[NYTr] Haiti Report - 5/23/04

[nytr at tania.blythe-systems.com]

Haiti Report for May 23, 2004
Prepared by Haiti Reborn/Quixote Center

The Haiti Report is a compilation and summary of events as described in
Haitian and international media. It does not reflect the opinions of
Haiti Reborn. This service is intended to give a better understanding
of the situation in Haiti by presenting the reader with reports that
provide a variety of perspectives on the situation.

At the end of this report, please find 
****ACTION ALERT: Halt Deportations!****

IN THIS REPORT:
-	Possible Famine in Haiti
-	Army and Rebels
-	But the MIF Says
-	Canada and Haiti
-	CARICOM Takes its call for Investigation to the OAS
-	Interim Prime Minister Latortue in US
-	Papal Nuncio Calls for Debt Cancellation
-	South Africa Grants Aristide Temporary Asylum
-	U.S. Aid to Haiti
-	Haiti  France Relations
-	International Institutions Aid to Haiti
-	UN Peacekeeping Mission
-	Justice and Peace on Disarmament
-	Evans Paul May Run for President
-	Provisional Electoral Council
-	General Hospital has no Electricity
-	Violence Against and Arrests of Lavalas
-	Demonstration Turns Violent on Flag Day
-	Radio and Tele TiMoun Closed
-	Army Joining the PNH
-	Interim Government to Investigate 9 Allegations Against Aristide
Government
-	Refugees and Temporary Protective Status
-	****ACTION ALERT: Halt Deportations!****

Possible Famine in Haiti:
Haiti is on the brink of famine with farmers reduced to eating reserves
of seed they should be planting, a German aid agency warned. Its
feared the food situation in rural regions will get worse still, the
Protestant Church-linked agency Diakonische Katastrophenhilfe said,
citing its Latin America Chief Michael Jordan after a visit to Haiti.
He said farmers were eating seed because they had no other food, but it
was putting the main sowing season in danger which would then reduce
any harvest. Were worried about a famine, he said. According to the
organization, more than half of Haitis 8.5 million people were already
dependent on food aid even before former president Aristide went into
exile. Jordan said that even now, international aid was only getting to
the towns but not the countryside, where people were left to fend for
themselves. (News 24, 5/6)

Army and Rebels:
There are indications that across the country, the armed irregular
forces are maintaining their grip on de facto power: On 23 April, in
Gonaoves, armed men drove police from their headquarters in a dispute
over a government-owned car confiscated by police. French troops had to
intervene to regain control of the police station. The rebels beat up
two policemen, freed a detainee, and took a revolver, according to
police spokesman Jean Yonel Trecile. On 25 April, in Hinche, according
to foreign military sources, men believed to be under ex-soldier Joseph
Jean-Baptiste's command set fire to two police stations. Over the
weekend of 1 and 2 May, several people were wounded during violent
incidents in the locality of Ka Prl, a communal section of St-Michel de
L'Attalaye. Those responsible for the violence, including the setting
on fire of around 50 homes and the theft of people's belonging,
identified themselves as supporters of the former opposition and
rebels. The violence followed the 29 April murder of at least four
people and the wounding of others by men with machetes, accompanied by
a dozen ex-soldiers. The attacks came after the local people
refused to agree to the former rebels' installation of an ex-section
chief as a replacement for the local council, the Conseil
d'Administration des Section Communale (CASEC). On 3 May, Guy Delva,
head of the Haitian Journalists' Association, denounced the fact that
many journalists working in the provinces, particularly in the Central
Plateau, were obliged to go into hiding after being threatened with
arrest or receiving death threats issued by supporters of the former
opposition and the ex-rebels. In Mirebalais, former solders have
threatened those whom they accuse of "betraying their movement". Also
on 3 May, in Cap-Haotien, former rebels and members of the former
opposition used guns to force the staff out of the premises of the
Autoriti
Portuaire Nationale (National Port Authority). The attack, which caused
panic in the city, was part of the armed former opposition's campaign
to install their own appointees to public administration posts. The
ex-rebels expressed their opposition to certain nominations selected by
the interim government, and threatened to paralyse the public
administration in the city if there choices were not permitted. On 7
May, a group of armed men attempted to expel the new appointee at the
departmental education office but were stopped by foreign troops. On 6
May in the town of Hinche, the armed irregular forces under the command
of former sergeant Joseph Jean-Baptiste announced they would resume
their armed patrols in uniform to demonstrate their discontent with the
way they were being treated by the government. After negotiations with
Chilean troops, Joseph Jean-Baptiste apparently promised not to go
through with his threat, and to
instead collaborate with the foreign troops and Haitian police.  On 7
May, in St. Marc, the armed former opposition group, RAMICOSM, was
accused of repressing the local people. A local resident told Signal FM
that it was behaving just like the pro-Lavalas organisation, Bale
Wouze, and said its members had been involved in a string of thefts,
rapes and kidnapping as a response to being overlooked for appointments
to local authority offices. (Haiti Support Group, 5/10)

Haitian rebel turned opposition leader Buteur Metayer on May 18 lashed
out at the French troops which form the largest contingent in the MIF
deployed in the country. Down with the French occupation, down with
France, the whites must leave. Down with the French whites, Metayer
called out to a crowd of 1200 people in this northwestern town. The
crowd did not pick up his chant of Down with France. Metayer spoke at
a ceremony marking the transformation of former rebels into a political
party, the National Reconstruction Front. (Agence France de Presse,
5/19)

Former rebels of Haiti's National Resistance Front (FRN) which played a
major role in ousting president Jean Bertrand Aristide seek to conquer
the ballot box with the formation of their new political party. The
National Reconstruction Front (FRN), founded Tuesday, will present
candidates in Haiti's 2005 general election. Former rebel leader Guy
Philippe, 36, Winter Etienne, 40, and Buteur Metayer, 32, will hold,
respectively, roles in the party of secretary general, general
coordinator and president. (Agence France de Presse, 5/20)

But the MIF Says
With the return of stability in Haiti, military civil affairs
specialists are working to improve the lives of Haitians throughout the
country. The civil affairs mission has changed since the multinational
interim force (MIF) moved into the troubled Caribbean island nation at
the beginning of March. When we first arrived, our job was to minimize
civilian interference in military operations, said Marine Lt. Col.
Ernest Garcia, the civil affairs chief for Combined Joint Task Force
Haiti. But now the security environment is changed. In addition to the
soldiers of the MIF, the PNH are back on the job. The force has secured
not only the capital and its environs, but also the north and central
plateau of the country. With his more secure environment, were able
to branch out more, Garcia said. They are working with Food for the
Poor, Catholic Relief Services and the World Health Organization, among
others. Early on, they would come to us to receive escorts for food
convoys, said Army Maj. Terence Ray. They also would come to us with
security concerns, and we worked with them to get humanitarian supplies
out. Now the security environment is such that convoys move freely,
Ray said. (American Forces Press Service, 5/19)

Canada and Haiti:
Foreign Affairs Minister of Canada Bill Graham urged Haitis interim
government to work toward reconciliation yesterday so that the country
can proceed to general elections. Once the election is held, Haiti
could establish a South-African-style reconciliation commission to deal
with past injustices. This is a transitional government. It has to
both be inclusive, but also recognize that there may be those guilty of
offenses under the previous government who ultimately will have to be
brought to justice, Graham said. Graham acknowledged that the
previous government in Haiti was not exactly blameless in respect of
many activities. We know that the previous government distributed arms
to all sorts of people.  Graham made it clear that while Ottawa is
committed to continuing to help Haiti rebuild, Canadians do not want
their financial contributions squandered. The Canadian International
Development Agency would be providing $2 million to support health,
education, human rights, and efforts to stop violence against women.
(The Globe and Mail, 5/8)

Canada is pushing the World Bank to have Haiti designated as a
post-conflict country, because if Haiti gets that designation then that
will trigger at the World Bank a whole different approach, said
International Development Minister Aileen Carroll. Such a designation
would make Haiti eligible for post-conflict financing from the World
Bank and the IMF. These are fast disbursing loans with conditions that
are less rigid than for more formal lending programs. (Reuters. 5/13)

CARICOM Takes its Call for Investigation to the OAS:
Caribbean nations have asked the Organization of American States (OAS)
to investigate the ouster of Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide,
Trinidads foreign minister said. The 15-member Caribbean Community
(CARICOM) had initially called for a UN investigation. Opposition from
France and the US at the UN Security Council makes it unlikely an
investigation would originate there. (AP, 5/6)

The CARICOMs determination to find out the truth about the
circumstances surrounding the sudden departure from office of Haitian
President Aristide on 2/29, has reached the Permanent Council of the
OAS. A fierce debate is expected for 5/21 for CARICOMs request for a
Special Session of the OAS Permanent Council to address the Haitian
crisis with the specific intention of invoking Article 20 of the
Inter-American Democratic Charter on constitutional governance and the
democratic order. Article 20 states: In the event of an
unconstitutional alteration of the constitutional regime that seriously
impairs the democratic order in a member state, an member state or the
OAS Secretary General may request the immediate convocation of the
Permanent Council to undertake a collective assessment of the situation
and to take such decisions as it deems appropriate The Permanent
Council, in its own judgement, could exercise such diplomatic
initiatives that are designed to foster the restoration of democracy.
If the initiatives fail, the Council is obliged to speedily convene a
Special Session of the OAS General Assembly. Unless proven otherwise by
an independent investigation, the prevailing view is that there was an
unconstitutional alteration of the constitutional regime when
Aristide was flown into exile on an American military aircraft.
Aristide maintains he was forcibly removed from office. (Trinidad
Express, 5/19)

The interim government of Gerard Latortue asked on May 19 to delay to
May 27 a special session of the OAS permanent council that should have
taken place May 21 on the circumstances of President Aristides
departure on 2/29. Despite the fact that the meeting was delayed to May
27, the CARICOM is determined to learn what happened in Haiti on 2/29
for the future of democracy in the region. (AHP, 5/20)

Once again efforts by some regional governments to convene a meeting to
probe the ouster of Aristide have been stymied. A meeting was postponed
because, according to the agencys information officer, they were
unable to agree on a mutually convenient date. In the context of the
power play complained of in the past by CAIRCOM governments when they
sought a similar probe at the UN and were blocked by the US and France,
it is not far-fetched to believe super-power politics is at work again.
(The Gleaner, 5/21)

Interim Prime Minister Latortue in US:
Outside, demonstrators sang and waves neon-colored signs demanding the
return of former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide while
denouncing US officials as kidnappers who installed an illegal
government. Inside, an equal number of enthusiastic Haitians sipped
white wine and munched on shrimp and cheese as they waited for former
South Floridian Gerard Latortue  the retired economist who was tapped
two months ago to lead Haitis transitional government after Aristides
forced 2/29 resignation. Haitis new prime minister made a special
appearance at North Miamis Museum of Contemporary Art to help raise
money for this summers Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington,
DC, that will commemorate the Haitian bicentennial. It is scheduled for
6/23-27 and 6/30-7/4 on the National Mall. A protester, Nacivre
Charles, 46 of Miami said, We are protesting against President Bush,
Latortue and Foley. Latortue is illegal. Hes not supposed to be in
that position. He is supporting what happened to the Haitian people.
Aristide was elected by the Haitian people and he has to finish his
term. Inside, Foley, who traveled to Washington with Latortue, was
unfazed by the demonstrators. Neither were the group of about 300
invitees who pledged their support  and gave their minimum $50
donations  toward meeting the festivals deficit, which is between
$75,000 and $300,000. They have a right to protest; its part of the
democratic process, said J.C. Cantave, whose group, the
Haitian-American Center for Economic and Public Affairs, was
cosponsoring the fundraiser. (Miami Herald, 5/8)

Haitis interim prime minister appealed to the UN for economic and
development aid, saying just sending peacekeeping troops was
insufficient. Latortue, who conferred with UN Secretary General Kofi
Anna, told reporters that while piles of weapons in Haiti were a severe
problem, he believed the expected UN troops were enough to accomplish
disarmament easily and rapidly. The US has said it would consider
contributing $40 million to Haiti in addition to the $55 million
already in the budget for this year. Secretary of State Colin Powell,
who saw Latortue the week before, made clear he can count on American
support, a State Department spokesperson said. What I do know it that
President Aristide himself distributed more than 15,000 guns in the
months before he left, Latortue said. Aristide is behind us now and
we are looking forward now on how to build the country. (Reuters,
5/10)

Haitis interim prime minister said that opposition to his US-backed
government is being fomented by black Americans more interested in
black power than in the plight of the Haitian people. Speaking to
reporters at the Harvard Club in Manhattan, Latortue also called exiled
Haitian President Aristide an inveterate liar. Latortue charged that
African-American politicians organizing protests against his government
are making the question of who should rule Haiti a racial issue that
doesnt correspond with the aspirations of the Haitian population
today. Ron Daniels, executive director of the Center for
Constitutional Rights, said, The fact is that many African Americans
simply believe his government came to power in an illegitimate manner.
(NY Newsday, 5/10)

Papal Nuncio Calls for Debt Cancellation:
The Holy See would like the international community to consider
canceling the foreign debts of poverty-stricken Haiti, says the papal
representative to the Caribbean nation. Archbishop Luigi Bonazzi, the
apostolic nuncio in Haiti, affirmed this in an address delivered to
more than 200 representatives of government, civil society, and
diplomatic delegations. Haitis foreign debt includes $1.3 billion in
loans contracted especially with the World Bank and the Inter-American
Development Bank. (Zenit.org, 5/10)

South Africa Grants Aristide Temporary Asylum:
Ousted President Aristide has officially asked South Africa for asylum
until his personal situation normalizes, the Foreign Affairs ministry
said. The ministry said in a statement that the request was made
through CARICOM and Mozambique President Joaquin Chissano, who is the
chairman of the African Union. (AP, 5/10)

The African National Congress commends the decision of Cabinet to
accede to the request from the CARICOM to allow former Haitian
President Aristide to visit South Africa. The decision was a reasonable
and responsible response to a request from a regional multilateral body
that has long been seized with the resolution of the crisis in Haiti.
It is important to note that Aristide was the legitimately-elected head
of a sovereign country who was forcefully and unconstitutionally
removed from power. In respecting the independence and sovereignty of
states, and in promoting the role of international multilateral
institutions like the UN, African Union and CARICOM in the resolution
of international problems, South Africa has a responsibility to assist
in whatever way it can to achieve a peaceful and lawful resolution of
Haitis current crisis. (ANC, 5/13)

U.S. Aid to Haiti:
The US is increasing aid to Haiti by about $40 million in an attempt to
bring stability to the turbulent nation. The additional money can be
used for police support, jobs programs, humanitarian assistance and to
strengthen democracy, spokesman Richard Boucher said. (AP, 5/10)

The slow pace of putting together a comprehensive aid package for Haiti
is not a sign of donor fatigue after the last attempt to rebuild the
poorest country in the Americas failed, a US aid official said. Adolfo
Franco, an assistant administrator with the US Agency for International
Development (USAID), said donor nations were working with the Haitian
diaspora in their countries and with the new US-backed Haitian
government to decide priorities. Donor nations will meet in Canada in
June and were expected to lay out their first spending priorities,
Franco added. (Reuters, 5/14)

Haiti  France Relations:
Haiti does not want reparations from its former colonial master France
but thinks Paris has a moral obligation to extend its credits, Prime
Minister Latortue said in an interview. France has a moral obligation
towards Haiti, he said. Its contribution could be a line of credit
for French companies for infrastructure work in the energy and road
construction sectors. Latortue was due to meet French President Chirac
in Paris. Chirac initially refused to consider any reparations when
Aristide demanded them last year, but later appointed a commission to
study the issue. We have never accepted the fact that we were the only
country that had to pay large sums to have its independence
recognized. (Reuters, 5/12)

France urged its former colony Haiti to avoid a witch hunt a day
after the political party of ousted President Aristide accused the
government of arresting sympathizers. On a visit to Haiti to see French
soldiers in a US-led peace force, French Foreign Minister Michel
Barnier nevertheless praised the government of Latortue which denies it
has launched a campaign of retribution against Aristide supporters. It
is a fundamental requirement of any state of law to always know how to
differentiate between justice and vengeance, and between holding people
accountable and carrying out a witch hunt, Barnier said in a speech in
Port-au-Prince. (Reuters, 5/15)

International Institutions Aid to Haiti:
The press office of the Interim Prime Minister announced that a
workshop was held on May 5-6 at the Hotel Montana on the need to
identify a framework for international assistance cooperation in the
present case of Haiti. According to a press release sent to AHP,
several experts took part in this workshop including representative
from the IDB (Inter-American Development Bank), the European Union, the
UNDP, the IMF (International Monetary Fund) and World Bank. (AHP, 5/11)

UN Peacekeeping Mission:
Argentine President Nestor Kirchner has authorized sending some 500
soldiers to Haiti has part of a new UN peacekeeping mission in an
important show of support for Washington. Theres no doubt that this
is very important help for the US For Washington its important,
Defense Minister Jose Pampuro told local radio The shift in diplomatic
strategy comes as Kirchner looks for Washingtons support in tough
talks with international creditors over repaying $88 billion in
defaulted debt as well as in securing vital aid from, the IMF.
Argentinas Congress must still approve the troops for Haiti. The
legislature effectively blocked the US from sending soldiers to
Argentina on military maneuvers last year. (Retuers, 5/10)

Brazil's Senate agreed late on Wednesday to send 1,200 troops to Haiti
to lead a U.N peacekeeping mission as Brazil seeks to build a role as a
regional crisis mediator. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who has
championed the interests of the world's poorest nations since taking
office, offered Brazil's biggest ever U.N. peacekeeping force to head
the mission. The Senate vote was the last hurdle for deployment. It was
approved with 38 votes for and 10 votes against. (Retuers, 5/19)

Chile's Senate agreed on Wednesday to send 650 troops to Haiti as part
of a new U.N. peacekeeping mission to take over the task of restoring
stability from a U.S.-led multinational force on June 1. Chile, a
member of the U.N. Security Council, deployed 130 troops last March for
a 90-day stint after President Jean-Bertrand Aristide fled Haiti under
international pressure as an armed rebellion threatened the capital
Port-au-Prince. The new contingent -- approved 27-0 with 15 abstentions
-- adds to that military presence and includes 38 members from the
police force. (Reuters, 5/19)

Justice and Peace on Disarmament:
The National Commission of Justice and Peace pressed the Latortue
government to disarm all armed groups sowing terror across the country.
The director of this Catholic Church organization, Fr. Jean Hansens,
said that the free circulation of weapons in the country contributes
enormously to an increase in crimes in society. A vast campaign is
urgently needed if one does in fact wish to pacify and stabilize the
country. He insisted upon the need for those who continue to make fine
speeches on the question of disarmament to shoulder their
responsibilities fully. (AHP, 5/10)

Evans Paul May Run for President:
KID leader Evans Paul confirmed that he might be a candidate in the
presidential elections set for 2005. He added that he does not wish to
become president just for his own sake. The KID does not merely have
need of the presidency but aspires rather to power in a fuller sense
and to having a team capable of addressing the countrys problems, he
declared. The KID party is part of the Democratic Convergence. Paul did
not say whether he intends to run as a candidate representing the major
socialist party that this coalition says it would like to form. (AHP,
5/10)

Provisional Electoral Council:
KID leader Evans Paul commented that the government should already have
moved ahead to fill the vacancy left by the FL party within the new
CEP. According to Paul, FL will never join the new EP because it is an
electoral institution that is going to organize credible, honest and
democratic elections. For his part, the President of the Haitian
Senate, Yvon Feuille, warned that the eight people who have taken the
oath of office against taking any action in the name of the CEP. In
order for it to be operational and functional, the CEP must be composed
of nine members as called for under the Constitution, said Feuille.
The Senator pointed out that the new CEP was formed in an
unconstitutional manner and thus all actions taken by its members are
contrary to the Constitution of 1987. (AHP, 5/10)

General Hospital has no Electricity:
The countrys largest hospital complex continues to function under a
black out. For the past several weeks, the General Hospital enjoys no
more than a few hours of electricity per day, although it is supplied
with electricity on a 24 hour basis. The physicians on duty have said
that all services at the hospital are currently paralyzed due to this
energy crisis. The patients are obliged to take their medicine by
candle light. The only generated that supplies electricity to the
hospital complex has been out of service for the past several weeks.
(AHP, 5/11)

Violence Against and Arrests of Lavalas:
At 12:30 a.m. on the morning of May 10, a Special Forces squad of
approximately 20 U.S. Marines executed a military assault on the home
of 69-year-old Annette Auguste, a.k.a. So Anne. Auguste's residence is
part of a compound that includes four other apartments that were also
invaded by the U.S. military forces. The troops forcefully covered the
heads of eleven Haitians with black hoods and then forced them to the
lay face down on the ground while binding their wrists with plastic
manacles behind their backs. The victims of this terrifying U.S.
military invasion included five-year-old Chamyr Samedi, 10-year-old
Kerlande Philippe, 12-year-old Loubahida Auguste, 14-year-old Luckmar
Auguste and seven adults. Evidence gathered at the site included
paraphernalia left behind, such as blasting caps, igniters for
explosive devices that terrorized the occupants when the troops invaded
the residence.  There was not a single member of the Haitian National
Police (PNH) force or the de facto Haitian government present,
according to the arrestees, when the U.S. forces unilaterally attacked
the residence. According to Haitian law, as is the norm in any
democratic country, no arrest can be made without a proper warrant
issued by judicial authorities. The Haitian Constitution requires that
warrants only be executed between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
The lack of any legality within the context of Haitian law and the fact
this was executed unilaterally by U.S. military forces in Haiti raises
serious questions of national sovereignty and the role of U.S. military
forces in Haiti today. Ms. Auguste is detained incommunicado at the
National Penitentiary in Port-au-Prince despite the claim of National
Coalition for Haitian Rights (NCHR) that they visited her at the
prison. This claim by NCHR is disputed by her husband, Wilfrid Lavaud,
who says he has no knowledge that NCHR visited Ms. Auguste. He stated
that if NCHR did visit her, they did so without the knowledge of the
family. Her husband also stated that he does not consider NCHR to be a
credible human rights organization because they have worked so closely
with the Haitian opposition to the constitutional government of
President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in the past. Annette Auguste, a.k.a.
Souer Anne (Sister Anne), is being robbed of her Legal Permanent
Resident (LPR) status in the United States due to this arrest by the
U.S. Marines. Ms. Auguste is required to travel to the United States
every six months to renew her LPR status. An operation in February
delayed her ability to make the trip and her doctor provided her with
documentation that would grant her an extra three months for recovery.
However, her detention is keeping her in Haiti beyond the time she was
granted for recovery, and as a result, she will lose her status in the
U.S. (Haiti Info Project, 5/12)

Colonel David Lapan acknowledged that no weapons were fired from the
home of So Anne and that no illegal weapons were found there. He
contended that the Marines used substantial force during their
operation in order to persuade the occupants of the home that the
Marines were capable of defending themselves. For his part, Justice of
the Peace Marcenau Salomon, who prepared the official report of the
military operation affirmed that he had documented substantial property
damage. Lapan called on all those against whom a warrant has been
issued to go to the police or risk becoming victims of this sort of
strong arm intervention.

The National Coalition of Haitian Rights (NCHR) stated that So Anne was
arrested because of an allegation that she was involved in the violent
incidents of December 5, 2003 at the universitys School of Social
Science. Speaking on behalf of NCHR, Viles Alizar, who visited So Anne
at the National Penitentiary, declared that she is accused of having
provided members of populist organizations with the means to attack the
students. So Anne is being detained at the prison under normal
conditions of detention, said Alizar, who nevertheless deemed her
arrest illegal because it was carried out without a warrant.

The Fanmi Lavalas political organization spoke out against a wave of
arrests carried out against its supporters across the country. A FL
spokesperson, Gilvert Angervil, declared that he had documented more
than ten arrests of activists in Port-au-Prince and the provinces since
the beginning of the month. He said that all these arrests were made
illegally on the basis of wild accusations or after police informants
had mentioned their names. (Agence Haitienne de Presse, 5/10)

Two prominent supporters of ousted president Aristide have been
arrested, prompting criticism by a leader of Aristides party and a
human rights group. Annette Auguste, a pro-Aristide street activist,
was detained early on Monday by international forces on suspicion of
illegal activities, and US Marines spokesman Col. David Lapan claimed
she threatened the troops. Auguste was turned over to Haitian police
and charged with criminal conspiracy said police spokesman Max Harry
Isaac. Police said a warrant had been issued for Augustes arrest, and
more arrests were expected. Pro-Aristide former mayor Maxson Guerrier
of Delmas was detained at the border with the Dominican Republic. That
arrest was denounced as illegal by the NCHR because were no charges
against Guerrier. (Sapa, AFP, AP, 5/12)

Executive Secretary of the Committee for the Defense of Haitian
Peoples Rights (CDPH), Ronal St Jean declared that many cases of
violations of human rights have been committed in the country these
last two months. According to St Jean, a campaign of repression is
under way in many regions of the country against FL supporters. He
declared that several FL members and supporters were killed in Petit
Goave, in Maissade and in the Central Plateau. St Jean also condemned
the provisional authorities action in regards to the seals put on
Radio TiMoun and TeleTimouns offices. It is an illegal and arbitrary
action, the executive secretary of CDPH declares. He wonders about the
validity of this measure and about the silence of leaders of the
National Association of Haitian Media (ANMH). (AHP, 5/20)

According to So Annes husband, Wilfrid Lavaud, judicial authorities
still didnt give Annette Auguste a warrant to justify her arrest.
Lavaud considered that the country has entered a space of no-right and
no-law where all you need is for someone to accuse you on the air or
for accusations to be held against you by human rights organizations
and right away, they put you in prison illegally. For her part, So
Annes sister Raymonde Auguste announced that she will lodge a
complaint against American soldiers for the damage caused in her home
the day of Auguste;s arrest. What happened on May 9 is a serious
violation of my rights and must not remain unpunished, she said, while
she added that she will demand justice and reparation. She declared
that American soldiers know very well that they could never commit such
acts in the US, where you have to respect human rights. (AHP, 5/20)

Demonstration Turns Violent on Flag Day:
Police used tear gas and fired assault rifles in the air on May 18 to
break up a peaceful march by about 10,000 supporters of ousted
President Aristide. Thousands of people poured out of the slums to
demand his return, making it one of the largest demonstrations of
lingering support since Aristide was driven into exile on 2/29. As the
march approached the National Palace where the US-backed interim
government was holding a ceremony, riot police supported by US Marines
began to lob tear gas canisters and to fire dozens of rifle rounds in
the air to scatter the crowd. Police Inspector General Etienne
Saint-Gourdin told Reuters the force dispersed the demo because it was
illegal. We had not received any request for a demo by Lavalas, he
said. (Reuters 5/18)

Special Forces units (CIMO) of the Haitian National Police (PNH) killed
Lavalas demonstrators in Port-au-Prince as a larger US Marine
peacekeeping force of about 50 soldiers stood by. About 6,000 Lavalas
demonstrators in one of many separate marches tried to converge near
the Champ de Mars for a larger demo. The march had been planned for
some time and the organizations that planned the march received written
approval by the PNH to hold this demo on Haitian Flag Day. It is hard
to estimate the actual size of the demo but figures 30,000 to 60,000
different demonstrators in various parts of the city seem credible. A
contingent of about 50 Marines patrolled every hour at the start of one
march in Bel Air trying to intimidate the population there. One of the
marine officers in command tried to threaten an American journalist who
was filming the action. Whenever any of the groups of marchers tried to
reach Champ de Mars a CIMO unit would appear out of nowhere and
commence shooting intro crowds of demonstrators. Reports of similar
killing is coming in from different areas of the city. Even though
demonstrators were rather angry no rocks were thrown or violence was
witnessed to provoke the shooting.  (Haiti Info Project, 5/18)

One of the spokespersons for FL, Rudy Herivaux declared that freedom of
expression and freedom to demonstrate have been suspended by the
interim authorities, contrary to the requirements of the Haitian
Constitution. Herivaux denounced by way of example the repression on
May 18 of the demonstration by tens of thousands of Fanmi Lavalas
supporters by the police, assisted by the multinational force.
According to the former deputy, this attitude shows the determination
of the provisional government of the provisional government to silence
the majority of the population. (AHP, 5/18)

Lt. Col. David Lapan, spokesperson of the MIF, confirmed that the PNH
(Haitian National Police) requested assistance from the MIF in
dispersing the demonstrators, referring to the Lavalas supporters who
were calling for an end to political persecution and for the return of
democratic order. He said that the director general of the PNH, Leon
Charles, had informed him that no groups had submitted requests to
conduct a demo by the time required (up to 48 hours prior to the time
of the demo). Col. Lapan also said that the MIF has good communication
with Charles and proceeds based on what the PNH director tells the
force, which was that all demos other than planned festivities on May
18 were illegal. The MIF did not try to verify on its own whether the
organizers of the demo had informed the police, because under the terms
of the UN resolution, we play a support role, Col. Lapan
acknowledged, if they ask for support, we provide it. On May 18, the
organizers of the demo distributed a copy of the proof of delivery of
the letter sent on May 12 to the director general of the national
police. Lapan futher indicated that if the members of the MIF observe
human rights violations, they are obligated to report it, and if
possible, attempt to intervene to prevent them. (AHP, 5/19)

The PNH General Management wrote a letter on May 20 to apologize to FL
activists who organized the May 18 demo that was violently dispersed by
the PNH patrols and militaries of the MIF. The PNH General Management
explains that the letter of notification from Lavalas supporters was
sent to him late by the Institutions secretary. It promised that such
a mistake would never happen again and that there will be sanctions
taken against the employees who are in fault. In reaction to the letter
from the police, a FL spokesman was proud of the institutions courage,
even if the damage caused on May 18 cannot be repaired. (AHP, 5/20)

Radio and Tele TiMoun Closed:
The offices of Radio and Tele TiMoun which belong to the Aristide
Foundation for Democracy located in Tabarre, were sealed during the
afternoon of May 18. The seals were affixed by the Justice of the Peace
of Croix-des-Missions, who as accompanied by close to 50 police
officers. This act was carried out shortly after the end of a demo by
FL that drew thousands of people denouncing political persecution and
calling for the return of constitutional order on the holiday dedicated
to the Haitian flag. Several lavalas sectors denounced the decision by
the interim government against Radio and Tele TiMoun as a grave assault
on freedom of the press and linked it to the success of the May 18
demo. (AHP, 5/19)

Army Joining the PNH:
A former Haitian senator and army major has proposed a new force of
1,500 to 2,000 former soldiers to curb the insecurity plaguing the
country since an armed revolt in February. The ex-senator, Dany
Toussaint, said the ''dissuasion'' force, to be composed of soldiers
from the army that was disbanded in 1995 and those who later fought in
the rebel ranks, would respond to civil unrest and other security
threats. His proposal, presented to Interior Ministry officials, has
been criticized as an attempt to re-create a brutal army, a reward for
rebels who toppled a democratically elected president, and a Toussaint
play for power. But the fact that the interim government of Prime
Minister Gerard Latortue has not rejected his plan outright, remaining
cautious although not unwelcoming, underlined its concerns over the
country's growing insecurity. According to his plan, the
1,500-to-2,000-strong unit that he would call the National Internal
Security Force would be placed under the Interior Ministry, currently
headed by former army Gen. Herard Abraham, not under the Justice
Ministry, which supervises the National Police. Leslie Voltaire, a
former member of Aristide's cabinet, disagreed, especially if the unit
is created before a new president and legislature are chosen in
elections expected next year. ''It would be a bad idea,'' Voltaire
said. ''It would be like creating a new army before the constitutional
government can even think about it.'' Decrying what he claims has been
a wave of repression against Aristide supporters since Feb. 29, he
added, ``It would open the door for more persecution.'' Toussaint also
said he plans to form a political party and run in the 2005 elections,
although he declined to specify for which office. (Miami Herald, 5/20)

Several Lavalas activists who participated in the May 18 demo pointed
out once again on 5/20 members of a new corps made of former militaries
which was recently formed inside the PNH, were among the policemen who
shot on the demonstrators on 5/18.

Interim Government to Investigate 9 Allegations Against Aristide
Government:
Haiti's new government is investigating nine allegations of corruption
and mismanagement by the Aristide administration, from suspect
long-distance telephone contracts to misuse of government funds. The
government will also probe the Aristide government's contract with
Miami lawyer Ira Kurzban, a lobbyist for Haiti, said Finance Minister
Henri Bazin and Central Bank chief Raymond Magloire. ''We will be
looking into all the scandals and misuse of government money those
things that were illegal and violated procedure,'' Bazin told The
Herald. ``We're looking into corruption and mismanagement, both.''
Interim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue recently tasked the Central
Bank, government ministries and agencies to look into the nine
allegations against officials and supporters of the government of
former President Jean-Bertrand
Aristide. These are the nine allegations of Aristide government
corruption and
mismanagement under investigation:
  That a former Aristide Cabinet minister made a $400,000 commission
on the government's purchase of a $1.2 million house for former
President Reni Preval.
  A Colombian electricity company owed $5 million by the government
allegedly collected $11 million from the Central Bank.
  That government funds were funneled to armed pro-Aristide gangs
known as chimres.
  Government funds allegedly went to the construction of a university
run by the private Aristide Foundation.
  There was a $13 million expenditure for the printing of Haitian
currency in Germany and several other no-bid procurement contracts.
  That an Aristide Cabinet minister made huge profits through
duty-free franchises to import rice.
  Government donations, including $1 million from the Central Bank,
were made to the literacy Program Alpha. There is no accounting of how
the money was spent.
  That Aristide government officials and supporters received kickbacks
for deals between U.S. long-distance telephone companies and the
Haitian government's telephone company.
  Taiwan allegedly decided to give aid directly to two private
foundations controlled by Aristide, instead of the Haitian government
as in previous years. (Miami Herald, 5/21)

Refugees and Temporary Protective Status:
A group of lawmakers has announced it is renewing its call for the
Department of Homeland Security to suspend deportations of Haitian
refugees. The House members are led by Reps. Robert Wexler (D FL) and
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R FL). The current effort is in response to the
refusal by the Homeland Security Administration to suspend deportations
until the situation in Haiti stabilizes. The agency has since said it
was monitoring the situation. (UPI, 5/19)

****URGENT ACTION ALERT****

Please FAX Under Secretary Asa Hutchinson 202 612-1633 and U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services Director  Eduardo Aguirre, Jr.
fax:  202 305-0134.  Asking them to halt all deportations of Haiti
because of the deteriorating conditions in that country.  Deportations
of Haitians from Miami are set to resume on Monday, May 24th.  This has
been confirmed by Marion Dillas, Officer in Charge at Krome, and Mark
Lennox, acting chief of staff for ICE Dentenion and Removal
Operations.  Mark Lennox has stated that no one will be returned to
Haiti without travel documents.  (This is disputed by Attorney Candace
Jean, who has stated that she has clients without travel documents, who
are to be deported.)  We do not have the exact number of Haitians, but
it has been verified that deportations are resuming.  Your help is
needed in stopping the deportations, as reports from the ground
indicate that the conditions in Haiti continue to deteriorate. 
According to the National Lawyers Guild (www.nlg.org), in their summary
reports of their delegations to Haiti in March and April of this year,
"In general, the delegation found the human rights situation grave. The
conditions are especially precarious and evidence little hope for
improvement due to the almost total lack of knowledge about, and media
attention to, the human rights abuses taking place.  Layered upon the
gravity, there is a general sense in the people of insecurity due to,
among other things, (i) killings, (ii) curfews, (iii) the lack of
police or any form of working judicial system, (iv) patrols of private,
heavily-armed militias, (v) the doubling or tripling of food and fuel
prices, (vi) the fall of Haitian currency against the U.S. dollar,
(vii)  an abnormal lack of electricity in the cities, and (vii) the
unauthorized return of the uniformed and armed soldiers of the Haitian
Army that President Aristide had decommissioned in1994 for its
historical oppression of Haiti's poor."  The report goes on to document
the atrocities, including an admission by the director of the State
Morgue in Port-au-Prince, that "many" bodies have come into the morgue
since March 1, 2004 that are young men with their hands tied behind
their backs and plastic bags over their head, that had been
shot.....800 bodies were "dumped and buried " by the morgue on Saturday
March 7, 2004 and 200 bodies dumped on Sunday, March 28, 2004.  The
"usual" amount dumped is less than 100 per month. In addition, Several
witnesses told the delegation that 40 to 60 bodies were brought in
trucks to a field near the Piste D'Aviation....on Sunday March 22,
2004, along a road to the airport.  On Monday March 23, 2004, the
bodies were moved away from the roadside to a more remote field and
were burned.  The Delegation observed the massive ash pile, and the
pigs eating flesh of human bones that had not burned at Piste
D'Aviation. The Delegation photographed fresh skulls and other human
bones, some still tangled in clothes or with shoes and sneakers
nearby.  (The delegation has photos to document this claim.)
 
For more information on this ACTION ALERT, Contact:
jmaruskin at churchworldservice.org, or visit: www.churchworldservice.org
 
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