[NYTr] Haiti Report for May 3, 2004

[nytr at tania.blythe-systems.com]

Haiti Report for May 3, 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.

IN THIS REPORT:
-	U.S. Pressures CARICOM to drop call for investigation and recognize
new Haitian government
-	Fanmi Lavalas speaks of continuing persecution, withholds
representative from the CEP
-	Interim President Boniface Alexandre appoints new departmental
delegates; Appointment in Delmas leads to protests
-	Rebels wielding de facto power, problems for international forces in
Hinche
-	UN Peacekeeping Mission
-	Haitian refugees returned; refugees in Jamaica
-	Interim government fires 800 government staff
-	Interim government drops reparations demand
-	Restoration of the army
-	Rebels plan to participate in elections
-	Interim government adds to list of Fanmi Lavalas members who cannot
leave Haiti; announces plan to seize Aristide's accounts
-	Bahamas withdraws diplomats from Haiti
-	Louis Jodel Chamblain surrenders, human rights organizations skeptical
-	UNICEF: Effects of crisis on children
-	Meeks statement on Haiti
-	One killed during recruitment for Haitian National Police
-	10th Anniversary of Raboteau Massacre
-	Latortue announces development program
-	Multinational Forces announce money for weapons program
-	Cummings and Foley visit Haiti
-	Aristide supporters call for his return
-	PAPDA, NCHR and CONAP Demonstrate

U.S. Pressures CARICOM to drop call for investigation and recognize new
Haitian government:
The Caribbean has indefinitely postponed a meeting of its national
security ministers with US homeland security secretary, Tom Ridge,
because of major differences over Haiti, officials said yesterday.
Caribbean Community (CARICOM) secretary-general, Edwin Carrington, said
the May 3-4 meeting in the Bahamas will not take place because the
15-member regional bloc does not recognize the new US-backed Haitian
interim government. CARICOM has called for a UN investigation of
Haitian President Aristide's controversial departure from Haiti on
February 29. Aristide says he was forced to resign by the US, which
denies the claim. CARICOM has said it will reconsider the issue of
recognizing Haiti's interim government in July. But Caribbean leaders
may discuss the issue earlier at a regional meeting from May 4-5 in
Antigua, Jamaica's foreign minister, KD Knight said on April 27. (AP,
4/28)

Fanmi Lavalas speaks of continuing persecution, withhold representative
from the CEP:
Interim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue accused Fanmi Lavalas (FL) of
wanting to block the formation of the new Provisional Electoral Council
(CEP). Latortue declared the decree for the formulation of the CEP will
soon be given. He gave FL until April 30 to name their representative
to the CEP. (AHP, 4/21)

FL reaffirmed on April 26 that it cannot name its official for the CEP
as long as the Latortue government has not put an end to the
persecutions and aggressions on its members and supporters throughout
the country. At a meeting attended by more than a thousand people at
the Aristide Foundation for Democracy, the leaders of the party
reaffirmed their desire to see democratic elections.  (AHP, 4/26)

Interim President Boniface Alexandre appoints new departmental
delegates; Appointment in Delmas leads to protests:
Provisional President Alexandre's Head of Cabinet signed the nomination
of ten new departmental delegates and three new municipal commissions.
Michel Bernadin - West
Elie Cantave  Artibonite
Margarette Martin  South East
Wilbert Joseph  North
Arnold Jean Louis  North East
Exsersive Servil  Central Plateau
Alain Andre  South
Mombrun J. Anselme  Grande Anse
Henry-Max Thelus  North West
Jamil Vincent  Nippes
Port-au-Prince's municipal commission will be lead by Carline Simon
from the former opposition platform. Jean Philippe Sassine and Yanick
Mezile will be her assistants. Delmas' municipal council will be
presided by Jean Vilfort Prisca and two members, Oreste Julien and Jean
Marie Descorbet. Carmelot Guillaume Etinne, Charlienor Thompson and
Wilner Benoit Germain will lead the commission in St. Marc. (AHP, 4/27)

The Citizens Union of Delmas (UCD) protested against the way the
municipal council of the town was named. According to a spokesperson of
the UCD, Paul Emile Adrien, the authorities in place did not respect
their commitment towards Delmas' organizations. President of the
Council Vilfort Prisca, host of the political show "Ranmase" on Radio
Caraibes, is not a resident of Delmas and therefore cannot lead the
town, Adrien declared. He also announced a sit in protest at the Delmas
Town Hall. Prisca insisted on April 27 that he has been living in the
town of Delmas with his wife for some time. (AHP, 4/27)

Rebels wielding de facto power, problems for international forces in
Hinche:
Members of the population in Hinche demonstrated on April 21 to protest
against the presence of the multination force in the region. The
ex-rebels were asked to give up the police stations, give their
uniforms up and officials hand over power to a contingent of Chilean
soldiers. This demonstrated great panic in the town. Members of the
population considered that the rebels should play a part in this
government since they were of great use to them. The ex-rebels declared
that they had no intention of joining in the national police since they
represented the army of Haiti, and it was a constitutional force. (AHP,
4/21)

The members of the former opposition at Gonaives led an attack on the
city's police station on April 25. During this intervention, the 20-man
commando disarmed police officers, freed prisoners and stole vehicles
from the police station's yard. Many prisoners said they feared for
their lives, since it was incredibly easy for the commando to invade
the police station. The officers at the Gonaives police station said
they had never imagined this kind of thing would keep happening after
President Aristide's departure. (AHP, 4/26)

Ex-rebels in the Central Plateau gave a serious warning on 4/27 against
the deployment of police officers in the department. According to them,
they are the only ones who can ensure the population's security
appropriately. The former militaries, who said they were angry after
the arrest of six of their comrades in Port-au-Prince, declared that
any decision to deploy national policemen in the area would be
perilous. Their spokesperson in the department, Joseph Jean Baptiste,
had reaffirmed last week his men's refusal to put down  arms and join
the national police. At the same time, he announced the former
militaries' intention to participate in the next elections at all
levels. Ex-rebel leader in the Artibonite, Winter Etienne, also
announced the intention to participate in elections. (AHP, 4/27)

UN Peacekeeping Mission:
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said his country would
command the UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti as long as there was an
"effective commitment" from the international community for
"reconstruction" of the Caribbean nation. Last month, Brazil said it
would send 1,100 troops to contribute to the second phase of the UN
operation in Haiti and agreed to command the multinational forces that
will also include troops from the US, Canada, France, Argentina and
Chile. (Xinhuanet, 4/20)

Haiti remains volatile and crime is on the rise two months after
deployment of a US-led multinational peacekeeping force to help restore
order there, the United Nations reported. Contacts between the
multinational force and Haitian armed groups "show that stability has
not yet been reached, as these groups do not want to disarm and are
waiting for compensation or official recognition," the UN Office for
the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in its latest Situation
Report. About 25,000 people in the country have weapons, according to a
survey conducted by the Organization of American States and the UN
Development Program. The force has improved security but its small size
of 3700 soldiers limits its impact, the report said, noting the US sent
20,000 troops into Haiti in 1994 to restore President Aristide to power
after a coup. (Reuters, 4/29)

Just a month before its deadline, the UN finds itself hard-pressed to
sign up peacekeeping troops and French-speaking police officers to take
over security in Haiti from an American-led interim force, UN officials
and diplomats say. The Security Council is considering a request by
Secretary General Kofi Annan to send 6,700 peacekeepers and 1,622
civilian police officers to Haiti. Although the US led interim force
has managed to impose a modicum of stability, diplomats express concern
that large parts of the country remain under the rebels' control, and
that there has been no systematic effort to disarm them. One problem is
competition for French-speaking peacekeepers, as missions are prepared
for Ivory Coast and Burundi this year, UN representatives said. In
addition, some potential contributors are reluctant to offer troops
because of lingering doubts about the conditions of Mr. Aristide's
departure, on Feb. 29: he was assisted into exile by American officials
in an incident he later referred to as kidnapping. The Bush
administration denies this, saying it acted to safeguard Mr. Aristide
from attack and to avert a rebel takeover. "The big problem they have
is the controversy over Aristide's departure," said a senior diplomat
who is involved in the negotiations. "It remains a cancer, and it tends
to limit support." The countries that currently have troops in Haiti
have signaled their willingness to stay under the new mandate, and
Brazil has said it would take part. A Canadian official said
French-speaking nations in Africa had been asked to join in, and he
said he was optimistic that the UN would reach its goal of more than
doubling the interim force. In a report last week, Annan noted that his
efforts to raise even small amounts of money for Haiti had fallen
short, with the response to his appeal for $35 million in emergency
assistance "slower than anticipated." (New York Times, 4/30)

The United Nations Security Council has voted unanimously to establish
a peacekeeping force for Haiti.  The new mission will have more than
8,000 troops and police, who will go for an initial period of six
months. It will take over from a contingent of US-led foreign troops
sent after the rebellion ousted former President Jean Bertrand Aristide
in February. The UN force, including more than 1,600 police, is to take
over the task of stabilising Haiti from 1 June. The UN Stabilisation
Mission in Haiti - to be known as Minustah - will have a wide-ranging
mandate. Its tasks will include maintaining law and order, aiding the
government to demobilise armed groups and protecting civilians from
violence. It will also help the transitional government restructure the
police and organise elections at the earliest possible date - expected
to be some time in 2005. The BBC's Susannah Price at the UN says it is
thought that Brazil, Chile and other Latin American countries will
contribute peacekeepers. (BBC, 4/30)

Haitian refugees returned; Refugees in Jamaica:
The US sent 651 Haitians back to Haiti on April 27 after they were
intercepted in overloaded sailing vessels off the coast of Haiti. The
three vessels that carried them were destroyed. A total of 1948
Haitians have been interdicted and returned so far in 2004, Coast Guard
officials said. The numbers have already surpassed those of the two
previous years: 1490 in 2003 and 1287 in 2002. The Haitians returned on
4/27 were dropped off in Port-au-Prince by a Coast Guard cutter. (AP,
4/27)

Jamaica appealed for assistance from the UN High Commission for
Refugees (UNHCR) after 130 more Haitian boat people arrived on the
island, putting additional pressure on the island to deal with the
Haitian refugee problem. The latest arrivals pushed to 491 the number
of Haitians to have made the perilous 100-mile journey in small
overcrowded boats since the influx began in February. "We expect
financial support from UNHCR by the end of the week," said Foreign
Minister KD Knight. (Jamaica Observer, 4/27)

Interim government fires 800 government staff:
A US-backed interim government announced plans to fire or transfer
nearly 800 people who used to work for Aristide in the presidential
palace. Only 125 of 620 security officials at the palace would be
retained, and another 272 administrative employees would be fired,
cabinet director Michel Brunache said overnight, without giving reasons
for the dismissals and transfers. (AP, 4/26)

Interim government drops reparations demand:
Haiti's new US-backed leader said he had dropped a "ridiculous" demand
by ex-President Aristide for France to return $22 billion he said the
Caribbean nation was forced to pay its colonial masters after gaining
independence in 1804. Aristide  had launched a vigorous campaign to get
back 90 million gold francs Haiti paid Paris in reparations after its
slaves drove out the French. At today's values with interest, this is
now worth about $22 billion. "This claim was illegal, ridiculous and
was made only for political reasons," Latortue told Reuters. "This
matter is closed. What we need now is increased cooperation with France
that could help us build roads, hospitals, schools and other
infrastructure." (Reuters, 4/18)

Restoration of the army:
A key justification of the US intervention in Haiti has been to build
respect for the rule of law in a country destabilized by extreme
partisanship and by recourse to violence rather than dialogue to settle
differences. That aim, however, is being imperiled by uneven
enforcement of criminal law, and by signs pointing to a possible
restoration of the country's murderous army. General James Hill,
commander of US forces in Haiti, recently said: "There is no need for a
Haitian Army. I was here when President Aristide disbanded it, and that
was the correct thing to do at the time." Hill's civilian bosses should
heed his sound advice rather than that of the Haitian elite. The Bush
administration should also issue immediate orders to detain former
soldiers, officers, and paramilitaries charged with, or convicted of,
taking part in political assassinations and massacres. As it turns out,
many were deported from the US to Haiti to face justice, but were
either released or escaped from prison during the revolt against
Aristide. Without even handed justice and security policies in Haiti,
trust and stability will remain sadly out of reach. (Andre Reding in
the International Herald Tribune, 4/17)

Ex-rebels of the Central Plateau, most of whom are former militaries,
announced on 4/22 their intention to participate in elections on all
levels. They declared that they strategically withdrew while waiting to
get their retirement pension. Spokesperson of the former militaries in
this department, Joseph Jean Baptiste, reaffirmed that his men refuse
to put down their arms and join in the national police. They invite us
to join the National Police so they can deceive us after, Baptiste
declared. (AHP, 4/22)

Rebels plan to participate in elections:
The rebels who swept through Haiti plan to put down their weapons and
form a political party, leader Guy Philippe told The Herald on April
29. The rebels will turn their weapons over to police next month at a
meeting in Gonaives, Philippe said at the Ibolele Hotel, high in the
mountains above the capital. At that point they will change officially
from the rebel Front de Resistance to the Front de Reconstrucion
Nationale, a political party. "We don't want anything to do with
weapons," said Philippe, 36, a former police chief and army officer.
"Now everything is politics." US officials say the new party would
threaten any chance of progress in Haiti, because its ranks include
military and paramilitary leaders who allegedly terrorized political
opponents in the early 1990's. (Miami Herald, 4/30)

Interim government adds to list of Fanmi Lavalas members who cannot
leave Haiti; announces plan to seize Aristide's accounts:
Haiti's interim government added 22 people, including five former
government ministers, to a list of ex-President Aristide's allies who
are barred from leaving the country. Aristide's FL party has denounced
the list as a witch hunt by the new government against Aristide
supporters, many of whom went into hiding after Feb. 29. "It is a
political decision aimed at persecuting and discrediting those who
collaborated with President Aristide," Lavalas spokesman Gilvert
Angervil said. Justice Minister Bernard Gousse has repeatedly denied
the allegations, saying he issued the list to prevent people suspected
of wrongdoing from leaving Haiti. (Reuters, 4/14)

Haiti's new leader said on 4/27 that he was working with the US, France
and the European Union to track down and freeze bank accounts belonging
to ousted President Aristide. He did not give a figure on the amount of
money he accuses Aristide of having stolen from Haiti. Nor did he
indicate where he thought the accounts were likely to be found. The
former UN bureaucrat plans to travel to Washington, Paris and Brussels
next month and said he would pursue the efforts to seize the accounts.
(Reuters, 4/27)

Bahamas withdraws diplomats from Haiti:
The Bahamas has withdrawn all its diplomats from Haiti, following the
shooting and robbery of its ambassador's wife and a threatening
telephone call to the wife of a second diplomat. Bahamian Foreign
Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell told the Bahamian Parliament that the
government didn't believe the shooting was politically motivated. But a
Caribbean diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he
understood the Bahamas was investigating whether the two incidents were
related and connected to the bad relations between Haiti's US-backed
interim government and the 15-nation CARICOM that has refused to
recognize it. The community has called for the UN to investigate the
departure of ousted President Aristide, who charged he was forced from
power by the US. The Bahamas is the only Caribbean country with an
embassy in Haiti, though Barbados has a consulate. (AP, Nassau
Guardian, 4/23)

Louis Jodel Chamblain surrenders, human rights organizations skeptical:
Former number two of the paramilitary organization FRAPH, Louis Jodel
Chamblain promised on April 21 to go back to prison on April 22 to wait
for a new sentence, after an agreement with judicial authorities.
Chamblain met leaders of the justice and the chief of police, Leonce
Charles. The ex-FRAPH leader was condemned to hard labor for life after
he was found guilty of the murders of thousands of people during the
period of the 1991 military coup detat. Chamblain was with his lawyer
when he explained his decision because he greatly trusts the Haitian
justice system today, he said. (AHP, 4/21)

Chamblain went back to prison on 4/22 after discussing the matter with
judicial and police leaders the day before. Chamblain denied the
accusations against him. Every time we talk of arresting or judging
Lavalas leaders, the name of Chamblain is always mentioned. Now, they
will have no more excuses, the former FRAPH leader declared. For his
part, ex-prisoner Jean Pierre alias Jean Tatoune, announced on Thursday
that he will soon go back to prison, like Chamblain, while he waits for
another sentence too. Jean Tatoune had been condemned to hard labor for
life for his participation in the Raboteau massacre in April 1994.
(AHP, 4/22)

Proclaiming his innocence, Chamblain's surrender came as a conference
for international donors opened in Port-au-Prince. Haiti's government
hopes to get millions of dollars in aid to rebuild the shattered
country, which is reeling from a revolt that ousted Aristide on Feb.
29. Chamblain said his conviction in absentia in 2000 was politically
motivated and predicted he would be vindicated. Chamblain was
accompanied by Haiti's interim Justice Minister Bernard Gousse, who
called the surrender a "noble decision." "We welcome the surrender,"
said Joanne Mariner of Human Rights Watch. "We would welcome his
incarceration. Our concern would be he won't stay in prison very
long." (AP, 4/22)

Brian Concannon, an American who helped the Aristide government
prosecute Chamblain, said his surrender was a "charade" and defended
his trial as one of the most open and fair in Haitian history. "I've
never in the world heard of someone taking power through a violent coup
d'etat and submitting himself to a justice system," said Concannon, who
said he doubts the rebel leader will ever face a new trial. "Id be
willing to bet almost anything he's going to get a judge to dismiss the
case, which will be done much more quietly than a full trial." (Miami
Herald, 4/23)

Amnesty International (AI) welcomes the fact that both Chamblain and
Baptiste, who were convicted of horrendous human rights abuses, could
be back in custody, said AI. It is crucial that Louis Jodel Chamblain
is given a fair trial in compliance with international standards. Only
in this way will trust be rebuilt in the Haitian judicial system.
Under Haitian law, those convicted in absentia have the right to a
re-trial. This provision in the Haitian law does not apply to Jean
Pierre Baptiste, as he was present during his trial. The re-trial of
Chamblain will be a test for the Haitian judicial system. During the
recent violence in Haiti, a number of courthouses were burnt down and
archives containing evidence of his involvement in the crimes of which
he was convicted may have been destroyed. AI is also concerned for the
safety of judicial officials and witnesses. (AI, 4/23)

UNICEF: Effects of crisis on children:
UNICEF said on April 19 that a new assessment of Haitian children is
the first indication of how deeply the country's recent political
violence touched their lives. In more than 15% of the surveyed zones,
children were reportedly killed in the violence. Children were wounded
by gunshots or beaten by armed gangs in more than 1/3 of the surveyed
zones. The number of child rapes increased significantly in the urban
areas where violence was the most extreme. Children were recruited by
armed gangs in almost a third of the surveyed zones. Many children who
participated in violent activities now fear retribution for their
actions. In more than 70% of the surveyed zones, families fled the
violence to seek refuge in safer areas. In 8 of 10 major cities, school
students received death threats aimed at preventing them from attending
school or participating in public events. Several assessment mission
conducted throughout the country by the UNICEF team in Haiti following
the conflict confirmed that a number of schools and hospitals had been
the targets of violence or looting. (UNICEF, 4/19)

Meeks statement on Haiti:
Following his return from Haiti on April 23, Yesterday, several of my
colleagues and I visited Haiti. Our bipartisan delegation (3 Democrats
 Elijah Cummings, Kendrick Meek, and myself; 3 Republicans, Cass
Ballenger, Mark Foley and Jeff Miller) was seeking ways the US could
help Haiti become a peaceful, democratic, and prosperous nation. What
became immediately clear from all our conversations and observations
there is that Haiti needs disarmament What Haiti next needs the most
is reconciliation, reconstitution, and reconstructionI wanted to make
it crystal clear to the new president and prime minister, to officials
responsible for the justice system, and to the American Ambassador,
that I cannot and will not advocate for any Haitian government until I
am assured that it is a break from the past. This means a government
that has a plan for building a new Haiti, that strengthens Haitian
democracy, and that encourages Haitians themselves to take the lead in
revitalizing the economy and civic life. To earn the support of the
Congress and the American people, to foster reconciliation,
reconstitution, and reconstruction, the new government must: Move
resolutely toward creating an inclusive political democracy, including
the unencumbered participation of Lavalas which still enjoys widespread
support. Place priority on providing for the most urgent needs of the
vast majority of the Haitian peopleReject in word and deed the
persecution of critics and political opponents. Prosecute murderers,
thugs, and drug dealers, and in fact commit itself to denying a role
for these criminals in government. Commit to bringing to justice
persons whether they were part of the former government or are part of
the present government  who have committed crimes against the Haitian
peopleI left Haiti convinced that American support and participation
in Haiti's disarmament, reconciliation, reconstruction is essential.
Without it, I seriously doubt whether the rule of law, a fair and
impartial judiciary, a viable economy, durable civic peace, and free
and fair election can be achieved in Haiti. I am also convinced that
America must break with the ways in which it has related to Haiti in
the past. We must make a long term commitment to the economic
revitalization and democratic well-being of our neighbor. We must
strive to be an honest broker and not a power broker." (Rep. Gregory
Meeks, NY, CaribPR Newswire, 4/24)

One killed during recruitment for Haitian National Police:
A student was killed and 23 people were hurt when job applicants
stormed Haitis police academy during a recruiting drive. Authorities
used tear gas and riot batons on thousands of job hunters. Jerry
Prophete, 23 years old, was trampled to death. About 150 officers were
fired last week for abandoning their posts and ethics violations.
Officials estimate only about 2,000 officers remain and the government
wants to build the force to 6,000 by next year. (AP, 4/21)

10th Anniversary of Raboteau Massacre:
This April 22nd was the 10th anniversary of the Raboteau massacre.
Dozens of people were killed in this massacre perpetrated in 1994 by
members of the former army and the paramilitary corps FRAPH lead by
Emmanuel Toto Constant and Louis Jodel Chamblain. Ten years later, the
main convicts of the only trial on the many massacred committed during
the coup detat are still running free. Organizations of human rights,
notable the Lawyers Committee for the Respect of Individual Freedoms
(CARLI), the National Coalition for Haitian Rights (NCHR) and Amnesty
International, denounced the situation of impunity that the authors of
this massacre enjoy. For its part, AI denounced the fact that the
Latortue government is very quick to arrest and bring proceedings
against Lavalas members and supporters for their presumed involvement
in cases of violations of human rights, while it closes its eyes on
cases of condemned individuals. (AHP, 4/22)

Latortue announces development program:
The Latortue government presented its development program to
international sponsors in Haiti for the financing of projects in Haiti.
Latortue declared his program is based on four important points: (1)
Electricity is the most important field of developed since it is the
root of all development. (2) Road infrastructures are essential to the
development of tourism and agriculture. Latortue claims Haiti needs
only 3000 km of roads, and he dreams of a coastal road from
Port-de-Paix to Jeremie. (3) He also declared that the training of
human resources is essential to the countrys development. The
provisional government says it has to wait until June in a meeting with
sponsors in Washington to know if its projects will be taken into
account. (AHP, 4/22)

Multinational Forces announce money for weapons program:
Spokesperson of the MIF in Haiti, David Lapan announced that, in the
context of the disarmament process set in motion in the country, money
will be given to everyone who gives information that leads to hiding
places of illegal weapons. $37,000 is available for this initiative.
The more weapons a hiding place contains, the more the owner will
receive. (AHP, 4/23)

Cummings and Foley visit Haiti:
A delegation of 6 American congressmen led by Rep. Mark Foley (FL),
visited Port-au-Prince for a few hours to learn about the countrys
socio-political situation and how they can help to stabilize it. Foley
said the president and the prime minister expressed the wish that
American Marines stay for after June 1. Latortue said the Black Caucus,
of which Elijah Cummings (MD) is a member, would be starting to
disassociate itself with Aristide and get a new perspective on the
Haitian situation. (AHP, 4/23)

Aristide Supporters call for his return:
Two months after President Aristide was forced into exile, his
embattled supporters demanded the international community allow him to
return. Pro-Aristide organizations from the sprawling slums of
Port-au-Prince reiterated their claim  vigorously denied by Washington
 that Haiti's first democratically elected leader had been ousted by
the US and France. "The US has no right to kidnap our president. We
want Aristide back here in the flesh," Lesly Gustave, a spokesman for
the "Little Church" community, told a news conference. Gustave and
other popular organization leaders spoke at the ruins of the St. Jean
Bosco church, which was burned down in 1988 by thugs while Aristide
celebrated mass. They announced they would stage a series of protests
starting on May 18 to press for his return. "The US and the
international community are perpetrating a crime against democracy and
human rights in Haiti today," Gustave told Reuters. He said the
international community and a 3600 peace force led by US Marines, has
turned a blind eye to crimes against Aristide supporters. (Reuters,
4/29)

PAPDA, NCHR and CONAP Demonstrate:
Many officials of organizations from the platform of the former
opposition gave a severe warning on April 26 to the interim Prime
Minister and his team, accusing them of bring too slow in the process
of arresting all those accused of committing crimes under the Aristide
government.  They gave this warning during a sit-in in front of the
Ministry of Justice premises. Officials from the National Coalition for
Haitian Rights (NCHR), the PAPDA (Haitian Platform to Advocate for an
Alternative Development), the CONAP (Coordination of Advocacy for
Women), the UNNOH and the crisis committee in the university, said it
was not normal that these accused are still walking the streets freely.
Two officials from these organizations, Magalie Marcelin and Josue
Valval, said this sit-in was a warning to the Latortue government,
which must stop making big promises and start acting. They said the
mobilization will continue until there are real changes in the coutnry.
Among other things, they asked for the arrest of former Prime Minister
Yvon Neptune. The participants also asked the soldiers of the
multinational forces to leave the premises of the Aristide Foundation
for Democracy's Peace University to the students of the State
University. However, they did not comment on the issues of confirmed
criminals still walking the streets and former rebels who committed
serious crimes during the events of recent months. (AHP, 4/26)

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