2/15 Haiti News

AHP News February 15 2004
English translation (Unofficial)

Serious internal divisions at an opposition demonstratiom in Port-au-Prince:
acts of vandalism are committed against members of the public


Port-au-Prince, February 15, 2004 -(AHP)- A serious internal split led to the
premature end of an anti-government demonstration held Sunday by the
opposition political Platform led by industrialist André Apaid, Junior.

The misunderstanding took place as a significant proportion of the
demonstrators, led by one of the coalition leaders, Hervé Saintilus, refused around
mid-day to follow the route for the march that had previously been agreed upon
with the police.

A real problem over leadership and authority thus manifest itself within the
Platform of the 184, as the two most senior leaders, André Apaid, Junior and
Charles Henri Baker quickly disappeared, announcing, but without being heard,
the end of the demonstration.

As it happened, the demonstrators following Saintilus subsequently committed
acts of vandalism in Delmas 34 et Delmas 41, where the group smashed the
windshields of numerous vehicles, citing as pretext that they had been attacked.

The victims accused the top leaders of the Platform of having unleashed, they
said, wild beasts to "devour the population".

The majority of the murders committed by opposition supporters during recent
demonstrations by the Platform are the result of the refusal of the
demonstrators to keep to the routes for the march that had been previously
established.

The demonstration on this February 15th drew little more than 3,000 to 4,000
people.

The last demonstration by the Fanmi Lavalas Political organization drew some
300,000 people from across Port-au-Prince on February 7 according to
independent sources and over a million people according to the organizers.

Opposition leaders, who recognized the failure of their demonstration sought
to explain it by the fact that the police had organized, they said, searches
in several streets of the capital very early in the morning.

However many sectors of the population declared that they were disappointed
at the fact that the opposition political coalition is involved in armed
struggle in its attempt to oust the government, through the lethal violence
committed in Gonaïves and in other areas in the north of Haiti.

They said they were particularly disappointed that the opposition is
utilizing the services of individuals who carry a reputation as criminals and coup
leaders, such as Jean Tatoune, Louis Jodel Chamblain (FRAPH) and Guy Philipppe.

Many opposition supporters also declared they were discouraged by the latest
joint communiqué by the United States, Canada, the OAS and CARICOM, which on
Friday called specifically on the political opposition and civil society to act
in a responsible manner, to refrain from all acts of violence, to assume
their responsibilities and to become involved in the democratic process consistent
with CARICOM's latest proposal for resolving the crisis.

Several of the opposition supporters expressed hope that all the actors will
return to the negotiating table in order to find a peaceful way out of the
crisis.

AHP February 15, 2004 1:30PM.

Violence from opposition demonstrators against two journalists of Radio
Solidarité and Telé-Eclair

Port-au-Prince, February 15 2004 -(AHP)- Opposition supporters aggressed
Sunday a journalist from Radio Solidarité, Volcy Assad, whom they violently
struck with stones and fists, during a demonstration of the platform of 184
(opposition).

They accused the Radio of not working in the sense of the opposition
maneuvers aiming to overthrow constitutional authorities.

The journalist from Radio Solidarité was attacked for reporting live
information on an attack with stones against a private vehicle in which were
5 persons, among whom were a women and a child, on the Delmas road. They
were even more violent against Assad Volcy when he began to report the
panic-stricken child’s cries.

According to opposition demonstrators, OP members were inside the vehicle.
Assad Voolcy was saved by a reporter from the newspaper Haïti Observateur
who denounced the demonstrators’ intolerance.

Opposition members also attacked a journalist from Radio Telé-Eclair. They
seized his camera, saying he had filmed their scene of violence. Opposition
leaders and supporters were particularly tensed since the beginning of the
demonstration because there were a lot less people who answered their call
than in previous demonstrations.

Number 2 of the opposition platform, Charles Henri Baker, had to walk around
in Pétion-Ville with a megaphone to try to raise his supporters’ awareness.
Opposition leaders and members once again used violent and filthy words
against the authorities, while they were distributing images of Notre-Dame
du Perpétuel Secours and “Jesus” stickers.
" How can we talk about Jesus and Holy Mary while we cultivate hatred in our
heart, when we deny our origins or when we call the majority of the
population “chimè”?”, witnesses of the violent scene wondered.

AHP February 15, 2004 11:30 AM


Armed supporters of the opposition political platform receive new arms

Gonaïves, February 14 2004 -(AHP)- Armed supporters of the opposition
political platform who have been controlling the city of Gonaïves since
February 5th say they have received new arms to try to overthrow by force
President Jean Bertrand Aristide.

Opposition supporters in Port-au-Prince claimed they had the support of a
former chief of police in exile in the Dominican Republic. He is said to have

come backto Haiti leading a group of armed men.

One of the opposition’s spokesperson in Gonaïves, Buteur Métayer called
Friday for general insurrection and gave the Haitian president until the end
of February to leave power. He claimed that his men could get a
helicopter. On the same day, Saint-Marc’s police seized a stock of weapons
with final destinationreportedly Gonaïves.

These arms are said to have been sent by a former senator, Prince Pierre
Sonson,
who recently joined the platform of 184. Indeed, he recognized that he had
sent the vehicle to the Artibonite but denied the fact that the weapons were
his.

In Port-au-Prince, platform leaders have been trying many times in the last
few days to differentiate themselves from the deadly violence committed by
their supporters in Gonaïves but they refuse to condemn them.

At the same time, a member of ex-prisoner Jean Tatoune’s clan pointed out
anonymously to the AHP Wednesday that he and his colleagues had
suffered great pressure to deny their membership to the political platform
of 184. He claimed that the opposition was working on two fronts: the armed
attacks in the provinces and the street demonstrations in Port-au-Prince to
prepare the ground.

Two individuals recruited by the opposition, Louis Jodel Chamblain and Guy
Philippe are accused of crimes against the population or attempt of a coup
d'etat.

Louis Jodel Chamblain was a leader of the paramilitary group FRAPH which
executed thousands of Aristide supporters during the military coup d'etat in
1991. Guy Philippe flew in the Dominican Republic after an attempted coup
d'etat against President Aristide.

" International authorities must take note today that the opposition doesn’t
hesitate to officially associate with known murderers ", many Lavalas
militants declared.

The international community, particularly representatives from the United
States, from the CARICOM, from the OAS and from Canada, specifically called
Friday on the political opposition and civil society to act responsibly, to
refrain from using any violence, to assume their responsibilities and to
begin the democratic process, in accordance with CARICOM’s recent
proposition to end the crisis.






AHP News February 14 2004
English translation (Unofficial)





The international community specifically asks the political opposition and
the civil society to act responsibly, to refrain from using any violence in
the context of the Haitian crisis

Washington, February 14 2004 -(AHP)- The international community calls upon
the
Haitian political opposition and Haitian civil society to act
responsibly, to refrain from using any violence, to assume their
responsibilities and to begin the democratic process, in accordance with
CARICOM’s recent proposition to help solve the Haitian political crisis
peacefully.

In a joint declaration adopted after a work session Friday on the Haitian
crisis, the United States, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the
Organization of American States (OAS) and Canada reaffirmed their willpower
to continue to coordinate the efforts to support a peaceful, negotiated,
democratic and constitutional solution to the political crisis in Haiti.

"We share the great worries that cause the Haitian people’s sufferings and
we deplore the deaths that occurred during the last wave of violence and
non-observance of the laws ", American Secretary of State Colin Powell,
Canadian Secretary Bill Graham, OAS Assistant Secretary of State Luigi
Einaudi and Bahamas Secretary Fred Mitchell declared.

Armed supporters of the opposition political platform officially chose the
path of violence since February 5th, notably in Gonaïves where they killed
over thirty members of the population, among whom were policemen.

Most of the persons who were murdered were mutilated, but leaders of the
opposition platform in Port-au-Prince still refuse to condemn their
supporters’ violence.

For its part, the international community strongly condemned these acts of
violence. It called the Haitian government and all Haitians in general to
respect human’s rights of all citizens and residents of Haiti. " We also
call the Haitian Government and all other parties to make sure that everyone
who needs it throughout the country can find gas, food and medication ",
representatives of the United States, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the
Organization of American States (OAS) and Canada pointed out.

They urged the Haitian Government to implement the measures it had committed
itself to in the OAS Resolutions 806, 822 and 1959 which are reiterated with
its adherence to the current initiative launched by the Caribbean Community.
They insisted that it is only through the urgent implement of the measures
of encouragement of trust described in these documents that a consensus will
be reached to facilitate a solution to the political crisis in Haiti, in
accordance with the Inter American Chart of Development.

However, the Haitian opposition categorically refuses all dialogue to
facilitate a peaceful end to the crisis. And since then, opposition
supporters have preferred to use violence.

Friday, Saint-Marc’s police seized a stock of arms that were going to
Gonaïves and that would have been sent by a former senator, Prince Pierre
Sonson, who recently joined the political platform of 184.

We specifically ask the political opposition and the civil society to act
responsibly, to refrain from using any violence, to assume their
responsibilities and to begin the democratic process, in accordance with
CARICOM’s recent proposition, representatives from the United States, from
the CARICOM, from the OAS and from Canada declared.

They also declared that "While the Haitian Government is moving forward with
those measures, the international community will make new efforts to
reestablish the State of Right, notably in regards to the
professionalization of the Haitian National Police. Thanks to these
measures, we expect that all Haitians will be able to enjoy once again their
freedoms established by the Constitution and to significantly participate to
the democratic process.»





AHP News February 13 2004
English translation (Unofficial)



Canada's Secretary, Bill Graham recommends using diplomacy to solve the
Haitian crisis

Washington, February 13 2004 -(AHP)- American Secretary of State Colin
Powell consulted this Friday his counterparts from Canada and the Antilles,
as well as the OAS Secretary General on the possibility of sending an
international police force in Haiti to help the PNH to assure security.

Washington promised means but not personnel. For his part, Canada’s
Secretary Bill Graham recommended using diplomacy to solve the Haitian
crisis.

Other than the city of Gonaïves where opposition supporters have set in fire
and plunder police stations and private homes, all other cities of the
country are under the control of Haitian authorities.

But we deplore terrorist acts committed by opposition supporters in many
towns in the North, such as Saint-Raphaël and Dondon.
AHP February 13 2004 5:00 PM

Saint-Marc’s police seizes a stock of arms in a vehicle going to Gonaïves

Saint-Marc, February 13 2004 -(AHP)- The police in Saint-Marc (100 km north
of the capital) seized this Friday a vehicle full of heavy weapons who was
riding at a fast speed towards Gonaïves.

The vehicle’s driver, Ramcès Duchêne, ispresently held by the police. The
police is looking for another individual who was in the car. According to
his colleague, he would have a large sum of money in hand.

The cell phone used by the two men is owned by a former parliamentarian who
recently became a member of the opposition political platform, Prince Pierre
Sonson.

The chief of police of Saint-Marc, Roland Dauphin, confirmed the seizure
that was made in a Nissan Patrol owned by Senator Louis Gérald Gilles,
during a search operation.

Mr. Gilles for his part declared that he had lent the vehicle to Senator
Prince Pierre Sonson the day before and that he had nothing to do with the
arms that were seized. He added that former Senator Prince’s vehicle is
presently broken down is his back yard.

The president of the Senate, Yvon Feuillé, also pointed out that he had
information saying that Senator Gilles’ vehicle was in Mr. Gilles’ hand. But

that doesn’t reduce the Grande-Anse’s senator’s responsibility in this
matter, he said.

In parallel, one of the opposition’s spokesperson in Gonaïves, Butter
Métayer, gave this Friday a new call to general insurrection. He asked all
members of the opposition to take the arms against President Aristide.

Armed supporters of the opposition lead by ex-prisoner Jean Tatoune have
been in control of the city of Gonaïves since February 5th, where they have
killed over ten people, set in fire and plunder the main police station and
private homes.

AHP February 13 2004 11:00 PM

Opposition leaders in Gonaïves make a new call to insurrection: the police
seize a stock of arms

Gonaïves, February 13 2004- (AHP)- One of the opposition’s spokesperson in
Gonaïves, Butter Métayer, gave this Friday a new call to general
insurrection. He asked all members of the opposition to take the arms
against President Aristide.

Another opposition leader in the city of Independence declared that they are
acting on two fronts: the demonstrations and the armed attacks.

This new call to insurrection is made by the opposition shortly before the
seizure of a stock of heavy weapons by the police in a vehicle which was
driving at a fast speed towards Gonaïves.

Thursday, hundreds of members of the population had put up barricades in the
center of the Haitian capital, after receiving information that supporters
of the opposition platform were getting ready to invade and set fire in a
police station on the occasion of an anti-governmental demonstration. 4
members of the platform were beaten by the angry members of the population.

Last week, one of the platform’s spokesperson in Gonaïves, Winter Etienne,
had called the opposition leaders in Port-au-Prince to name a new president
and a prime minister who would be named by the opposition local branch.
However, another member of ex-prisoner Jean Tatoune’s clan claimed Wednesday
that his colleagues and himself are under great pressure so that they deny
their membership, because of the embarrassment caused by the violent acts
perpetrated in Gonaïves.

In Port-au-Prince, a doctor member of the opposition platform, Ernest
Harrisson, called Friday to stop all activities, including schools and
hospitals to try to force President Aristide to resign.

About fifty patients died last month because of a lack of care during a
strike of doctors and interns. A call to close hospitals had been made then
by platforms leaders, among whom was Mr. Evans Paul.
AHP February 13 2004 2:00 PM


United Nations concerned by major humanitarian crisis in Haiti due to the
intensification of the political crisis

Port-au-Prince, February 13, 2004 -(AHP)- The United Nations said Friday
they were concerned about the major humanitarian crisis in Haiti, due in
major part to the quick deterioration of the political situation in the
country over the past few weeks.
In a note sent to the AHP, the United Nations asked all Haitian parties to
cooperate with humanitarian aid so that help can be forwarded from
Port-au-Prince to the other Northern departments coming through the
Gonaïves.
United Nations coordinator, Adama Guindo, reminded that his organization and
numerous partners had asked in April 2003 for the mobilization of 84 million
US dollars to fit the urgent needs of vulnerable populations and communities
in Haiti.
He invited the conflicting parties to respect the humanitarian principles
related to the protection of civilians and the immunity of hospitals and
health centers.
On its part, the World Food Programme (WFP) also feels concerned by the
escalation of insecurity in Haiti which could affect the nutritional
conditions of more than 268,000 WFP beneficiaries if food aid cannot be
delivered in the North and the Northwest of the country next week.
Last week’s fighting between armed supporters of the opposition and the
police in the city of Gonaïves forced some roads to be closed between
Port-au-Prince and other Northern cities, such as Port-de-Paix and
Cap-Haïtien.
Since February 5, this road is completely blocked, and thus the WFP cannot
send food to renew its stocks.
WFP official in Haiti, Guy Gauvreau, said that, since the end of November
2003, there have been 8 different attacks on food aid trucks.
Guy Gauvreau hopes a solution will be found to the political crisis.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said the situation of Haitian
families and communities has quickly deteriorated due to the intensification
of the political crisis.
According to the UNICEF official in Haiti, Françoise Groulosse, children are
more and more affected by the violence.
She asked that all the concerned parties to respect the lives of children
and protect their rights and their well-being, especially in the areas where
armed conflicts are ongoing.
AHP 13 February 2004 1:35 PM

ALLAH leader criticizes political opposition leaders for rejecting dialogue
as a mean to solve the crisis

Port-au-Prince, February 13, 2004 -(AHP)- Alliance pour la Libération et
l'Avancement d'Haïti (ALLAH) leader, Reynold Georges, criticized this Friday
the political opposition leaders for refusing dialogue and negotiation as
means to solve the crisis.
According to Reynold Georges, refusing to negotiate is an antidemocratic
attitude which gives an insight on what those leaders would do, should they
get to power.
He said he does not understand why this opposition coalition is so extremist
and yet claims to be a democratic movement.
According to Reynold Georges, the leaders of this coalition are not ready
yet for democratic politics.
The ALLAH leader announced the formation of a group of unaligned parties in
order to initiate negotiations for a political compromise to solve the
crisis peacefully.
According to Mr. Georges, negotiation is still the only way the country will
come out of this crisis.
"Those who refuse to negotiate automatically state their intention to use
violence", Reynold Georges said, as he prefers dialogue to stop the country
from sinking into chaos.
The opposition supporters have been terrorizing the Gonaïves since early
February, setting police stations and houses on fire and pillaging them,
after they had rejected a CARICOM proposition to solve the crisis.
AHP 13 February 2004 11:40 AM

Father Yvon Massac asks political opposition leaders to give negotiations a
chance and put a stop to their strategy of random violence

Port-au-Prince, February 13, 2004 -(AHP)- Pétion-Ville and Kenscoff Fanmi
Lavalas coordinator, Father Yvon Massac, asked this Friday the political
opposition leaders to give negotiations a chance and put a stop to their
strategy of random violence.
According to Father Massac, fair and democratic elections will let the
people, the ones who should decide, choose their leaders.
Those who refuse elections have chosen to stage a coup to get to power, he
said, warning those who refuse dialogue that they will be held responsible
for a catastrophe in Haiti.
On his part, APEL-Démocratique party leader, André Fardeau, accused the
group of 184 of fighting the people on many fronts.
It leads psychological warfare through its media, its armed section is
terrorizing the population in many regions of the country, and at the same
time it is holding street demonstrations, Mr. fardeau stated.
"The opposition has the right to hold demonstrations, but it should review
its strategy and get back to reason", André Fardeau said, inviting the
platform leaders to order their supporters to stop terrorizing the
population.
This coalition’s officials will first have to take themselves the decision
to stop using violence and terrorist actions as a political methodology, Mr.
Fardeau also stated.
AHP 13 February 2004 12:10 PM



Opposition supporters intensify deadly violent acts in many cities of the
country

St-Raphaël, February 13 2004 -(AHP)- Many Fanmi Lavalas supporters in the
town of St-Raphaël, left their homes to hide in Cap-Haïtien in order to
escape from the violence perpetrated by opposition platform supporters in
this town.

These citizens call the authorities to assume their responsibilities to stop
the terrorist acts in St-Raphaël and allow them to go back to their homes.

A member of Popular Organizations close to the power in Dondon, Ashley
Magloire, declared Thursday that about sixty men claiming to be from the
opposition were in town to spread terror in the town. According to Ashley
Magloire, these individuals already set in fire over fifty houses of Lavalas
militants in Dondon.

Ashley Magloire declared that Lavalas militants in the second city of the
country already took all the measures necessary to avoid that the same thing
happen in Cap-Haïtien as in Gonaïves.

In Petit-Goâve, a Fanmi Lavalas militant, Iforis Jacquelin, was shot dead
Thursday night. Iforis Jacquelin, a well-known cabinetmaker, was killed
while he was with a group of friends. The victim left his wife and his 6
children behind.

In Gonaïves, the situation is still tense where armed supporters of the
opposition political platform are terrorizing the population in this city.
The authorities are still studying the possibilities to regain control of
the city of independence.
In all regions mentioned above and in many others, police stations have been
set in fire by opposition armed supporters.

AHP February 13 2004 11:00 AM

Former colonel Himmler Rébu warns that the task of international policemen
will not be easy in Haiti

Port-au-Prince, February 13 2004 -(AHP)- Former colonel Himler Rébu
declared Thursday he was opposed to all deployment of international
policemen in Haiti to supervise the national police.

The author of the failed coup d’etat against former General Prosper Avril,
in April 1989, considers that the presence of an international force would
contribute to the installation of dictatorship in Haiti, he said. Himler
Rébu warned that the task of international policemen will not be easy in
Haiti.

For his part, Secretary of State for Communication Mario Dupuy, declared
that international policemen will be deployed in the country in accordance
with the agreement signed with the Organization of American States (OAS).
These policemen will supervise the national police in setting up conditions
of security for the organization of elections in the country.
AHP February 13 2004 12:45 PM

Japan donates about 8 thousand metric tons of fertilizer to Haiti

Port-au-Prince, February 13 2004 -(AHP)- The embassy of Japan in Haiti
officially gave the Haitian State this Wednesday February 11th about 8
thousand metric tons of fertilizer, in the context of the Aid Program to
Increase Food Production.

In accordance with the terms of the agreement signed on April 21 2003
between the two governments, Japan gave Haiti 2.3 million US dollars to buy
about 40 thousand bags of fertilizer.

Japan chargé d'affaires Masato Futaishi, who presided the ceremony,
expressed his satisfaction to see that this program gives a real support to
the Haitian economy. Masato Futaishi reiterated his government’s willpower
to continue to help Haiti by giving its support to the population.

He expressed the wish that a democratic and lasting solution is found to the
political crisis in order for the country to move forward on the path of
development.
Masato Futaishi is proud of the cordiality and good understanding of the
friendship relations between the two countries.

He reminded that 40 thousand bags of rice had been donated to the Haitian
government in December 2003 in the context of the Food Aid Program. In the
context of the Aid Program to Increase Food Production, M. Futaishi
underlined that Japan already gave Haiti 28,6 million US dollars between
1995 and 2002.

AHP February 13 2004 10:00 AM