods.

The opposition did not have better success with students, as they ignored the
invitations shouted at them.

Some demonstrators also sought to provoke clashes by throwing small bags of
water toward police officers.

Another provocative situation was about to develop at Avenue Christophe when
the demonstrators decided spontaneously to pass in front of the Ministry for
National Education, where they shouted slogans expressing opposition to the
Minister, Camille Gouin, and some members of the opposition tried to kick in the
gate of the Ministry.

The demonstration was protected by numerous police patrols and ended without
incident despite a last-minute decision by the Platform to ask its supporters
to march seven times around Place Jérémie.

The word on the street in Port-au-Prince is that the partisans of the
opposition intend to continue their demonstration until some sort of clash takes
place.

The main leader of the opposition, André Apaid, reiterated that his
supporters do not intend to engage in dialogue with Lavalas and that they will do what
they can to oust President Aristide.

He said that despite pressure exerted on the Platform, it has been able to
draw several tens of thousands of demonstrators.

For his part, another opposition leader, Evans Paul, known as K-Plim, sought
to deny that he had launched a campaign to close schools and hospitals.
However he repeated that the schools can never function as long as President
Aristide is in power.

Daniel Supplice, the director of one of the schools that has been open for
classes since the start of the term in January, declared his opposition to any
effort to close schools and universities.

Mr. Supplice participated in the anti-government demonstration and said that
other means must be found to resolve the crisis.

AHP January 27, 2004 3:00 PM

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Hundreds of Fanmi Lavalas supporters hold a sit-in to honor the memory of
activists killed by the opposition
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Port-au-Prince, January 27, 2004 -(AHP)- Several hundred partisans of Fanmi
Lavalas organized a sit-in Tuesday at Poste-Marchand in Port-au-Prince, as a
sign of solidarity with Lavalas activist Petit Lourvoi who they say was
tortured to death on January 7th by demonstrators from the group of 184.

The sit-in also sought justice for another activist, Stanley Loiseau, known
as Doudou, who was allegedly shot dead by members of the opposition, also in
Poste-Marchand.

Lourvoi Petit was himself reportedly beaten with sticks, kicked, and struck
with iron bars before he was dumped into a ravine. Some of the assailants went
down into the ravine after him to finish him off with blows of a shovel.

René Civil, the leader of Jeunesse Pouvoir Populaire (Populist Youth Power
organization) took part in the sit-in and said that the action was organized in
the form of a novena (prayer service lasting nine days) to seek justice and
reparations for the activists.

The participants at the sit-in held lit candles serving to transfer to God
the soul of the Fanmi Lavalas activists, said René Civil.

Mr. Civil also said that the Fanmi Lavalas activists are in favor of peace,
dialogue and elections in Haiti and not violence.

At the same time he asked the opposition leaders to move toward peace and
elections if they wish to govern the country.

For his part, Paul Raymond, the leader of the TKL (Catholic grassroots
community) of St Jean Bosco, denounced sectors that he said were distributing
weapons and money in an attempt to destabilize the country.

He warned that the various members of the coalition involved in those
maneuvers have no chance of achieving their objective.

AHP January 27, 2004 12:05 PM

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Government officials condemn lethal violence committed by the opposition and
criticize the non-stop demonstrations
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Port-au-Prince, January 27, 2004 -(AHP)- Officials of the government
condemned Tuesday the repeated violence they say has been perpetrated over the past
few months by opposition supporters more or less throughout the country.

The Minister of the Interior and Territorial Collectivities, Jocelerme
Privert, speaking at the government-sponsored Tuesday press briefing, said that it
is more than urgent that measures be enacted by the police to put the brakes on
these acts of violence.

Jocelerme Privert deplored the deaths of several dozen Haitians through this
violence and pleaded with the public in favor of the disarmament of
individuals who possess illegal firearms who are causing so much grief among the
population.

Mr. Privert pointed out that it is the duty of the police to guarantee the
security of the lives and property of all Haitians in the country.

Minister Privert said that these security measures should also encompass
freedom of assembly for demonstrators and all candidates in the context of their
campaigns in the coming legislative elections.

"The candidates must be able to wage a campaign without being harassed"
declared Mr. Privert.

For his part, the Secretary of State for Public Security, Jean Gérard
Dubreuil, stressed that democracy could be compared to a child who grows up and needs
to be supported in order for it to develop.

According to Mr. Dubreuil, all Haitians must understand the need to promote
the establishment in full of democracy in Haiti.

On the subject of the non-stop demonstrations, Mr. Dubreuil indicated that
the politicians should understand that they do not have the right to take over
the streets every day and whenever they feel like it.

The police also have the responsibility to provide security for all the
Haitians who are not part of their demonstrations, the Secretary of State for
Public Security reminded them.

He went on to praise the professionalism of the national police who he said
are doing an excellent job despite the reduced numbers of their officers and
the modest resources available to them.

AHP January 27, 2004 11:10 AM

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The CSPN adopts new measures concerning public demonstrations
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Port-au-Prince, January 27, 2004 -(AHP)- The Haitian National Police informed
the public in general and the organizers of demonstrations in particular that
from now on, any group desiring to communicate its demands through
demonstrations may do so at the Place d'Italie along the Bicentenaire, consistent with
the measures adopted by the CSPN (Superior Council of the Haitian National
Police) .

In a press release published Tuesday, the police authorities explained that
they took this step after having observed that for some time, certain street
demonstrations have been very often accompanied by acts of violence.

The police authorities also cited the refusal by organizers of demonstrations
to meet with them regarding the route to be taken in the marches, which had
always been done in the past with demonstrations.


The news release went on to say that according to information that the
Intelligence Service of the Haitian National Police claims it has received, some
individuals with criminal intent are preparing to carry out dishonest acts
designed to disturb the normal operations of schools and to prevent people from
carrying out their normal activities.

Accordingly, the police authorities say they are obliged to adopt this
measure in order to effectively carry out their mission, which is to protect and
survive, while respecting the right of each individual to be able to demonstrate
peacefully consistent with the provisions of the Constitution and laws
currently in effect.

AHP January 27, 2004 4:30 PM

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The director of political affairs in the personal cabinet of President
Aristide reiterates the determination of the government to resolve the
post-electoral crisis
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Port-au-Prince, January 27, 2004 -(AHP)- Dismie César, in charge of political
affairs in the office of President Aristide, reiterated Tuesday that the
government is determined to resolve the post-electoral crisis.

In an interview with AHP, Dismie César declared that the government is ready
to make significant changes in the government in such a way as to facilitate,
he said, the resolution of this crisis that has persisted for more than three
years.

"The Executive Branch intends to respect all its commitments with regard to
the discussions begin with CARICOM", Mr. César insisted. he appealed to the
opposition to honor its commitments with regard to the resolutions of the
Organization of American States (OAS).

He also deplored the refusal of leaders of the opposition political coalition
to favor dialogue as a means of resolving the crisis, instead of carrying
out street demonstrations often accompanied by violence.

The political advisor to President Aristide also asked parents to continue to
pressure the directors of schools to persuade them to respect their
commitment toward the students during the school year.

In Dismie César's opinion, reactionary sectors are waging the campaign
against school classes.

"Fanmi Lavalas has already built more than 120 schools in Haiti in only ten
years, while the total built by all previous Haitian governments amounts to
only some 30 schools", Mr. César pointed out.

AHP January 27, 2004 2:20 PM

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COPAH calls on the political actors to put an end to the violence and to
engage in dialogue
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Port-au-Prince, January 27, 2004 -(AHP)- The Conference of Haitian pastors
(COPAH) on Tuesday denounced the increase in acts of violence throughout the
country and asked the various sectors to take on their responsibilities to
prevent the country from sinking into catastrophe.

In a news release sent to AHP, COPAH said that the violence strikes all
elements of society and that no sector is spared in the cycle of violence.

According to the news release read by Pastor Ernst Pierre Vincent, the city
of Gonaïves, which has become the scene of violent incidents over the past
several months, is being held hostage by armed men claiming to be with the Haitian
opposition, causing grief among the people of Gonaïves.

COPAH also described the tense situation existing in Saint-Marc , where
individuals who also claim to be with the opposition are setting fire to radio
stations and the homes of government officials or peaceful residents.

In light of this situation, COPAH is asking the police force and justice
officials to shed as much light as possible on these incidents and on the acts of
sabotage of equipment and material of some ten radio and television stations
in Boutilliers.

COPAH asked the authorities to take steps to counteract the situation of
terror prevailing in the Central Plateau, Miragoâne, Jacmel and Léogane, where the
population is held at bay.

COPAH also denounced the almost daily political demonstrations in
Port-au-Prince with what it called their procession of violence and blood. It gave the
example of the torture of Lavalas activist Lourvoi Petit during the January 7th
demonstration organized by the opposition political coalition.

The Conference of Pastors also condemned the death of a student who took part
in the January 7th demonstration.

"Too much blood, the population can't take it any more, the nation's vessel
is in danger", COPAH exclaimed. The Conference called for the disarmament of
all armed bands regardless of their nature, as part of the process of
pacification of the country.

COPAH has asked all actors in the crisis to engage in dialogue, which, it
said, is the only means to clear the way for a better tomorrow.

AHP January 27, 2004 3:40 PM