NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #31/NN_1992_31.iso/spool/misc/activism/progress/9683

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From: [e-mail] (Rich Winkel)
Subject: Haiti: Resistance & Democracy December 21, 1992
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/** reg.carib: 479.0 **/
** Topic: haiti bulletin #171 **
** Written 12:45 pm  Dec 26, 1992 by jburnette in cdp:reg.carib **

Haiti: Resistance & Democracy.  Bulletin #171
Port-au-Prince. December 21, 1992

NOTE: THE NEXT BULLETIN (#172) WILL COME OUT MONDAY JANUARY 4, 1993.

    This bulletin is produced clandestinely in Port-au-Prince, Haiti

HUMAN RIGHTS

VIOLATIONS
Central Plateau: Mare-Rouge (Mirebalais).On Sunday December 20, 1992, the
decapitated body of a Haitian Army soldier was found by farmers in Mare-
Rouge, communal section of Mirebalais (70 km northeast of Port-au-Prince).
According to information from a human rights organization, the soldier,
Bazile Leonais, was assassinated by machete blows. His rifle and his
uniform were placed on top of him. The Army has already arrested several
people in the area; their number and identies are not known.

South-East: Bainet (4th communal section). On Tuesday December 8 at about
5 p.m., Maurice Damucy, KONAKOM coordinator for the Bainet region, was
arrested by soldiers from that area.  The arrest took place in the street,
as Maurice Damucy was trying to inform some local KONAKOM militants about
the wave of repression which has recently fallen on their party. Maurice
Damucy was savagely beaten by the soldiers and is now imprisoned in
Bainet.

POLITICAL SCENE

Special UN representative in the Haitian crisis on 48-hour mission to
Haiti. On December 20, former Argentinian chancellor, Dante Caputo, the
special representative of the UN Secretary General for the Haitian crisis,
met with Reverend Antoine Adrien, coordinator of the Presidential
Commission, head of the Army, Raoul Cedras, as well as Marc Bazin. Mr.
Caputo, who arrived in Haiti on December 19 is to meet with the presidents
of both Legislative Chambers, Dejean Belizaire and Alexandre Medard, Rene
Theodore (prime minister designate in the Protocol of Accord of
Washington, some diplomats, including the leader of the OAS observer
mission, as well as Platform of Human Rights officials. The Argentinian
diplomat, who is carrying out his first mission to Haiti since his
appointment by Mr. BOoutros Boutros Ghali on December 11, sent a message
to all parties, according to a diplomatic source cited by Interpress:
"Establishment of a state of law in Haiti will be accomplished by applying
the choice of the majority as expressed in the elections." (Tropic FM,
12/2192)

Father Antoine Adrien, coordinator of the Presidential Commission,
contests the interdiction by the police. The Nouvelliste reports  remarks
by Father Antoine Adrien in a press conference held onDecember 18 at the
Hotel Christopher folowing police interdiction of the march planned by the
Presidential Commission: "...The response of the police tramples on our
right to demonstrate guaranteed by Article 31.2 of the Constitution. (...)
Today the law and the Constitution seem not to exist for the government of
shame. (...) Now only the law of the Army of Haiti exists in the country.
(...) How can a march of nine people threaten national security? (...) Yet
the electoral campaign for nominations is going to start. I find all this
absurd."

According to Le Nouvelliste, "once again the Presidential Commission drew
the attention of the other camp to the neessity to resume, indeed to
complete, negotiations. Otherwise the international community will impose
its solution, said the Presidentail Commision leader. As evidence, he
offered a letter which he just received from the OAS Secretary General,
informing him of the latest resolution of the ad hoc meeting of OAS
foreign ministers. Mr. Soares reiterated his intention to pursue the role
of faciliator in the Haitian crisis. He also announced that a new OAS
ission will be sent to Haiti at the beginning of 1993. (...) He also
mentioned the need to engage in dialogue to find a solution in accordance
with the Haitian Constitution."

"The mayor elect of Port-au-Prince, Evans Paul, also a member of the
Presidential Commission, enumerated concessions already made by the
COmmission: acceptance of the principle of nominating a prime minister
agrred on by all parties, formation of a government of national concord
and amnesty for soldiers implicated in the coup d'etat. In the words of
Father Adrien, this proposal has been sent many times to the other camp,
who have never responded." (...)

PARLIAMENT

A session of questioning the de facto prime minsiter, Marc Bazin, is
expected tomorrow in the Senate. The Villa d'Accueil prime minister is
expected to appear in the Senate tomorrow. Parliamentarians of the anti-
corruption bloc succeeded in calling this session for December 22. The
points to be discussed in the session are: negotiation to obtain lifting
of the embargo, respect for the autonomy of the University, return of all
elected officials to their posts, social appeasement, 100,000 jobs, laws
to establish democratic institutions specified by the Constitution.
(Tropic FM, 12/21/92)

INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

Clinton pushed to act. Tropic FM mentions that the December 21, 1992
edition of the Washington Post carries an article referring to American
foreign policy experts according to whom Bill Clinton must act promptly to
end the Haitian crisis to avoid an increase in the number of boat people
leaving for Florida. To achieve this, Bill Clinton should tighten the
embargo against the de facto regime and support UN intervention in Haiti
if the military won't give up power before January 20, 1993. The newspaper
proposes the intervention of UN peacekeeping forces such as those in
Cambodia.

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister, Mrs. Monique Landry, favors the return
of President Aristide. After meeting with representatives of the Haitian
community in Montreal on December 18, Mrs. Landry stated: "Canada is more
determined than ever to help the Haitian people in their quest for
democracy. We will not stop our efforts until the legitimate president
elect is returned to power and a state of law is restored to Haiti. To
this end, Mrs. Landry announced that Canada will try to obtain approval
and support of the international community to instate an international
embargo against the authorities in Port-au-Prince.

OTHER ITEMS

ell and Esso gas stations stopped distribution this morning. Dozens of
drivers are already lined up at various locations to fill up. (Tropic FM
12/21/92)

    Translated by Haiti Communications Project - Boston

   This bulletin depend entirely on you for its distribution.
** End of text from cdp:reg.carib **