7512: Events in Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

(from Caribbean Insight newsletter)

(6 April 01)



Pro-government demonstrators barricaded streets in Port-au-Prince on 2
April demanding that the opposition negotiate with the authorities to break
the political deadlock.  The opposition refuses to recognise President
Jean-Bertrand Aristide and has rejected offers to join the government.  The
protest coincided with a new visit by OAS assistant secretary-general Luigi
Einaudi, who has been mediating in the crisis for the past eight months. 
The opposition Convergence Démocratique set up a commission on 3 April to
negotiate with the ruling Fanmi Lavalas party.
        The ACP-EU joint parliamentary assembly criticised the European
Union on 22 March for suspending aid to Haiti because of election
irregularities and called for aid to be resumed and for "realistic
dialogue" between the two sides.
        The enquiry into last year's death of the country's leading
journalist, Jean Dominique, is being obstructed by threats and pressure
from powerful people in Haiti, including members of parliament, the human
rights group Reporters Without Borders said on 3 April.  It called on the
government to increase support for the investigation and, along with
parliament, to respect the independence of courts and judges.