a1477: Assorted news items (AHP) (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: MKarshan@aol.com

AHP News, March 25, 2002 - English Translation (Unofficial)

President Aristide receives leaders of nearly a dozen cooperatives at the
National Palace

Port-au-Prince, March 25, 2002 -(AHP)- President Jean Bertrand Aristide
received on Monday some thirty leaders from about ten savings and credit
cooperatives.

In an interview with AHP, the secretray general of the Initiative of
Cooperatives (INICOOP), Zachée Michel, described the meeting between the
cooperative representatives and the Head of State as very positive.

According to Mr. Michel, finding a solution to the crisis affecting the
cooperative sector was at the center of discussions.

The secretary general of INICOOP indicated that President Aristide pointed
out the need to publish the law regulating the cooperatives.

He proposed to the cooperative leaders that he would do everything in his
power to facilitate the drafting of a proposed law before March 31st that
reflects the aspirations of the entire sector.

This draft law could be presented to and voted by the Parliament during the
month of April in order to restore the people's confidence, according to the
Head of State.


The Head of State is said to have also emphasized the need to limit the panic
caused by certain rumors. Rumors about the cooperatives have been spreading
in recent weeks, particularly about such ideas as the movement coming to a
halt, the possibility that some cooperatives might not honor their
commitments, or that they are straying completely away from the philosophy of
the movement.

These rumors have been spread for the most part following the cessation of
payment of interest rebates by some of the cooperatives.

The Preident of the Republic promised to collaborate with the cooperative
representatives in efforts to prevent the loss of the valuable experience of
the movement. He asked them to meet with their members in oredr to protect
what has been achieved.

Mr. Zachée Michel also indicated that INICOOP is standing by its decision to
suspend the payment of the special interest rebates on fixed term deposits
for a period of three months.

This decision, he said, is intended to build members' confidence and to help
the cooperative movement move forward. However he deplored the fact that some
cooperatives decided not to demonstrate their  solidarity with those
cooperatives that are unable to honor their promises to their individual
members due to financial problems.

The funds of certain cooperatives are currently blocked at the Haitian
Development Bank, recently dispossessed by the Bank of the Republic of Haiti
(BRH, the Haitian Central Bank) for poor management. The CADEC, one of the
members of INICOOP, decided during an annual meeting on Sunday, March 24th,
to resume paying interest on term deposits starting May 21st, 2002, at the
rate of 10%, the same rate as prior to the suspension of payments.

Representatives of the BRH, the Ministry of Planning and the members of the
National Council of Cooperatives have taken part in the meeting between
President Aristide and the representatives of the cooperatives.

AHP 25 mars 2002 4:30 PM

The Platform of Human Rights Organizations welcomes the arrest of Ronald
Camille, known as Ronald Cadavre

Port-au-Prince, March 25, 2002 -(AHP)- The Platform of Haitian Human Rights
Organizations (POHDH) announced its satisfaction Monday with the decision of
the Haitian National Police (PNH) to take Ronald Camille, known as Ronald
cadavre, into custody.

Ronald Camille was arrested Saturday by means of an arrest warrant that has
been outstanding for several months, issued as part of the investigation into
the killing of Fritzner Jean, known as Bobo, in front of the Parliament.

According to the POHDH, members of the public as well as some members of
Parliament who were present at the scene had identified Ronald Cadavre as the
one who opened fire on Fritzner Jean on Monday, September 10, 2001.

The human rights organization said that it is taking note of the statements
of the government's prosecutor, Mr. Josué Pierre-Louis, confirmed that
justice must be carried out and that this action should make it possible to
take into custody all individuals for whom warrants have been issued.

The POHDH says that it hopes this initiative is not a response occasioned due
to the particular circumstances imposed by a time of ever deepening crisis
for the current government, but is instead evidence of the beginnings of
coming to grips with the people's demands for justice and the struggle
against impunity.

The organization declared that it is awaiting the arrest of Richard Salomon,
known as Chacha ,and other individuals being sought by the police in the
investigation of the murder of Jean Dominique and Jean-Claude Louissaint.

"It is high time for the PNH to play its constitutionally-mandated role per
article 269-1", said the POHDH. It added that as an auxiliary to the judicial
system, the Haitian National Police should demonstrate through concrete
action that in executing the orders and decisions of the competent judicial
authorities it remains an institution at the service of democracy and
justice.

The Platform of Human Rights Organizations said it encourages all individuals
who believe they are victims of Ronald Cadavre to file complaints and avail
themselves of their rights.

***Ronald Cadavre was among the many members of grass roots organizations at
the Maïs Gâté airport of Port-au-Prince who welcomed President Aristide on
his return from Mexico where he participated in a UN-sponsored conference on
the financing of development.

He is expected to appear this week before a judge according to the
Port-au-Prince prosecutor,  Me Josué Pierre-Louis.

AHP March 25, 2002 1:57 PM

President Aristide calls the meeting of the Convergence a sign of political
stability


Port-au-Prince, March 25, 2002 -(AHP)- President Jean Bertrand Aristide
described the Democratic Convergence meeting as a sign of political
stability.

The Head of State was pleased that some two hundred directors, supporters and
sympathizers of the political coalition were able to assemble in peace and
security.

Mr. Aristide took advantage of the occasion to invite the government to work
in favor of the strengthening of political stability in the country.

The President of the Republic also renewed his appeal for the holding of
early legislative elections in Haiti at the end of the year or during the
first half of 2003.

In addition he invited all sectors to play their part in reinforcing peace
and stability in the country.

AHP March 25, 2002 12:57 PM
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------
The Haitian Prime Minister reiterates his wish to facilitate a way out of the
political crisis.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------
Port-au-Prince, March 25, 2002 -(AHP)- Prime Minister Yvon Neptune declared
himself to be more and more favorable to implementing a policy of openness in
order to find a way out of the crisis resulting from the elections of May 21,
2000.

Mr. Neptune spoke Sunday outside the ceremony to commemorate the 200th
anniversary of the battle of Crète-à-Pierrot (Petite Rivière de l'Artibonite).

The head of the government again said he was ready to welcome  leaders of the
opposition willing to join the new government.

With respect to the resumption of negotiations, Yvon Neptune, said that it is
not up to the government to set a date for the continuation of negotiations.

However, the Prime Minister said that the investigation into the attempted
assassination of President Aristide on December 17, 2001 and the subsequent
violence should be completed beforehand.

AHP 25 mars 2002 2:30 PM

Two adolescents are dead in Marchand Dessalines after having consumed
contaminated coffee.

Port-au-Prince, March 25, 2002 -(AHP)- Two children have died and 72 others
were hospitalized Sunday at Passe-à-Roche (3rd communal section of
Dessalines) after having consumed contaminated coffee.

These children died after having been taken by emergency transport to Claire
Heureuse hospital in Dessalines.

The medical director of this hospital, Dr. Enock Savin, affirmed that other
individuals who were victims of the contamination were in  very serious
condition.  They have been transferred to Saint-Nicolas hospital in Saint
Marc (Lower Artibonite).

Dr. Savin also indicated that there are serious risks that additional deaths
will occur in the coming hours or days.

According to the medical director of the Claire Heureuse hospital, the
Ministry of Public Health and Population has already sent a shipment of
medicines and has dispatched epidemiologists to the area in order to
determine the causes of the poisoning.

The specialists have taken samples of the coffee and water for laboratory
analysis, according to Dr. Savin.

The bodies of the deceased should undergo autopsy very soon, added Enock
Savin.

AHP 25 mars 2002 12:00 PM