Aristide Calls on Opposition to End Violence

Press Release

Contact: Michelle Karshan, Foreign Press Liaison
National Palace, Haiti
Telephone: (011509) 228-2058
Fax: (011509) 228-2171

Dated: February 11, 2004

PRESIDENT JEAN-BERTRAND ARISTIDE CALLS ON THE OPPOSITION TO STOP THE VIOLENCE
AND COME TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE

In an exclusive interview with international press this afternoon at Haiti's
National Palace, President Aristide said, "I call on my people to continue to
embrace nonviolent ways. I call on my brothers in the opposition to stop the
violence and come to negotiate in a democratic and peaceful way to move ahead
towards elections. Haiti has suffered thirty-two coups d'etat and we cannot
continue to move from one coup d'etat to another."

President Aristide called on his "brothers and sisters in the opposition to
recognize that the principle that should guide us is the one of 'one man, one
vote.' Elections are indispensable for any democratic system," he pointed out.

President Aristide used last Saturday's rallies and march to illuminate the
nonviolent nature of the Haitian people in general. On February 7th, hundreds
of thousands marched in what President Aristide called a peaceful "expression
of their support for a democratic system." He noted that the march, which
gathered around the inauguration of four public parks, one in Cite Soleil, the
sprawling slum near Haiti's international airport, and the others on Route
Delmas, went all the way up to Petionville and down again to Port-au-Prince,
without a single incidence of violence.

"When we see people who are poor and jobless and despite this misery and
poverty, they stick to democracy, we have to applaud them," President Aristide
declared.

However, referring to the city in the North of Haiti which has been under
siege since Thursday, the president stated, "Unfortunately, the nonviolent people
of Gonaives are suffering from a small group of thugs linked to the
opposition. Those in Gonaives, who are acting on behalf of the opposition, are
terrorists."

President Aristide said that the world has rejected the terrorist violence of
September 11th, and that the terrorists in Gonaives have taken 150,000
residents hostage. "We condemn that violence, we condemn all violence." In
addition to burning down police stations, burning people, murdering patients seeking
medical attention in the hospital in Gonaives, the President Aristide cited
the terrorists' use of children as human shields during gun battles.

During today's press conference, President Aristide addressed his people
asking them not to be "discouraged" and further, not to "fall into their trap of
violence. Violence is not the way to go."

Regarding allegations of violence by members of his political party,
President Aristide stated that he, "always asks members of Fanmi Lavalas not to commit
violence or support violence. We reject violence. We always call for peace."
He also informed the journalists that he has devoted hours upon hours meeting
with different people and groups during the last few days urging them not to
use violence, instead to go slow, if necessary, if it means saving lives.

Speaking of Haiti's first civilian police force, the President explained that
they are a young force, and need more professionalization and relayed that he
has called on them to ensure human rights and respect for all without
distinction. "The institution as such is doing the best it can to protect the people.
However, President Aristide pointed out, Haiti has little money for police
training and reinforcement because the country has been under an economic
embargo for three years. He also praised the police for their hard work and called
for the "population and the police to work together to protect democracy."

President Aristide praised the Organization of American States (OAS) police
assistance program in Haiti which assists in the training and
professionalization of Haiti's police and expressed hope that more police technical
assistance
would be forthcoming. This program is provided within the framework of the OAS
Resolution 822.

President Aristide also spoke highly of the talks underway with CARICOM in
which he committed action on several steps in a recent meeting in Jamaica. He
noted that concrete actions are already underway and indicated that he looks
forward to strengthening the disarmament process.

"There is no real democracy without an opposition. We are in a learning
process, learning how to build a country rooted in democratic principles," the
President said and he called on the opposition to "stop the violence and pave the
way for dialogue. Dialogue with us, dialogue with Fanmi Lavalas, dialogue
with the people...We want to invest in people, as such we embrace dialogue."

President Aristide told the press conference that he had just come out of a
meeting with people from Gonaives and he shared with the journalists that "the
people of Gonaives are anxious to be free" from the terrorists.

"We are for a democratic process. The opposition, so far, prefers violent
actions instead of being reasonable. The people want peace. They are dying for
democracy, they are dying for peace, and we hope the opposition will stop the
violence and embrace democracy."