1/30 Haiti News

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

AHP News - January 30, 2004 - English translation (Unofficial)


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President Aristide receives the wife of Lyonel Victor: Islande Gelin confirms
that leaders of the group of 184 wanted to carry off the body of her husband
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Port-au-Prince, January 30, 2004 -(AHP)- President Jean Bertrand Aristide met
Friday with the family of Lavalas activist Lionel Victor who was killed
Wednesday after being struck by a tear gas canister during an anti-government
demonstration.

The Chief of State denounced the behavior of members of the opposition
political platform who wished, he said, to kill Lionel Victor a second time by
trying to make off with his body, seeking to portray the deceased as a student.

Jean Bertrand Aristide praised the courage of Islande Gelin, the spouse of
Lionel Victor, who did not yield to the intimidation and threats she was
subject to by opposition supporters who wished to spirit away the corpse of her
husband at the Canapé-Vert Hospital to attain political objectives.

" The determination of the wife of Lionel Victor enabled the truth to be
established in this case" the Chief of State pointed out.

According to Mr. Aristide, leaders of the opposition political coalition are
looking everywhere for bodies in order to assuage their thirst for power.

"This is a trilogy of corpses, death and power", said Jean Bertrand
Aristide.

In addition, President Aristide drew attention to what he called the
phenomenon of the all-purpose students.

Unfortunately, some genuine students have let themselves be dragged along by
pseudo-students working for the opposition coalition who are seeking to rise
to power through any means whatsoever.

For her part, the spouse of Lionel Victor confirmed that leaders of the
opposition coalition had made threats against her to prevent her from revealing the
true political sympathies of her husband.

"I had to leave the hospital for a period of time because I was afraid of
being beaten by those who wished to carry off the body of my husband", she said.

The head of the opposition, André Apaid, was among the first to rush to the
hospital to claim the body.

Several other members of the opposition coalition, such as students and
officials from human rights organizations reputed to be close to the opposition,
were also at the hospital, trying to obtain the body of Lionel Victor.

At the same time, members of the Group of 184 had set up flaming barricades
outside the hospital and thrown stones onto the courtyard of the hospital
center in an apparent effort to create conditions that would make it easier for
them to accomplish what they were hoping to do.

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The authorities responsible for Haiti's security reach agreement on the need
to respond to the challenge of the armed groups, according to Dany Fabien
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Port-au-Prince, January 30, 2004 -(AHP)- Dany Fabien, who is the director of
the office of the Secretary of State for Public Security, stated Friday that
the authorities who are responsible for order and security in Haiti are in
agreement that a response must be made to the challenge posed by the armed groups
operating in several parts of the country.

Mr. Fabien highlighted the Gonaïves area, where officials of the political
coalition have proclaimed some of their representatives as virtual chiefs.

Mr. Fabien said that the opposition coalition named the fugitive Jean Tatoune
as virtual Director of the Artibonite department, Butter Métayer as
inspector, and Ti Will as commissioner. And the opposition Platform also named Winter
Etienne the virtual mayor of the city.

All these individuals are involved in the killing of tens of people, as well
as the burning of government offices, police station and private homes in the
City of Independence.

Dany Fabien expressed his hope that all sectors will participate in the
government's efforts to disarm the armed groups that are terrorizing the public.

On February 7th, 2001, the Democratic Convergence named attorney Gérard
Gourgue as virtual president of the parallel opposition in an inaugural ceremony as
the inauguration of President Aristide was being held at the National Palace.


AHP January 30, 2004 11:05 AM

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President Jean Bertrand Aristide condemns the incidents that took place
Friday in front of the Faculty of Law
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Port-au-Prince, January 30, 2004 -(AHP)- President Jean Bertrand Aristide
condemned Friday the incidents that took place January 28 during which students
and members of Populist organizations close to the Lavalas Party exchanged
volleys of stones near the law school.

"I condemn all types of acts of violence wherever they come from", declared
President Aristide, who said he recognizes the right of the students to
demonstrate.

The president said however that no matter which group demonstrates, it has a
duty to respect the law to prevent the situation from degenerating.

Jean Bertrand Aristide encouraged the students to return to class and asked
them to be wary of politicians who manipulate them for political purposes.

The Chief of State also announced the opening of an investigation to identify
the police officer responsible for firing the tear gas canister that caused
the death of Lionel Victor.

According to Mr. Aristide, there are imposters walking the streets
impersonating uniformed police officers.

The results of this investigation will determine whether Lionel Victor was
struck deliberately or by mistake.

AHP January 30, 2004 1:45 PM

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The CEEC and FECAP call for compassion for the students and say they are
distressed at the situation of injustice prevailing in the country.
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Port-au-Prince, January 30, 2004 -(AHP)- The CEEC (the Bishops' Council for
Catholic Education) and the FECAP ( Federation of Private Catholic Schools)
asked Thursday that all parties to the conflict in Haiti recognize and respect
the sacred character of schools and use them as an instrument for achieving
political objectives but instead to allow them to operate in complete tranquility
to prepare the future of the nation.

In a press release signed by Mr. Antoine Delille, the CEEC and the CECAP
asked for mercy to be shown toward school children as well as their parents in
this bicentennial year of independence and demand the right to live in peace and
freedom in order that the schools may be able to open their doors and function
normally in a secure climate throughout the country.

The CEEC and FECAP also expressed their distress at the alarming situation of
injustice, systematic lying, and generalized corruption . contempt for human
rights and unbridled and extreme violence that, they say, is prevalent in
Haiti.

"Have we prepared our young people or should we continue to prepare them for
a future without hope", the officials of these organizations asked.

The two organizations appealed to the consciences of all who are active in
the life of the nation and recommend that on Monday February 12, 2004, all
Catholic schools and all those who wish to associate themselves with this
initiative, on the day honoring the presentation of of Jesus to the temple, take part
in reading the beatitudes of Mathew 5, verses 1 to 12 beginning at 11 o'clock
in the morning.

AHP January 30, 2004 11:45 AM

**The directors of FELUH (Federation of Students for the Liberation of the
Haitian University) denounced Thursday a group of politicians who they say have
only one dream, that is to take power by force.

They asked the office of the Rector of the State University of Haiti to adopt
measures designed to cause the politicians to release the university's space,
particularly the Faculty of Social Sciences, so that the resumption of
classes may be facilitated.
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