2/4 Violence in Haiti

Translator's note: The following is an excerpt from AHP's report of the
violence in Gonaïves carried out on Thursday, Feb. 5, by armed members of the
opposition. The full report will be sent out with the rest of the AHP News
translation for Thusday, Feb. 5th.

Partisans of the opposition political platform have again shed blood this
Thursday in Gonaïves. A spokesperson for the coalition in Gonaïves, Winter
Etienne, confirmed that his men had killed and injured several members of the
population during a lethal operation against police and individuals close to the
government.
They set fire to a hotel owned by the Mayor of Gonaïves, Stephen Topa Moïse,
as well as his home.
The opposition spokesperson, speaking over the airwaves of Radio Metropole,
rejoiced at the fact that members of his group had set fire to the city's
police station.
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AHP News - February 4, 2004 - English translation (Unofficial)

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Editorial: The Haitian crisis - A choice between dialogue and raging violence

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The capacity for dialogue with one's political adversaries constitutes one of
the strong points of all the world's democracies.

When political leaders peremptorily reject the road to dialogue, there is
reason to raise some serious questions: are they afraid to listen to the sound of
a bell that is other than their own?

Are they afraid of being persuaded that the road upon which they are
traveling leads to the abyss? Are they in denial, like many of the people who use
narcotics? Or have they deliberately chosen the option that is the negation of
dialogue?

Whoever walks into a shop and wishes to buy something does not have 10
choices. Either one purchases the item and pays on the spot, or one charges it to
one's account, or else one decides to acquire the item through the use of force,
with all the consequences that such conduct entails.

The Haitian political actors today have the choice between dialogue and
uncontrolled violence to solve the post-election dispute.

And the sector that rejects dialogue and elections as a pathway out of the
crisis at the same time as it affirms its wish to control the corridors of
power, will automatically find itself choosing brutal force as the means to reach
its objectives.

With the support of the United States, Canada, the United Nations and the
European Union, CARICOM is now in the process of offering its good offices to the
protagonists in the post-electoral crisis in order to prevent any possibility
of generalized violence across the country.

Whichever, between Lavalas and the political Platform of the 184, is prepared
to bear the heavy burden of having tilted the country beyond the brink and
into a civil war, may they appreciate that those who are attacked would not be
able to stand quietly with their arms crossed.

One has heard easily three or perhaps four leaders of the opposition or other
"enlightened groups" call for general revolt or affirm their preference for a
solution that is decided in the streets.

Today the parties concerned are called upon to communicate to the nation and
to the international community their choice in this matter: "We accept dia
logue and concerted action as the path toward the resolution of the Haitian
crisis" or "we favor the use of force or violent means as the way out of the
crisis".

Let us shoulder our responsibilities along with all the consequences that
shall ensue.

Is it so difficult to reach a compromise that will allow for continued
respect of the Constitution during the final two years of the term in office of the
president of the Republic?

What is so urgent that it rises to a level where one wishes to break the
principle of the peaceful transfer of political power? There were indeed
irregularities during the elections in the the year 2000. But where haven't there been
some?

Numerous acts of violence have been committed by supporters of the government
over the past four years. But the opposition has shown itself able to match
that record and with gusto.

The beneficiaries of impunity have been denounced or coddled by certain human
rights organizations depending on whether they belong to Lavalas or to the
opposition.

The authorities have certainly committed errors and even serious errors in
handling the affairs of government.

In this regard, a former Deputy under the Duvalier regime recently joked that
if a serious audit were to be conducted into the administration of government
from Duvalier to the present day, one would see that it would be the chief
accusers, individuals who have always puled the strings of the managers, who
would be the first to call for a halt to the exercise.

One might thus believe that the true grievances against Aristide have nothing
to do with the facts that are referred to above.

Because if those were the true grievances, they would have been denounced
again and again during the opposition demonstrations. Instead one has more often
been hearing lewd comments from the mouths of our leaders, our students and
other parrots who have felt they should repeat the sordid slogans out of
snobbery.

The problem thus appears to be elsewhere. And it was delivered in part
through a confidential note sent by a diplomat to a European member of Parliament.

He wrote essentially: the only chance today for the opposition to take power
through elections is if Aristide departs. If he were to leave, then his party,
Lavalas, would automatically be retreating in disarray, he said.

He writes further that even if the opposition has made considerable progress
since the industrialist André Apaid has taken the reins, the population needs
to see a great deal more from them, as Aristide remains very popular, he said.
He then wondered how one should proceed in order to force him to hand over
power to this opposition.

The diplomat said that several of his colleagues were surprised by the
presence of a huge crowd of his supporters in Cap-Haïtien for the commemoration of
the Battle of Vertières last November 18th and again in Port-au-Prince in
front of the National Palace for the festivities of the Bicentennial of
Independence.

All of this suggests that any attempt to achieve results outside the law may
have ripple effects that produce political whiplash.

Haitians still need to learn to deviate from what appear to be easy,
knee-jerk political reactions and begin to act purely out of principle. They should
learn to be more tolerant and not to consider as enemies everyone who does not
share their points of view and their political choices. After all, who can dare
to make a claim of having a monopoly on the truth and the definition of the
common good?

Many of us do not carry close to our hearts people who are similar to them
and refuse to associate with them in order not to see what they themselves are
really like.

That is seen as going back on what one has stood for. But each of us has our
choices. the most important is that everyone understand that there is only
salvation in unity and peace, in dialogue and respect for our Constitution.

It is up to us to choose the future that we desire for our children and the
legacy that we wish to leave to history, because we too often forget that we
are not immortal.
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Student members of the Platform of the 184 demonstrate violently in
Port-au-Prince to signify their rejection of the strategy of dialogue advocated by
CARICOM
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Port-au-Prince, February 4, 2004 -(AHP)- A group of students who are members
of the political Platform of the 184 again committed acts of violence, as they
demonstrated Wednesday in Port-au-Prince to express their rejection of
dialogue as the way out of the crisis in Haiti.

The demonstrators set fire to several vehicles and smashed the windshields of
many others, saying that their violent acts are designed to convey to CARICOM
that they have their own strategy for solving the conflict.

A delegation from the regional intergovernmental body is currently in
Port-au-Prince to attempt to persuade the protagonists of the need to return to the
negotiating table.

The demonstrators from the Platform shouted slogans expressing hostility
toward the leader of the Civil Society Initiative whom they accuse of being in
favor of dialogue.

One of the leaders of the Platform of the 184, Rosemond Jean, accused the
U.S. government Tuesday of supporting the CARICOM proposal.

At the conclusion of a meeting Wednesday between CARICOM officials and
leaders of the Platform of the 184, a foreign diplomat used the term "chimè" to
describe the attitude of a group of individuals which was accusing its government
of supporting the CARICOM proposal.

During that meeting, opposition leaders again expressed their attachment to
the zero option.

Micha Gaillard said that he had reiterated to the CARICOM delegation that the
opposition political coalition is determined to work for the ouster of
President Aristide.

The CARICOM officials also met with President Aristide.

The president, commenting at the end of the meeting, reaffirmed that the
channels of dialogue are still open.

*** The civil court of Port-au-Prince heard testimony Wednesday from an
official of the opposition political coalition, Lucmane Delille, as part of a
judicial action underway against the authors of acts of violence perpetrated last
month against the State television station and stalls of the public market of
Delmas 32 during a demonstration by the Group of 184.

A group of individuals claiming to be with the opposition launched volleys of
stones at the police Wednesday and caused a panic in the vicinity of the
Palais des Ministères (Offices of the Ministries).

They said they were demonstrating their support for Mr. Delille.

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The Chief of State meets with a labor organization, the Secteur Syndical
Haïtien concerning a resolution adopted by that organization regarding the
situation of the country
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Port-au-Prince, February 4, 2004 -(AHP)- President Jean Bertrand Aristide met
Wednesday with officials of the Secteur Syndical Haïtien (an organization
named the Haitian Labor Union Sector) concerning a resolution adopted by the
organization at the conclusion of a two day workshop last week on the situation
of the country.

In this resolution, the union leaders asked the political actors to choose
the path of dialogue, which they say is the only means of resolving the crisis.


During the meeting with the president, officials from the various labor
unions belonging to the Secteur Syndical such as the CTH (Confederation of Haitian
Workers), the CGT (General Confederation of Workers) and the Collective of
Haitian University Instructors once again asked the leaders of the opposition
coalition to return to the negotiating table to help the country find a way out
of the impasse.

Labor leader Paul Loulou Chéry, speaking for the "Haitian Labor Union
Sector", asked the political actors to accept the CARICOM proposal as a reference
document to serve as the basis for negotiations.

Mr. Chéry announced that a meeting would soon be held with the leaders of the
opposition political coalition to inform them officially about the proposal.

Concerning the labor activists detained at the National Penitentiary for the
past week, Paul Loulou Chéry said that it is up to the justice system to act
on the matter.

The detainees, members of the "Haitian Labor Union Sector" (affiliated with
the Platform of the 184), were arrested for alleged possession of heavy
weapons.

Paul Loulou Chéry said that a labor union should under no circumstances be
affiliated with a political party. However he explained that the effort to
resolve the crisis through dialogue does not exclude any sector.

For his part, the Chief of State welcomed the effort of the labor leaders
which he said seeks to prevent the country from sinking into catastrophe.

President Jean-Bertrand Aristide said once again that he is still disposed to
resume dialogue with the leaders of the opposition in order that the country
may find a way out of the impasse.

"It is through dialogue and unity that one will be successful in saving the
country", said the Chief of State.

AHP February 4, 2004 2:20 PM

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Fanmi Lavalas declares that it has taken note of the determination of
President Jean Bertrand Aristide to find a peaceful solution to the political crisis
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Port-au-Prince, February 4, 2004 -(AHP)- The Fanmi Lavalas Political
Organization declared Wednesday that it has noted the sacrifices made by President
Jean-Bertrand Aristide to facilitate a peaceful outcome to the Haitian political
crisis.

A spokesperson for Fanmi Lavalas, Gilvert Angervil, emphasized what he called
the good faith of the president, who offered the political Platform of the
184 the opportunity, he said, to become part of the Executive and the electoral
mechanism to prove its democratic intentions to the nation.

"All of this should lead to the establishment of a lasting peace in the
country with a view to an equitable and economically strong Haiti" said Mr.
Angervil.

The spokesperson for Fanmi Lavalas also considered that providing the leader
of the Platform, André Apaid, with a special travel document enabling him to
participate in the meeting in Jamaica, was further evidence of the good faith
of the government.

Mr. Apaid does not possess a Haitian passport because there are problems
relating to his actual nationality.

Gilvert Angervil asked the opposition to " take the Chief of State at his
word and put an end to the cycle of violence of for which it is responsible and
instead move forward along the path of dialogue".

AHP February 4, 2004 12:05 PM

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Political and populist organizations plan to demonstrate on February 7th in
Port-au-Prince to advocate respect of the Constitution and democratic
principles.
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Port-au-Prince, February 4, 2004 -(AHP)- A number of political,
socio-professional and populist organizations declared Wednesday that they are ready
to
take to the streets in large numbers on February 7 in Port-au-Prince to advocate
respect for the Constitution and democratic principles.

The Director of APEL-Démocratique, André Fardeau, announced that this
peaceful march will demonstrate the determination of the popular majority to continue
to support the democratic process in Haiti despite the political winds and
currents.

Mr. Fardeau indicated that this march will also be an opportunity for the
population to express its disapproval of the campaign by the opposition, which
wishes, he said, to exclude the popular majority from the political scene.

"The population will advocate the holding of elections, which alone lead to
power in a democratic society", André Fardeau insisted.

For his part, René Civil the leader of JPP, the Populist Youth Power
organization, encouraged Haitians from all social situations and every corner of the
capital to take part in this march in favor of peace, solidarity, unity, and
respect for the legal authority of the provisions of the Constitution.

According to René Civil, the participants in this demonstration are going to
express their rejection of the return of the oppressive force of the former
army of Haiti, which he said is responsible for more then 5,000 deaths during
the period of the Coup d'Etat which began in 1991.

The leaders of the Platform on several occasions since President Aristide
returned to power in 1994 promised the former members of the military who are
part of their movement that the dissolved army would be reconstituted .

AHP February 4, 2004 12:35 PM

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The funeral for the Lavalas activist killed last week by a tear gas canister
during an anti-government demonstration will be held this Thursday
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Port-au-Prince, February 4, 2004 -(AHP)- The funeral for Lionel Victor,
killed last week after having been struck in the chest by a tear gas canister fired
by the police to disperse two parallel rallies, will be held this Thursday at
the St. Yves Church in Delmas.

Members of the Radical Movement, who provided details of the funeral, called
for justice for the activist whose body the political coalition had tried to
seize at the Canapé-Vert Hospital, claiming that he was a student.

The members of the Radical Movement also described plans for the holding of
two peaceful marches on February 7 and 8.

The first will be held to advocate respect for the full five year term in
office for the president and the second will be in support of the efforts of
progressive students.

A spokesperson for the Movement, Ouanche Luc, who was recently severely
beaten by opposition demonstrators, said that these peaceful marches are designed
to force the members of the opposition coalition to renounce the logic of
violence and return to the negotiating table.

According to Ouanche Luc, the members of his organization are determined to
struggle against all who seek to halt the democratic process as they call for
the departure of the elected authorities.

Ouanche Luc and one other member of the organization, Romestil Mélusca, said
that only negotiations and new legislative elections can help the country to
emerge from the impasse.

AHP February 4, 2004 1:10 PM

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Le RAMIKOPO and KISA express concern about the socio-political situation of
the country
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Port-au-Prince, February 4, 2004 -(AHP)- Two grassroots organizations,
RAMIKOPO (Rally of Rational Activists For Peace) and KISA (Haitians United Working
Together to Save Haiti), declared Wednesday that they are deeply troubled by
the country's socio-political situation.

During a news conference, officials from these two organizations invited the
members of the opposition political Platform to acknowledge that violence
leads nowhere.

They asked the political parties of the opposition to respect the five year
term in office of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and to agree to take part in
elections if they wish to take power.

RAMIKOP spokesperson, Thélusma Ronald, denounced the killing of a number of
Fanmi Lavalas activists who were targeted because of their commitment in the
struggle for respect for the president's full term in office.

He said that if Pres. Aristide is not permitted to serve out his five year
term, no other person would be able to remain in power in Haiti, as Aristide is
the most popular leader, he said.

AHP February 4, 2004 1:40 PM
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<FONT COLOR="#000000" BACK="#ffffff" style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SICorrection
to the January 30 AHP News:

The following is a corrected version of story #4 of the January 30, 2004 AHP
News English translation containing the word "not" in the first sentence of
the story:


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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 not 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