a1926: Re: a1899: Unusual Yet Fascinating Day (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: "[iso-8859-1] Haïti Progrès" <editor@haiti-progres.com>

Kevin's benign version of events on May Day reveals that there were many
dynamics and events about which he was apparently unaware.

First of all, the 100 or so  "Lavalas supporters" who gathered in front of
the Palace were "chimères"(Fanmi Lavalas hooligans), led by people, in
particular a certain Amos, affiliated with Fanmi Lavalas chieftain Annette
"So Anne" Auguste. Their "demonstration" was held at exactly the time and
place that the PPN had announced over the radios, two days before, that they
were going to demonstrate in front of the Palace. The "chimères" were very
provocational and were looking to start a fight. Radio reporters with
scanners told the PPN afterwards that they overheard the "chimères"
coordinating how they were going to try to disrupt the PPN march.

Meanwhile, the PPN march of between 3000 to 5000 began at the Place d'Italie
in Bicentennaire. They marched up through the city to a warm response from
the onlookers. Many joined the march and many more would have but their
acceptance into the ranks of marchers was limited due to the PPN's clearly
justified apprehension of infiltration and disruption.

Upon arriving at the Champ de Mars by the DGI, the PPN was faced with a
decision: confront the "chimères" or not. Most of the PPN marchers were
peasants, some of whom were afraid of the "chimères" and their fearful
reputation, but most of whom were who were outraged and anxious to defend
their right to demonstrate.

The square was barricaded. The "chimères" were occupying the square. The
police were nowhere to be seen. PPN leaders called on the police to send
officers to remove the "chimères" from the square. A truck of CIMO showed
up. They did nothing but threatened to arrest the two security guards of Ben
Dupuy.

Then the sound technician hired by the PPN turned off his equipment,
claiming that he feared that the "chimères" would break it if he continued.
Finally, the PPN chose to exercise prudence, since there was no telling
where a confrontation with the "chimères," even though the advance group was
only 100, might lead.

Ben Dupuy, PPN's secretary general,  took to the stage with a megaphone to
address the crowd. He explained that PPN would not be intimidated and that
PPN would continue to struggle to offer an alternative to the Fanmi Lavalas
and Convergence, which are both parties filled with opportunists whose only
solution to the country's problems is to seek Washington's favor.

As for the fraternal mingling that Kevin claims to have witnessed at the
Agricultural Fair, that is very doubtful, since 90% of the PPN marchers had
to return to buses to go back to their homes in the countryside.

The attempts by some sectors in the Fanmi Lavalas to thwart the PPN march
was very similar to the tactics employed against another May Day action
planned in Ouanaminthe. But the attempt in Port-au-Prince failed. Despite
the logistical and political obstacles of organizing a mass march in
present-day Haiti, the PPN and its sympathizers managed to pull off the
first major non-Fanmi Lavalas demonstration in Port-au-Prince since the
death of Jean Dominique. This is a major political development which shows
that PPN is a major force and does present an alternative to the Haitian
version of Democrats and Republicans, known as Fanmi Lavalas and
Convergence.

Maude Leblanc
Port-au-Prince