AHP News from Haiti 2/18-24

AHP News - February 18, 2004 (Unofficial)



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Former members of the military Guy Philippe and Louis Jodel Chamblain, who
are leading the opposition coalition in Gonaïves announce the reconstitution of
the Haitian Army
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Gonaïves, February 18, 2004-(AHP)- Former member of the military Guy
Philippe, who recently took over the leadership of the armed opposition in Gonaïves
together with the leader of the FRAPH terrorist organization, announced this
Wednesday the reconstitution of the FAd'H (Armed Forces of Haiti).

Guy Philippe said that he joined the Platform of the 184 following, notably,
repeated requests made by opposition supporters along with appeals made by
media affiliated with the Platform and whose journalists said they were
threatened.

The Armed Forces of Haiti were dissolved in 1994 with the return from exile
of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide who had been overthrown in a bloody coup
d'état on September 30, 1991.

The FAd'H and FRAPH are responsible for the deaths of more than 5,000
Haitians between 1991 and 1994.

In a recent interview with the daily newspaper La Presse in Montreal, the
leader of the opposition political Platform, André Apaid, declared that he was
favorable toward the return of the Haitian army.

Guy Philippe, who joined the camp of the 184 Platform Saturday, accompanied
by FRAPH leader Louis Jodel Chamblain, indicated that his army will continue
its attacks until the elected authorities are overthrown.

He pressed the international community to exert pressure on President
Aristide to leave power, otherwise blood will continue to flow, he said.

Three police officers were killed in Hinche and a police station was invaded
and looted by opposition partisans in Belladères, following the alliance
between FRAPH and the Platform with former members of the military.

Prior to the the elections of December 16, 1990 that brought Jean-Bertrand
Aristide to power, it had always been the Haitian army that had granted or
seized power in Haiti.

Leaders of the opposition Platform which includes private sector
associations, human rights organizations, and private media organizations and
others, have
until now still refused to condemn the abuses committed by their partisans,
led by criminal on the run Louis Jodel Chamblain and fugitive from prison Jean
Tatoune.


AHP February 18, 2004 3:30 PM


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The Platform of the 184 attempts once again to distance itself from the
lethal violence committed by its partisans in Gonaïves and in other regions of the
country
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Gonaïves, February 18, 2004-(AHP)- The Platform of the 184 on Wednesday
sought once again to distance itself from the deadly violence committed by the
gangs claiming to be with the opposition, which are operating in Gonaïves and in
other parts of the country.

A spokesperson for the political coalition, Micha Gaillard, attempted to
convey the idea that the individuals who are attacking the people and the
interests of the State are instead products of the Lavalas government, who turned
their weapons against the government.

Despite the pressure exerted on the Platform by the international community
for it to issue an unequivocal condemnation of the violent acts committed by
its partisans, Micha Gaillard excused their behavior by attempting to have
people believe that the gangs are merely engaging in resistance to the violence
that is exerted against them, he said, by the government.

The leader of the Platform said that the process of reconciliation will not
be commenced with the armed bands until after the elected government has
departed.

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A member of the organization named Bale Wouze denies rumors that activities
had come to a standstill in Saint-Marc
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St-Marc, February 18, 2004-(AHP)- Byron Odigé, a member of the populist
organization "Bale Wouze" based in St- Marc, rejected reports Wednesday that
activities have been totally paralyzed in the city over the past few days.

Other than the school, which does not hold classes during the Carnaval
period, all activities were going on normally in Saint-Marc, said Byron Odigé.

According to Mr. Odigé, the threats made by members of the opposition
Platform against the city of St. - Marc does not frighten the population.

"The entire population of Saint-Marc is ready to do battle with the thugs led
by members of FRAPH in order to defend the interests of this city in the
event the police are not able to assume their responsibilities", asserted Byron
Odigé.


AHP February 18, 2004 1:15 PM



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The Platform of Organizations of Cité Soleil challenges the armed partisans
of the opposition led by Louis Jodel Chamblain to attack the capital
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Port-au-Prince, February 18, 2004-(AHP)- PLATFOSS, the Platform of
organizations of Cité Soleil, (PLATFOSS), challenged the armed groups operating in
Gonaïves to enter Port-au-Prince.

At a news conference, one of the members of PLATFOSS, John Joseph Joël,
asked the population of Cité Soleil to remain mobilized to thwart any possible
attack by the armed bands on offices of public agencies and police stations in
the metropolitan area.

John Joseph Joel also asked the opposition partisans operating in Gonaïves
and in Hinche to take the road that leads to the ballot box if they wish to take
power.

The Platform of Organizations of Cite Soleil said that any attempt to stage a
coup d'état is destined for failure.

For his part, the former mayor of Delmas, Ernst Erilus, asked for the support
of the international community to come to the aid of the national police in
order to confront the terrorist acts committed against the population.

Ernst Erilus directed his comments in particular toward the United States
which, according to him, has many interests that are threatened in Haiti by the
armed bands.

According to the former mayor, the members of PLATFOSS are already mobilized
to confront the opposition partisans that are being henceforth led by members
of FRAPH and the former army.

The members of PLATFOSS asked that the United States provide aid with which
to deal with all who seek to take power through guns without taking part in
elections.


AHP February 18, 2004 4:05 PM



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A leader of the Front Révolutionnaire Charlot Jacquelin is in favor of an
international police force "to help combat terrorism in Haiti"
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Port-au-Prince, February 18, 2004-(AHP)- A director of the Charlot Jacquelin
Revolutionary Front, Dacius Ecclésiaste, declared Wednesday that he is in
favor of an international police force being sent to Haiti as part of the
international war against terrorism.

Dacius Ecclésiaste rejected the idea of having France participate in such a
project, and at the same time he appealed to the black communities of the world
to come to the aid of the Haitian people in these difficult times.

He denounced the maneuvers by a sector of the international community that he
said is attempting to weaken President Aristide in order to cause him to
resign.

Several sectors have accused France of having funded the political Platform
of the 184 for the purpose of carrying out destabilizing activities in Haiti
soon after Haiti asked France to pay restitution of the debt of independence
imposed upon Haiti in 1825 to the former colonial power in exchange for France's
recognition of Haitian independence that was proclaimed on January 1st, 1804.


AHP February 18, 2004 3:05 PM



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The specialized units of the PNH will soon liberate the people of Gonaïves
and Hinche, according to a political adviser to President Aristide
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Port-au-Prince, February 18, 2004-(AHP)- A political adviser to President
Aristide, Dismie César, announced Wednesday that specialized units of the
national police will liberate in the immediate future the cities of Gonaïves and
Hinche, now in the hands of partisans of the opposition who are now led by former
members of the military and members of the FRAPH paramilitary group.

According to Dismie César, the police authorities will assume their historic
responsibilities at this special moment.

he indicated that many sectors that were speaking of peace and dialogue are
today showing clearly that they are the principal actors and supporters of the
terrorist acts that are shaking the country.

Faced with the threat of a coup d'état hanging over the country, the
population should remain mobilized to counter the actions of the armed men working on
the payroll of the Platform of the 184, he asserted.

Dismie César then turned his attention to Carnaval 2004, providing his
assurance that it will go ahead normally in the Haitian capital.

Concerning the rumors that the former member of the FAd'H, Guy Philippe, and
armed opposition partisans would attack the people of Port-au-Prince during
Carnaval, Mr. César stressed that the population, alongside the police, will
always remain mobilized to block their path, .

The president's political adviser invited Haitians to work off their tensions
during the five days of Carnaval.


AHP February 18, 2004 2:20 PM


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Numerous sectors call on the population to mobilize to counter the acts of
violence committed by partisans of the opposition led by members of FRAPH.
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Port-au-Prince, February 18, 2004-(AHP)- Dany Fabien, the chief of staff in
the office of the Secretary of State for Public Security, denounced on
Wednesday the Haitian opposition which he said let into the country some former
members of the Haitian Armed Forces and of the FRAPH paramilitary group.

Dany Fabien appealed to the population that suffered the violence from the
former Haitian army and FRAPH during the period of the coup d'Etat, to mobilize
to thwart the maneuvers of the terrorists.

Mr. Fabien also asked the people to organize themselves in the populous
districts to block the path of terrorists who are sowing violence in several
regions of the country.

For their part, the Populist Organizations (OPs) in the Port-au-Prince
metropolitan area say they are mobilized against any possible attack by partisans of
the Platform of the 184 led by the fugitive from justice Jean Tatoune, along
with Guy Philippe and Louis Jodel Chamblain.

These OPs consider that the Haitian nation is in danger as a result of the
terrorist acts committed, they said, by partisans of the opposition who control
Gonaïves and the city of Hinche.

René Civil, the leader of the organization Jeunesse Pouvoir Populaire
(Popular Youth Power), announced that some members of the OPs have already begun to
stand guard in front of the police stations in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan
area.

René Civil said that the population is in a situation of legitimate self
defense with respect to these thugs who are trying to eliminate the democratic
achievements of the Haitian people.

Two other OP leaders, Delva Daniel and Wench Luc, declared their preference
for the peaceful approach but they said that they will provide a measured
response commensurate with the attacks made by members of the opposition Platform.

They call upon the opposition to condemn these terrorists acts if it expects
to work effectively in favor of the establishment of democracy in the country.


AHP February 18, 2004 11:25 AM


***Haitian Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Philippe Antonio declared Tuesday
that the Haitian and Dominican governments are working through mutual
agreement to counter the intrusion onto Haitian soil of members of the former
paramilitary group, FRAPH, and former members of the military.

Members of the opposition in Gonaïves have affirmed since Saturday that they
enjoy the active support of former military personnel and leaders of the FRAPH
terrorist group.

According to Joseph Philippe Antonio, steps will be taken together in
conjunction with the Dominican authorities to block the path of these armed
individuals who are sowing terror in several regions of the country.


AH February 18, 2004 12:45 PM



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The American Ambassador to Haiti, James B. Foley, warns that his government
will not recognize any government that takes power through a coup d'Etat in
Haïti
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Port-au-Prince, February 18, 2004-(AHP)- The U.S. Ambassador to Haiti, James
B. Foley, warned Tuesday that the United States will not recognize any
government that takes power through a coup d'état in Haïti.

James Foley asked the Haitian opposition to to join in condemning the recent
acts of violence experienced in the country. .

Amb. Foley considers that one must move on from the logic of confrontation to
that of dialogue under the auspices of the international community.

James B. Foley renewed the commitment of his government to work alongside
CARICOM to find a peaceful solution to the crisis.

The American Ambassador invited the Haitian political actors to observe a
truce in order to find the best formula for ending the crisis.

This call for a truce, said the U.S. diplomat, does not mean that the united
States is seeking to maintain the status quo in Haiti. The idea is, he said,
to have the necessary time to be able to make the changes the country needs.


AHP February 18, 200411:50 AM



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The leader of the ALLAH Party denounces the lax approach by the government
in handling the situation of violence that holds sway in the country and
accuses the Platform of the 184 of wishing to take power by any means
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Port-au-Prince, February 18, 2004-(AHP)- Reynold Georges, the leader of the
Alliance for the Liberation and Advancement of Haiti (ALLAH), denounced Tuesday
the lax approach taken by the government in its handling of the situation of
violence that currently rages in the country.

Reynold Georges said he believes the government authorities should broad
measures to counter the action of those who are sowing terror in Haiti.

He said he deplored that the leaders of the government allowed the situation
to degenerate to the point where one begins to find innocent victims
suffering.

Mr. Georges also deplored that the opposition political Platform has yet to
condemn the acts of violence committed by its partisans.

According to Reynold Georges, this attitude is evidence of the cynicism of
this political coalition, which wishes to take power, he said, through any
means.

AH February 18, 2004 12:10 PM

** The Haitian and Japanese governments initialed an agreement Tuesday that
provides a gift of 293 yen, equivalent to $2.4 million toward the improvement
of basic health care services.

These funds will serve in the acquisition of important medical equipment for
100 health facilities in the Northeast, Center, West and Southwest.

At the ceremony held for the signing of this agreement, Japan's Chargé
d'Affaires in Haiti, Masato Futaishi, indicated that his government has provided
this important gift to the Haitian government in response to the needs of the
population, which, he said, is going through a serious economic crisis.

Masato Futaishi recalled that his government has already provided funding
since 1997 on four occasions to improve the health conditions for the most
underprivileged members of the population amounting to a total of more than $13
million.

** Opposition partisans led by former members of the military and the former
FRAPH paramilitary group committed new violence in the Central Plateau.

After taking the Hinche police station by storm on Monday, leaving three
people dead, including Jonas Maxime, who was police director for the Center
department, these armed men attacked and looted the Belladères police station.

** Jean Ariel Joseph, former director of the BUNEXE (National office of State
Examinations), was promoted to Director General of the Ministry for National
Education.

Jean Ariel Joseph replaces in this position Mr. Camille Gouin who was
recently named as Minister of National Education.

The new Director General promised to work together with the other officials
of the Ministry to improve the quality of teaching in Haiti.
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AHP News February 19 2004
English translation (Unofficial)





Jesse Jackson accuses the Bush administration of tacitly supporting the
terrorist groups who operate in Haiti by refusing to intervene


Washington, February 19 2004 -(AHP)- Black American leader Rev. Jesse
Jackson
declared Thursday that the American government is tacitly supporting the
opposition armed groups who spread terror in many regions of the country by
refusing to intervene in Haiti.

"It is a contradiction to want democracy in Iraq, while we remain untouched
by Haiti, which is in the same hemisphere, Mr. Jackson exclaimed. The Black
reverend accuses the Bush administration and the European Union of refusing
to give their support to Aristide’s government, a government that was
democratically elected, he said, while he underlined that the Haitian
political crisis is a hemispheric and international crisis.

Mr. Jackson accused the United States of being partly responsible for the
deterioration of the crisis because they blocked the economic aid to the
country. Jesse Jackson recently wrote a letter to the Bush administration to
ask them to resume economic aid to Haiti. In his letter, he had also called on
the American authorities to send a high ranking government official to Haiti
to
convince the opposition on the need to go back to the negotiating table.
AHP February 19 2004 3:25 PM



American military experts from the Southern Command are expected in Haiti
within the next few days



Washington, February 19 2004 -(AHP)- A group of American military experts
from the Southern Command will arrive in Port-au-Prince within the next few
days
to evaluate the situation of American officials working in the country, a
State Department leader declared.

The delegation will also work on a security plan in order to encourage
Haitians to stay at home. Many citizens are facing serious security problems
since the arrival of leaders of the terrorist group FRAPH, leading armed
supporters of the opposition in Gonaïves.
According to the State Department official, the Pentagon is presently
looking at the issue of security in Haiti in order to evacuate, if
necessary, about 20.000 Americans living in Haiti.

The experts delegation will have work sessions with leaders of the United
States Embassy in Port-au-Prince.
AHP February 19 2004 3:35 PM


The American government proposes a new plan for a peaceful way to end the
Haitian crisis


Washington, February 19 2004 -(AHP)- The American government proposed
Thursday a new plan for a peaceful way to end the Haitian crisis.

State Department spokesperson Richard Boucher declared that this plan
was presented during a conference between leaders of the United States,
Canada, France, the OAS and CARICOM.

This new plan has many things in common with the one recently presented by
the Caribbean Community.

It calls for the release of political prisoners, changes among the
national police, and the disarmament of all armed gangs. The new plan also
provides the possibility for all sectors to demonstrate peacefully and the
formation of an independent electoral council.

About fifty people were killed in the violent events provoked by the attack
of police stations in many regions of the country by armed supporters of the
opposition. The violence has intensified since opposition supporters have
received the support of terrorist groups leaders.
3 policemen were killed at the beginning of the week during an attack led by
leaders of the terrorist group FRAPH, Louis Jodel Chamblain and former
sergeant Jean Baptiste.
AHP February 19 2004 4:00 PM


Leaders of St Jean Bosco TKL warn the rich people who support the maneuvers
aiming to overthrow constitutional authorities


Port-au-Prince, February 19 2004 -(AHP)- Leaders of St Jean Bosco TKL and
JPP, Paul Raymond and René Civil, warned this Thursday the rich people who
support, they said, the terrorist acts committed by armed supporters of the
opposition platform who are trying to overthrow constitutional authorities.
Paul Raymond and René Civil declared that the population is ready to use all
means to defend itself against the armed gang led by FRAPH leader Louis
Jodel Chamblain and former police chief Guy Philippe. These two men have
took the lead of the platform in Gonaïves since Saturday and from there,
they launched attacks against police stations in many regions of the Central
Plateau. In Hinche, they killed the departmental chief of police and two
other policemen.

MM. Raymond and Civil urged Haitian authorities to call the Dominican
ambassador in Haiti so he can explain why these armed men are in the country
since they were living in the Dominican Republic.

For his part, leader of the Citizen Protection Office (OPC) Necker
Dessables, declared he was greatly worried about the deterioration of the
situation in Haiti.
Necker Dessables considers that democracy is seriously threatened with the
violence committed these last few days in many regions of the country by
armed members of the opposition.

Necker Dessables calls the authors of these acts to get a hold of themselves
and to respect the constitution. The protector of citizens who says he is
worried about the future of democracy calls the protagonists to take the
peaceful path to solve the crisis.

AHP February 19 2004 12:00 PM

Leader of the Papaya Peasants Movement declares he is against any deployment

of international peace force in Haiti


Port-au-Prince, 19 février 2004 -(AHP)- Leader of the Papaya Peasants
Movement (MPP) Chavannes Jean Baptiste, declared Thursday he is against any
deployment of international peace force in Haiti. This is two days after he
had a meeting with the leaders of the paramilitary group FRAHP who
collaborate with the platform of 184.

Chavannes Jean Baptiste who admitted he welcomed in his house former
sergeant Joseph Jean Baptiste who works together with Louis Jodel Chamblain,
was his spokesperson as he assured that the authors of the acts committed in
Gonaïves and in other regions of the country will put down their arms once
President Aristide will have been overthrown. The MPP leader declared that it
will
be then and only then that the country will be in peace and that blood will
stop shedding.

"Leaders of the FRAPH and the former army of Haiti have the same objectives
as we do", Chavannes Jean Baptiste declared, while he tried to make believe
that their methods are different.
Former sergeant Jean-Baptiste who is with Louis Jodel Chamblain at the lead
of the opposition armed supporters is a former spokesperson of demobilized
militaries. He was arrested under the Preval government in the MDN office in
Port-au-Prince.
In an interview given to Lucia Newman from CNN Wednesday, one of the leaders
of the political platform of the 184, Evans Paul (K-plim) declared that the
population had been relieved by the arrival of the terrorist leader Louis
Jodel Chamblin’s men.

These bandits who support the opposition action are accompanied by
mercenaries who speak Spanish.

AHP February 19 2004 11:35 AM


70 persons were killed in December and January in Port-au-Prince’s
metropolitan area, according to Justice and Peace


Port-au-Prince, February 19 2004 -(AHP)- The National Episcopal Commission
Justice and Peace presented this Thursday a report on the violence in
Port-au-Prince’s metropolitan area.

According to Justice and Peace, violence has considerably increased in
Port-au-Prince’s metropolitan area where over 70 persons died in December
and January.

In a letter written to the authorities concerned, a copy of which was sent
to AHP, Justice and Peace declared that its only objective was to raise
leaders and citizens’ awareness about violence as being a reality and a
factor that stops the peaceful social interaction among the Haitian society.

"Every day, violence becomes more of an ordinary mean to solve conflicts,
notably political ones ", Justice et Peace underlined. It condemned all
forms of violence wherever it comes from. All violence is an attack against
human dignity.
AH February 19 2004 2:25 PM


“Rebirth carnival " will be a popular success, according to the commission in
charge of organizing the 2004 carnival


Port-au-Prince, February 19 2004 -(AHP)- Members of the commission in charge
of organizing the 2004 carnival declared Thursday that all measures have
been taken for the good running of carnival festivities in Port-au-Prince.

The 2004 carnival will be organized under the theme “Rebirth” and will allow
the Haitian population to relax for five days throughout the country,
between February 20 to 24.

The Minister of Culture Leslie Voltaire who is president of the committee
organizing the carnival this year, declared that 30 million gourdes will be
released by the Haitian State for the organization of these festivities.
Leslie Voltaire presented the 5-day program to the press and assured that
the 2004 carnival will be a popular success once again this year.

The carnival festivities will begin Friday February 20 with the Youth
Carnival in front of the Bird college at noon.

For his part, the Secretary of State for Youth and Sports, Hermane Nau,
pointed out that the Youth Carnival will go on until midnight and will be
marked by all kinds of parades that will show different periods of time,
such as Indian time and the time of heroes of independence. According to
Hermane Nau, many bands will be with these floats, notably Relax Band and
DJs.

MUPANAH director Pradel Henriquez, pointed out that the carnival animation
commission worked with 24 musical bands. According to Mr. Henriquez, 90% of
these bands will be part of the carnival procession. Among these bands are
Tokay, Koudjay, Racine Barak, Bòbèch and DJs.

AHP February 19 2004 12:25 PM
** Radio Lumière stopped broadcasting Wednesday because of a protestation
movement from a group of medical students of the Lumiere (Light) University
Faculty.
These students took over the station’s premises this Monday to demand the
resignation of the dean of Lumiere University and to get their diplomas.
The Protestant Church station leaders began negotiations with the protestors
who are intransigent. They had no success.

** Drivers of the Haiti/Dominican Republic route threatened Thursday to stop
working to protest for one of their colleagues, Lyonel Renosier.
President of the Haitian-Dominican Transport trade union, Fritz Constant,
declared that Lyonel Renosier had been kidnapped on the old aviation runway
by a group of bandits who plunder his truck before setting it on fire. Fritz
Constant doesn’t put aside the possibility of blocking the border to force
the authorities to give justice to the victim.
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AHP News February 21 2004
English translation (Unofficial)







Proposition to end the crisis from the international community: Aristide
accepts it, the opposition drags its feet


Port-au-Prince, February 21 2004 -(AHP)- President Aristide fully accepted
Saturday a proposal to end the crisis given to him the day before by the
international community to help find a peaceful solution to the Haitian
crisis.

The Head of State gave his agreement to this plan after a meeting with
members of a delegation from the international community, notably leaders
from the United States, Canada, the OAS and CARICOM.

In this plan, President Aristide stays for his entire constitutional mandate
which will end in February 2006. The opposition, who also received the
proposition to end the crisis, is still hesitating, giving itself until
Monday to
provide its answer.

However, sectors that are considered radical among this multiform
opposition, notably organizations from the private sector, teachers
organizations, private media and students, declared separately that they are
against any dialogue and any plan to come out of the crisis. Indeed, in
parallel to the discussions, downtown in the capital, opposition supporters,
among whom were students, blocked traffic with flaming barricades and
threw volleys of stones against vehicles near the Social Sciences
Faculty, a bastion for the anti-governmental opposition.

Meanwhile, in Gonaïves, Buteur Metayer, one of the leaders of the terrorist
group spreading terror in the City of Independence and who claims to be from
the opposition, was wondering about his future. What will happen if the two
parties accept the peace plan, he wondered.

After his meeting with foreign diplomats, President Aristide declared that
he accepted the plan, which also provides for the formation of an increased
council in charge of choosing a new prime minister and a new government
acceptable for the opposition.

It isn’t said what the consequences of an eventual refusal from one party or
the other would be on the other party.

The Haitian president explained that he accepted the nomination of a new
government in order to help a return to peace and reconciliation as soon as
possible in Haiti and also because the international community agreed to
help disarm “the rascals, the terrorists and the murderers”, pointing at the
terrorist groups who have been operating in Gonaives since February 5th and
murdered about sixty people, notably policemen.

Canadian Minister of the French-speaking world Denis Coderre, who was part
of the delegation, also insisted on the need to disarm all those who spread
terror in Haiti. He declared that all parties must respect their commitments
in this plan that must be implemented before March 26.

" We want to respect the Haitian constitution and therefore, it was never an
issue for us to try to overthrow a president who has been democratically
elected, he said, adding that the essential thing for them was to bring back
peace and democracy in Haiti.

Opposition leaders, notably André Apaid junior continue to declare that
President Jean Bertrand Aristide is responsible for the violence in Haiti
because, they say, he distributed arms and created armed gangs to terrorize
the population and intimidate political parties.

However, the armed gangs who spread death in Gonaïves and who were
reinforced 8 days ago by members of the terrorist organization named FRAPH,
claim to be from the opposition platform. And despite the pressure from the
international community, the platform still refuses to condemn their acts of
violence.

That is why American Secretary of State Colin Powell pointed out Saturday
that “it is time the opposition realizes that whether their demands are
legitimate or not, they will not be considered if it gets together with
rascals and murderers”.

In Port-au-Prince, we fear that if the opposition refuses the new plan to
come out of the crisis, it will open the path to a new wave of violence. The
lethal attacks by opposition supporters in Gonaïves begun the day after the
platform of 184 refused CARICOM’s proposition to end the crisis.

Leader of a human rights organization Lovinski Pierre-Antoine accused the
opposition Saturday of deliberately provoking Friday’s violent acts to
create a tense situation in Haiti the day before the international
community's
delegation arrived.

About ten people, two of them journalists, were injured while volleys of
stones were thrown between opposition supporters and Lavalas supporters
after a street demonstration that wasn’t notified to the police.

We also fear that the opposition might provoke new violent acts to try to
justify an eventual refusal of this plan.


AHP February 21 2004 6:35 PM


_________________________________________________________________




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AHP News - February 23, 2004 - English translation (Unofficial)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Prime Minister Yvon Neptune calls on the opposition Platform to adopt the
plan proposed as a way out of the crisis by the international community, and thus
put an end to the escalation of terrorist violence
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Port-au-Prince, February 23, 2004 -(AHP)- Prime Minister Yvon Neptune called
Monday on the opposition political Platform to adopt the proposal put forward
by the international community as a way out of the crisis in order to bring to
an end the escalation of terrorist violence and to take part in the efforts
to enable the Haitian people to participate in the construction of a State
based on the rule of law.

" We are asking the opposition Platform to draw inspiration from the example
of wisdom on the part of President Aristide, to join in endorsing the peace
plan of the international community, which calls for compromise and sacrifice on
the part of both parties", declared Mr. Neptune.

On Sunday, armed men claiming to be with the opposition took another step by
forcing their way into Cap Haitien (the country's second city), where they
killed at least ten people, and looted as well as burned public offices and radio
stations owned by supporters of the governing power.

The Prime Minister said he deplores that drug and arms traffickers together
with former members of the FRAPH terrorist group continue to sow death in the
North, the Artibonite and the Central Plateau.

" The terrorists have destroyed all the sources of life for the population in
Hinche and Cap-haïtien. They paralyzed all access to water, food, health
care, schools and electricity," said an indignant Yvon Neptune, affirming that it
is to preserve the constitutional right of the Haitian people to choose their
representatives in the elections that President Aristide signed the proposal
for resolving the crisis presented by the international community.

Mr. Neptune said that the authorities are working together with the police to
find the resources to prevent the drug traffickers and the former members of
FRAPH from continuing to commit murders and burn down police stations and
government offices.

" We are asking the entire population to remain mobilized in a peaceful
manner to thwart the terrorist plan", said the head of the government, who also
pointed out that the international community has taken on commitments to the
Haitian people.

AHP has learned that some fifty U.S. Marines are expected to arrive in
Port-au-Prince at any moment.


AHP February 23, 2004 3:00 PM



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The political Platform of the 184 rejects the plan by the international
community for ending the crisis
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Port-au-Prince, February 23, 2004 -(AHP)- The political Platform of the 184
rejected Monday the peace plan proposed by the international community,
accusing the diplomats of having failed to call for the departure of President
Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

The President formally approved the plan on Saturday. Among its provisions,
the plan calls for President Aristide to serve out his term in office, which
expires in February, 2006.

The Platform made a counter-proposal containing more than ten provisions to
be implemented between now and March 15 including the nomination of a Prime
Minister based on a list to be submitted by the Platform as well as the naming of
a new president.

And it is only after the new government has been established that the
opposition would call for an end to the violence, said the leaders of the opposition.

The number one official in the Platform, André Apaid Jr, accused President
Aristide of being responsible for violence committed in Gonaives, Cap-Haïtien
and elsewhere by armed men claiming to be with the opposition.

These individuals on Sunday killed at least ten members of the Cap-Haitien
population, burned and looted public offices, and radio and television stations
owned by supporters of the governing party, Lavalas. They also released many
prisoners including drug traffickers.

For his part, former Senator Paul Denis said that President Aristide has not
respected the commitments he took vis-à-vis the international community with
regard to the political crisis.

The violence will not cease until after the departure of President Aristide,
he asserted, while proclaiming that the Platform of the 184 is carrying out a
peaceful struggle.

Asked to condemn the abuses committed by men claiming to be with the
opposition, another leader of the opposition, Evans Paul said only that his coalition
has received guarantees from the armed bands that they will put down their
weapons immediately after the departure of the Chief of State.

"They made promises to us; why shouldn't we trust them", said Evans Paul.

Leaders of the Platform have refused to communicate the contents of a new
document submitted by the international community which is said to give the
opposition additional guarantees to encourage them to endorse the latest proposal
for a way out of the crisis.

Evans Paul promised to provide details of this document at a news conference
to be held at the end of the afternoon for the foreign press.

"I don't know if we will have time to do it", he said, without further
clarification. Many took this to mean that he was referring to the threats of the
armed men who announced Saturday that they would march on the capital.

Members of populist organization and of civil society have decreed a
mobilization to prevent, they said, armed partisans of the opposition from carrying
out their macabre plan.

" There is nothing that we would not do in order not to go back into hiding
and protect the public from members of FRAPH and the former armed forces of
Haiti, warned groups of men who erected barricades Sunday in the Canapé-Vert
area.

Reliable sources indicated Sunday to AHP that the armed men who are operating
in Gonaïves have exerted pressure on the leaders of the Platform in
Port-au-Prince to persuade them to reject the plan of the international community.

On the previous day, an opposition spokesperson in Gonaïves, Buteur Métayer,
wondered what would happen to him if the Platform were to come to an
understanding with the government authorities.

The peace plan submitted to the parties in the conflict makes no reference
to the armed bands that took the population of Gonaïves hostage.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell had indicated Saturday that "it is time
for the opposition to realize that its grievances, whether legitimate or not,
will not be dealt with if they fall in league with thugs and murderers".

In Haïti, numerous sectors expect that the international community will
shoulder its responsibilities in light of the violence committed by the armed bands
led by members of the former army and the "FRAPH terrorist group" and also in
light of the refusal by the opposition to favor a peaceful outcome to the
crisis.

Despite the violence, several hundred thousand Haitians took part in the
third evening of the Haitian Carnaval. However, a homemade explosive device set by
unknown individuals exploded, killing one person and leaving several injured.


AHP February 23, 2004 2:35 PM
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