NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #16/NN_1992_16.iso/spool/misc/activism/progress/5446

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From: [e-mail] (Rich Winkel)
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Subject: Haiti Resistance and Democracy #129
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Date: 30 Jul 92 00:54:19 GMT
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/** reg.carib: 300.0 **/
** Topic: Haiti bulletin #129 **
** Written  7:38 pm  Jul 28, 1992 by smalagodi in cdp:reg.carib **
Political Scene

The preliminary mission of the OAS met on July 23rd with the
Presidential Commission formed by President Jean-Bertrand
Aristide.

In a press communique, the Commission made clear that first, its
mandate was to meet with different sectors of the Haitian society
to arrive at a government of national accord where the interests of
all sectors of Haitian society is guaranteed. Secondly, to create a
venue whereby the Secretary of the OAS can, as rapidly as
possible, enter into the final stages of preparation for the full
civilian mission of the OAS, in accordance with the United
Nations.

Participating in these meetings were the ministers of the
Preval/Aristide government, Renaud Bernardin (Planning), Lesly
Voltaire (Education), Marie Michelle Rey (Finance), and Francois
Severin (Agriculture). The meeting was held on the same day as
the Senatorial Commission, but no information was released
about details of the meeting.

The work of the OAS mission ended on Saturday July 25th. The
mission met with the leadership of the Haitian military to prepare a
venue for the Secretary General of the OAS, Juan Clemente
Suarez, who was accompanied by two members of the United
Nations, according to Radio Metropole's report of a statement by
Dr. Jean Moliere, member of the Presidential Commission.

According to M. Moliere, the discussions were along two points,
respecting the 1987 constitution and the acceptance of the
election of December 16th 1990. Mr. Suarez will play the role of
mediator in the discussions of the Haitian crisis. He announced
that the Secretary General of the OAS will come as soon as
possible in the month of August to Haiti. He will investigate the
possible role of the OAS civil commission in Haiti.

"The role of this mission is to assert, in this crisis, that there will be
no winner or loser, and to instill in the people a sense of true
justice."

In a letter from M. Phillippe Jules, general coordinator of the
Committe to Restore Jean-Bertrand Aristide, to the General
Secretary of the OAS, M. Suarez, M. Jules emphasized the
importance of the restoration of the constitutional order as soon as
possible to prevent a catastrophe in Haiti. He reasserted the
importance of an OAS observer mission in Haiti to assist a
legitimate government and a people traumatized by the 1991
coup.

Human Rights

Thursday July 23rd,

Pamphlets appeared on the streets on Mirebalais calling for the
return of President Aristide while at the same time, slandering the
government of Marc Bazin. According to Radio Metropole, there
were no reprisals by the military.

In Cite Soleil, Port-au-Prince, during the night on July 9th and
10th, around 11PM, the military, in uniform and civilian clothes,
circulated throughout the area in a number of new vehicles with
state license plates reading "Service of the State" shooting in the
air with automatic weapons. Terrified civilians fled into their
homes.

A young man, Albert Clotaire visiting from Gonaives, learned that
his family was not in their home. M. Clotaire, along with his cousin
returned to his family's house in Cite Soleil, only to find the military
there. The soldiers asked why he was vioilating a curfew. The
soldiers tried to force M. Clotaire to tell the names of people
belonging to popular organizations in Cite Soleil. The two men
denied knowing anyone belonging to such organizations. They
were arrested and their whereabouts are unknown.

Cite Soliel

On Wednesday, July 14th around 4 Am in Cite Soleil, the military
killed a man named Wilfred who was putting up pictures of
President Aristide. The body was left in the street until around 7
AM. The widow of the dead man and her children fled the area.

On Monday, July 20th, Gaston Jean-Baptiste, 33, member of the
League of Political Prisoners was arrested on the Boulevard Jean-
Jacques Dessalines (the main street in Port-au-Prince). Three
policemen, two in civilian clothes, took him to the Anti-gang
prison. His situation is unknown.



On Thursday July 23rd about 150 Haitian refugees were returned
to Port-au-Prince. Informed sources said that each passenger
paid between 500 to 5000 gourdes ($100 - $1000 U.S.) for the
voyage.

The price of basic commodities is rising rapidly in Haiti due to the
scarcity of goods. There is massive unemployment in all sectors of
the economy. In the second quarter of the fiscal years 91-92, the
Bank of Haiti reports an increasing public deficit... The Bank says
the situation is alarming.

The U.S. Justice department has arrested two individuals, John
Patrick Dowe and William Relly (sp?). According to Haiti En
Marche [newspaper], the two individuals are accused of
transporting 400 tons of toxic waste from Philadelphia on the ship
Kianski and dumping it on the beaches of Gonieves, Haiti.

**********************************************************************

This report is excerpted from Haiti: Resistance and Democracy
#129, July 27, 1992, published clandestinely from Haiti.

./
** End of text from cdp:reg.carib **