a1677: BBC: Radio signal FM news 12 Apr 02 (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: JD Lemieux <lxhaiti@yahoo.com>


Haiti: Highlights of Radio Signal FM news 1230 gmt 12 Apr
02
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Apr 12, 2002



Programme: "0730 Appointment" Newscast; passages within
slantlines in French Reception: good Duration of broadcast:
60 minutes

1. Introduction and headlines.

2. President Jean-Bertrand Aristide says he will continue
to accompany the OAS commission. He adds, "People should
talk to each other and avoid falling into provocation. Do
not cause provocation so others may not fall into it. Then
there will be more appeasement and more rejoicing. As
civilized people we will dialogue together so we may find a
solution to the political and economic blocking."

3. Maurice Lafortune, president of the Haitian Chamber of
Commerce and Industry, CCIH, asked the protagonists to
negotiate in order to find a solution to the crisis Haiti
is facing today. Lafortune says the persistence of the
crisis has many consequences on the country's economy:
"//If the tendency continues to go the same way,// even
more doors will be closed. I wish the situation to get
fixed. //I am first and foremost a Haitian.//" He hopes the
commission's work will be useful to the country.

4. Report by Kenson Jean-Louis: Paul Raymond, leader of the
Saint-Jean Bosco Grassroots Church Communities, TKL, has
reservations about the investigations of the OAS commission
into the 17 December 2001 events. Raymond demands justice
for the Haitian people just as the commission is demanding
justice for the opposition. Raymond does not hide his
concerns about the OAS commission's investigations into the
17 December events that might have caused Aristide's
overthrow and the violent attacks on the premises of
various political parties of the Democratic Convergence.
His statements follow: "We say welcome to the OAS [mission]
if they are not soldiers who have come to give us orders,
if they are really coming to monitor human rights. Haiti
belongs to Haitians. No soldiers can come and give us
orders as if they were Haiti's masters." Raymond asks the
OAS to set up an independent commission to investigate the
wave of repression experienced by Lavalas partisans in
Petit-Goave, Les Cayes, Fort-Liberte, and other places.

5. The Mobilization for National Development, MDN, headed
by Professor Hubert De Ronceray, has signed a partnership
agreement with the Haitian Youths' Movement To Demand a
Better Future, Mouvman Revandikasyon Jen Ayisyen pou yon
Meye Avni. The purpose of this agreement is to allow youths
to participate in everything that is being done in order to
protect democratic gains. "//We have signed this agreement
in order to remind everyone of what happened in 1985 when
we were on the eve of great events [allusion to the series
of demonstrations that led to the overthrow of Jean-Claude
Duvalier in 1986]. It was in this room of the CHISS [Centre
for Investigations in Social Sciences founded by De
Ronceray 30 years ago with help from UNESCO] that youth
delegations from the nine geographic departments of the
country gathered in 1985 to announce the great march to the
National Palace to demand the end of the presidency for
life.//"

6. Ads.

7. Militants of the Convention for Democratic Unity, KID,
demand the release of their colleagues who were arrested
illegally and have been imprisoned for nearly two months.
KID militants staged a sit-in yesterday in front of the
Palace of Justice to denounce the complicity of the head of
state and Attorney Lise Pierre-Pierre, dean of the Civil
Court of Port-au-Prince, in keeping their colleagues jailed
in spite of the rulings that have been issued for their
release.

8. The Court of Appeals has ordered the release of former
General and President Prosper Avril. Avril was accused of
being involved in a plot against state security. The judge
has ordered Avril's release due to a lack of evidence.
Attorney Reynold Georges, Avril's lawyer says, "The court
says Avril is not guilty in any way and should be released
immediately. The matter has definitely been settled in
Avril's favour." It should be pointed out that this is the
second court order favourable to Avril even though the
first one was never executed, which provoked criticism from
the US State Department in its human rights report on
Haiti.

9. A day of reflection was organized to commemorate the
16th anniversary of the National Association of Haitian
Bailiffs, Asosyasyon Nasyonal Isye Ayisyen yo. Organization
President Meleus Moleon says that bailiffs' rights must be
respected. Moleon denounces the "anarchic behaviour often
shown by Haitian policemen." Moleon says: "Our demands are
1) Justice, justice, and justice for all; 2) respect for
bailiffs; 3) training for bailiffs; and 4) separation of
the three powers."

10. President Aristide met yesterday at the National Palace
with union members. On this occasion, he promised to put an
end to all the tension that has prevailed in La Saline
since the arrest of Ronald Camille, known as Ronald
Cadavre. Aristide said that Cadavre's arrest is a clear
message. He explained that he sent two delegations to meet
with the two neighbourhoods who are fighting each other in
La Saline. His statements follow: "Things went smoothly in
La Saline. The police intervened without using violence.
Today, while I am talking to you, I have sent a second
commission to talk to each of the sectors. All La Saline
residents saw the beautiful step that was taken yesterday
and are seeing other beautiful steps that are being taken.
Progressively we are moving towards the door to peace." To
a journalist who asked: "Was Cadavre's arrest a clear
message?" Aristide answered: "We always send clear messages
and we will send others."

11. Report by Patrick Chery: The residents of Fort Tout
Rond say they have nothing to do with the climate of terror
prevailing in La Saline. RPCS (expansion unknown) members
ask for the dismissal of Franco Cadavre from the post of
director of the open market. They accuse him of reigning as
master in the area. They say he enjoys the protection and
unconditional support of Annette Auguste, known as Sister
Anne (well known supporter of President Aristide), while he
terrorizes residents of Fort Tout Rond. Fort Tout Rond
residents have gone into hiding but wish to return to their
homes. They call on judicial authorities to send a
committee of inquiry to determine who are the real
criminals in this armed conflict.

12. Ads.

13. Economic segment by Georges Henry, Jr on the free trade
zone between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The recent
signing of an agreement between the heads of state of both
countries for the creation of an industrial free trade zone
in the border city of Ouanaminthe has provoked controversy
in several branches of society. This new project is
supported by some social groups and criticized by others.

14. International news.

15. Report by Carl Dieudonne: A partnership agreement was
signed yesterday between the CCIH and the Association of
Certified Professional Accountants of Haiti, Ordre
Professionnel des Comptables Professionnels Agrees d'Haiti,
OPCPAH. The two institutions are linked through a
commission. CCIH President Lafortune, speaking of the
importance of this agreement, calls it a first in the
history of the Haitian private sector. OPCPAH President
Michel Thomas says the purpose of this commission is to
assist the business sector with fiscal and accounting
issues.

16. Report by Evelyne Dacilus: President Aristide met
yesterday with Haitian union members at the National
Palace. They asked for a better understanding of the union
movement. Most unions present were drivers' associations.
He invited them to show unity through diversity.

17. Ads.

18. Women Are Here celebrated yesterday the third
anniversary of its creation. This organization is fighting
for equality between men and women in Haitian society. Mrs
Marie-Laurence Lassegue says this organization has done
many things in the country. She speaks of the need to amend
laws on women in Haiti. Women Are Here has been holding
political training seminars for its members during the
year. Several themes including philosophy, economy, and
sociopolitics have been taught by various experts.

19. News summary.

BBC Monitoring/ ¸ BBC



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