8264: Highlights of Radio Signal FM news (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Max Blanchet <maxblanchet@worldnet.att.net>

Haiti: Highlights of Radio Signal FM news 1230 gmt 8 Jun 01
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Jun 9, 2001

"0730 Appointment" news; figures in brackets indicate times in minutes
elapsed since start of programme; passages within double oblique strokes in
French

1. [00] Headlines.

2. [04] The main news today is the strike called by five pro-Democratic
Convergence organizations for today, 8 June. This strike has not succeeded,
contrary to the expectations of the pro-Convergence people's organization
members. Schools are working normally, and everybody is attending to their
normal affairs. Everybody has been observed in the streets. This means that
the strike announced by the pro-Convergence organizations has not succeeded.
It should be pointed out that the five pro-Convergence organizations called
this strike today in order to show their disapproval of the Lavalas regime.

3. [06] On the occasion of the strike that was announced for today by a
political sector, the secretary of state for public security informs the
people that measures have been taken by the Haitian National Police, PNH, in
order to maintain public order in the capital and the provincial cities.
Specialized units of the PNH will carry out patrols in order to allow the
people to attend to their normal matters, to prevent any disorder, and to
maintain order and calm in the country. The right to demonstrate peacefully
is acknowledged in a democratic society. The secretary of state for public
security reminds troublemakers that they will be referred to the court,
regardless of their political affiliations. This note is signed by Jean
Gerard Dubreuil, secretary of state for public security.

4. [08] The Aristide-Cherestal government has renewed its promise to hold
early legislative elections in November 2002, with or without the
participation of the Convergence, in order to keep its commitments to the
international community on the resolution of the Haitian crisis, according
to Foreign Minister Joseph Philippe Antonio. He says the 2002 early
elections will take place normally, with or without the participation of the
Convergence.

5. [10] Report by Kenson Jean-Louis live from the streets of Port-au-Prince
on how things are going during the strike called by pro-Convergence
organizations. Jean-Louis reports that all activities are proceeding
normally, as if there were no strike. Several police patrols have been
observed in several parts of the capital.

6. [13] Headlines and ads.

7. [17] Culture and Information Minister Guy Paul says contacts will be made
soon with the various sectors of Haitian society for the formation of a new
Provisional Electoral Council, CEP, which will be in charge of holding
elections to replace the seven senators whose seats were called into
question. The OAS unanimously voted in favour of a resolution on the Haitian
situation that provides for a new CEP to be formed by 25 June.

8. [18] The OAS, which was given the task of helping Haiti get out of the
crisis at the Quebec summit, will have a significant responsibility in the
worsening of the situation of poverty in Haiti, according to Gerard
Pierre-Charles, general coordinator of the Struggling People's Organization,
OPL, and an influential member of the Convergence. He explains that his
group is not willing to participate in the electoral process that will
result from what was decided by the OAS in Costa Rica. He adds that the OAS
has not taken the position of the civil society associations and churches,
which are moral forces, into consideration. In Pierre-Charles's opinion,
Gaviria did not have the agreement of these forces. He explains that
Aristide has written a letter in compliance with recommendations received
from Gaviria.

9. [22] The Alternative for Change has reacted to the OAS resolution. Dr
Gerard Blot, leader of this coalition, said: "//It is a good starting point.
We can say that it is a step forward. Contrary to many political leaders,
who reject this agreement categorically, we think that the OAS does not rule
out the possibility of an agreement. They say the formation of a
provisional, independent and neutral electoral council would be a first step
that should allow an agreement, a tripartite [as heard] agreement to be
reached between the Haitian government, the political parties, civil society
and the other organizations of Haitian society, the other honest
institutions.//" Furthermore, Blot says: "//We are not satisfied. We would
prefer that they go much further. But there is room for an agreement, for
discussions, for negotiations with the Lavalas government, civil society and
the political parties. We are waiting for this second phase so a wider
agreement can be reached, as provided for by the San Jose agreement.//"

10. [24] The Democratic Centre Union, UCD, headed by Patrick Brutus, hails
the adoption of the latest OAS resolution on Haiti. Brutus spoke as follows:
"The resolution adopted by the OAS is a resolution that looks very much like
the proposals that the UCD made," except that they do not include our
recommendations about holding new municipal and local elections.

11. [27] Georges Saati, leader of the National Unity Movement, MOUN, asks
Haitian businessmen to join those who have already committed themselves to
fight the current regime and who want to establish democracy in Haiti. He
criticizes crooked politicians and advocates the participation of all
Haitians in the country's affairs. It is time for everybody to sit together
to discuss and prevent people from favouring class struggle in the country.

12. [28] Japan demands that the Haitian rulers must work to establish a
climate of political stability and security so it can widen its cooperation
with the country. The Japanese ambassador to Haiti says his country is
willing to help Haiti economically, provided that the political players
manage to reach an agreement that will allow Haiti to get out of the
situation of poverty it is experiencing today.

13. [30] Ads.

14. [32] Economic segment by Georges Henry, Jr.

15. [37] Ads, followed by international news.

16. [44] Report on activities by Haitian journalists on the occasion of the
Latin American Press Day yesterday.

17. [50] Ads.

18. [53] This week, the police broke up a network of criminals who used to
operate in the metropolitan region of Port-au-Prince. PNH spokesman
Jean-Dady Simeon explains that the police managed to arrest Gervais, also
known as Commander Zero. He is a head of the gang and the leader of
something he calls the United Forces for National Liberation, which was
recently involved in a confrontation with police in Carrefour-Marin, where a
policeman was killed. Several other people involved in making homemade bombs
have also been arrested on charges of criminal association and plotting
against state security.

19. [56] Gerald Bloncourt [phonetic], president of the Committee for
Duvalier's Trial, called for Prosper Avril to be tried for the crimes he
committed during the Duvalier dictatorship and during the two years he
himself spent in power.

20. [57] A group of 21 Peace Corps volunteers were sworn in yesterday after
they received three months' language training in Creole. Peace Corps
volunteers operate in seven of the nine geographic departments if the
country and work mostly in the fields of education, environment, health,
agriculture and micro businesses. US Ambassador Brian Dean Curran, who was
present at the ceremony, gave a speech in which he asked the volunteers to
accomplish their commitment to unity between the two peoples.

21. [59] News summary.

Source: Signal FM Radio, Port-au-Prince, in Creole 1230 gmt 8 Jun 01

/BBC Monitoring/ © BBC.