3/6 AHP News on Haiti

AHP News March 6, 2004
English translation (Unofficial)

Guy Philippe’s rebels are still armed; supporters of the platform and Lavalas
supporters are getting ready to demonstrate

Port-au-Prince, March 6 2004 -(AHP)- Former militaries lead by Guy Philippe
still haven’t put down the arms, despite the promises made at the beginning of
the week to American authorities by the former leader of the Army of the North
who had taken control of many police stations at the end of last month.
Even if they don’t wear uniforms in the streets, they continue to circulate
armed, a former military declared Saturday.
In the Central Plateau and in Gonaïves, many of them, among whom was former
sergeant, Joseph Jean-Baptiste reiterated at the end of the week that they
would not put down the arms, since the army is a constitutional force, they said.
American military leaders had to call the leaders of armed rebels, Guy
Philippe, once again Friday to respect his word. American General James Hill, in
charge of American troupes in Haiti, had rejected before the calls to reestablish
the army that President Aristide had dissolved when he came back from exile
in October 1994.
In parallel, one of the leaders of the opposition political platform, Evans
Paul, pointed out Saturday that the greatest political force right now in the
country is the international. The opposition doesn’t have much room to
maneuver, he said, calling the population to continue to mobilize to reverse the
tendency.
The platform called a demonstration this Sunday in order to "thank all those
who contributed to push Aristide out of the country". This demonstration is
also to demand the arrest or the resignation of all other Lavalas leaders.
An anti-Lavalas demonstration Tuesday had come up against American marines in
front of the primature, while platform supporters claimed they wanted to
attack Prime Minster Yvon Neptune.
Over 20.000 supporters of Mr. Aristide demonstrated Friday in Port-au-Prince
and declared that they intended to take the streets again this Sunday.
The announce of these two demonstrations seriously worries American and
French militaries, who are most of the 2500 soldiers of the international force
present in the country. All the more so since the United States and France were
severely criticized Friday by supporters of President Aristide who accused them
of complicity in his "kidnapping".
Indeed, in opposite to the warm welcome they had received in September 1994
when they came to chase Raoul Cédras’ putschists, when foreign forces arrived
this week in Haiti, the population showed a great indifference. This hostility
can be explained by the confusion around "Aristide’s evacuation" and by the
fact that this occupation happens at the time when Haiti is celebrating the
bicentennial of its independence proclaimed on January 1, 1804 after the
"historical victory" from the Indian army over Napoleon’s powerful army.
For many analysts, this "new shame" is the consequence of the division
between Haitians who have been fighting for power for 200 years.
"Today, intellectuals, students, politicians, businessmen are wondering if
they lead that fierce battle against Aristide, his government and his supporters
to see power slip through their fingers afterwards", a Haitian historian who
lived many years abroad declared.
He also declared that on Lavalas’ side, they must be wondering if it worth it
to occupy all the spaces of the power and to provoke all those frustrations
that ended in a massacre for all. AHP March 6, 2004 1:20 PM



Mr. Chenet M Jean-Baptiste warns Haitian human rights organizations that
their silence on the thousands of victims of FAD'H and FRAPH could become a crime
against history



Port-au-Prince, March 6, 2004 -(AHP)- In a letter titled "contre l'oubli" (we
shall not forget) addressed Friday to Haitian human rights organizations,
former executive secretary of the human rights organizations platform (POHDH),
Mr. Chenet Jean-Baptiste, said "President Jean Bertrand Aristide’s fall cannot
and should not justify a crime against history.
"I am coming to you because you should be the ones that ensure no one forgets
and people are judged for their actions. I must come to you, since you were
privileged witnesses and zealous denouncers of the worst exactions and crimes
committed, again recently, by the Haitian Armed Forces (FAD'H) and the FRAPH,
Mr. Jean-Baptiste stated.
Mr. Jean-Baptiste said he finally decided to contact these organizations,
because their silence in the current situation – a silence already long and
painful enough – could become a crime against history by killing the memory of the
thousands of victims of the Haitian Armed Forces (FAD'H) and FRAPH.
"By coming to you, I do not mean to tell you what you should or should not
do", he clarified, adding that "it is the duty of every true defender of human
rights to be alert at all times and condemn crimes regardless of political
contingencies.
The former POHDH official also stated that people who fight for human rights
know very well that ‘you cannot tamper with true democracy and total respect
of human rights.’
"To sacrifice the memory of victims of the FAD'H and FRAPH is to kill all
hope for the people", Chenet Jean-Baptiste warned.
Over the past few months, many local as well as foreign organizations have
criticized the silence of the Haitian human rights organizations on the
exactions at the Gonaives, Cap-haïtien and Hinche perpetrated by former army members
who are lead by Guy Philippe and Louis Jodel Chamblain.
They were also shocked by genocide accusations made by the NCHR against
members of the population who were simply, along with the police, defending
themselves against the men who had taken Saint-Marc’s police station.
At least 4 "rebels" were killed in the fighting. AHP 6 March 2004 1:20 AM
AHP News March 4, 2004
English translation (Unofficial)



Haiti/after Aristide: divisions come out in the open among the opposition



Port-au-Prince, March 4, 2004 -(AHP)- Former colonel Himmler Rébu criticized
Wednesday the behavior of the democratic platform who still can’t present a
plan of action to reestablish order in the country.
According to Himmler Rébu, the platform failed totally in regards to Haiti
because it had enough time, he said, to prepare a well-coordinated program to
facilitate the transition. Mr. Rébu declared that the opposition platform only
wanted to get rid of President Jean Bertrand Aristide in order to control the
country afterwards by having key positions in the public administration.
"Members of the platform are ready to take over the power even if they have
to sink deep in the mud to get it, he declared. He accused them of making
unwholesome alliances notably with members of Guy Philippe’s front, who remains, he
said, an illegal force.
He underlined that most victims of the movement will be front members since
the platform will throw them away like dirty paper, after they are through with
their dirty work. Himmler Rébu considers that the presence of American
soldiers on the national land will not help solving Haiti’s problems. This job must
be done by Haitians, he said.
He advocated open negotiations between valid and neutral personalities of the
country and provisional president Boniface Alexandre to unblock the
situation.
M. Rébu is in favor of returning to the constitution to form a credible
electoral council with the participation of all sectors of the country.
Himler Rébu, author of an attempt of a coup d'état against General Prosper
Avril in 1989 says he expects daily demonstrations by Lavalas supporters in many
regions of the country and the death of foreign soldiers in their attempt to
reestablish peace in the country.
Another opposition leader, René Julien, declared that we are seeing a frantic
struggle for the power today. we must be vigilant in order not to fall into a
situation much more catastrophic than before, he warned, and he added that
there can be things much worse than Aristide.






Thousands of supporters of Aristide demonstrate in Port-au-Prince: 2 of them
are wounded



Port-au-Prince, March 4 2004 -(AHP)-Many thousands of Lavalas supporters
demonstrated this Wednesday in Port-au-Prince to demand the return of President
Aristide to the power.
The demonstration began in the popular neighborhood Bel-Air, went through
many street downtown and ended in front of the presidential palace. The
demonstrators denounced what they call the Head of State’s kidnapping and demand
some
explanation on the circumstances of his departure from the country Sunday.
Two demonstrators were shot and wounded during the march.
OP members wondered why there never are coups d'état in Europe, while in
America, where the greatest world power is (the United States), coups d'état are a
common thing.
Provisional President Boniface Alexandre, who took the oath Sunday, should
begin his job this Thursday in the National Palace. Boniface Alexandre announced
Wednesday the designation of a new chief of police, Mr. Léon Charles.
This news comes at a time when the country is facing a more an more worrying
insecurity situation. New scenes of plundering were seen this Wednesday in the
capital.
According to trustworthy sources, businessmen, members of the Group of 184
who suffered great losses, would have discussed with the president of the group,
André Apaid, about the possibility to get compensation.
Meanwhile, former military Guy Philippe, who had proclaimed himself leader of
the armed forces of the country the day before, declared Wednesday that he
had put down the arms after a meeting with an American military leader. We
ignore what guarantees or promises were given to Mr. Philippe and his men, who were
called rabbles by American authorities.
***Students complain about the way things are turning in Haiti. A student
member of the university committee for the crisis, Jean Louis Anthony, considers
that everyone is losing: students, political men and "chimè". According to
him, foreigners are putting their own plan in application. "They used the
post-electoral crisis issue to occupy Haiti once again, he declared. He also
denounced the attempts to reinstall the army of Haiti.

Yvon Neptune denounces the acts of vandalism and plundering committed since
President Aristide is not at the power
Port-au-Prince, March 4 2004 -(AHP) Prime Minister Yvon Neptune denounced
Wednesday the acts of violence and plundering perpetrated by armed men who have
been terrorizing the population since President Aristide is not at the power
anymore.
He also denounced the people who tried to attack him, Mr. Neptune’s house was
plundered Sunday.
The cost of damage caused to State’s goods and to private houses is of 300
million dollars without counting acts of vandalism committed in the North, the
Artibonite and in Cayes.
The climate maintained by people who prevent members of his government to go
back to work before giving the power to a new team.
It wasn’t a gang leader who put me as Prime Minister, but it was President
Aristide, Yvon Neptune declared.
Yvon Neptune called to resume activities, declaring that a ad hoc cell had
been formed to assure security. He asked state employees to go back to work. He
confirmed that the government had named his representative for the tripartite
commission.
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President Jean-Bertrand Aristide: "I call it again and again a coup d'etat. I
called it a coup d'etat because it is a modern kidnapping."

First Lady Mildred Aristide: "The coup d'etat is complete. It has been
completed."

Rep. William Delahunt, D-Mass: "These people are thugs, they're drug lords,
they're assassins, they're terrorists. To include them in any kind of new
government is morally unconscionable."


``I don't know what's going on, but we are just as much as part of this coup
d'etat as the rebels, looters or anyone else,'' Rangel, D-N.Y., said on ABC's
``This Week.''

Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., said that in a country ``where a true democracy
has recently emerged after decades of autocratic rule,'' the elected president
``has been pushed out by an administration anxious to get rid of him.''

Jamaica's Prime Minister P.J. Patterson:"We are bound to question whether his
resignation was truly voluntary, as it comes after the capture of sections of
Haiti by armed insurgents and the failure of the international community to
provide the requisite support, despite the appeals of CARICOM...The removal of
President Aristide in these circumstances sets a dangerous precedent for
democratically elected governments anywhere and everywhere, as it promotes the
removal of duly elected persons from office by the power of rebel forces."

"He did not resign," he said. "He was abducted by the United States in the
commission of a coup." Robinson says he spoke to Aristide on a cell phone that
was smuggled to the Haitian president.
UN Diplomats fear their Security Council peacekeeping resolution in effect
sanctions a coup! Algerian Ambassador Abdallah Baali: "Aristide was a
democratically elected president who responded positively to a political solution
that
the opposition rejected," (referring to power-sharing deal Aristide had agreed
to but Haitian opposition leaders had rejected) "But the pressure was not
put on the opposition. It was put on him. Today we wonder if we had reliable
information, and enough time to make the right decision."

Rep. Donald Payne, (D-NJ): re UN :``it would be very difficult and
irresponsible for a responsible body and world organization to deal with an illegal
government taking over by force.''