12038: BBC: An advisory board has been set up at the request of the OAS to rule on damages to be paid (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Robert Benodin <r.benodin@worldnet.att.net>

Haiti: Highlights of Radio Metropole news 1145 gmt 14 May 02
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; May 15, 2002


2. An advisory board has been set up at the request of the OAS to rule on
damages to be paid to the victims of the 17 December events. The board took
office yesterday and hopes to submit its recommendations as soon as
possible. Board members will make a physical inventory of the damages caused
by the attack against the National Palace on 17 December, the fire at the
premises of the opposition political parties, and the looting of private
homes of Convergence leaders as well as cultural and university centres. The
inventory will be taken in Port-au-Prince as well as in the provinces. (3
min)
3. President Jean-Bertrand Aristide has reiterated the willingness of his
government to fully assume its responsibility concerning the compensation
that should be given to the victims of the 17 December events. (4 min)
4. Regarding the membership of the compensation commission, Micha Gaillard
said that the Convergence decided not to join the commission because they do
not want to be both judge and judged. We think, he said, that with the
presence of Haitian civil society and an OAS representative we can have
faith in the commission's work. (3 min)
5. The head of state said yesterday that he does not intend to stand in the
way of the release of certain detainees, such as those of the Convention for
Democratic Unity (KID), should the judicial apparatus rule in their favour.
Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who was receiving the joint OAS/CARICOM (Caribbean
Community) mission, said that judges have no right to keep prisoners in
prison in violation of the law of the Republic. When questioned about the
Convergence's demands for concrete acts on the part of his regime, Aristide
defends his government and reiterates his call for dialogue. (1 min)
6. The joint OAS/CARICOM mission is pursuing its consultations with the
political players for the resumption of the negotiations. Luigi Einaudi
yesterday discussed with President Aristide what should be done to get the
country out of the impasse. The OAS assistant secretary general, who is
trying to bring the parties together prior to the resumption of the
negotiations, views the political climate favourably. Einaudi invites the
various actors once again to fully assume their responsibility to get the
country out of the crisis. He explains that the international community
truly wants to help Haiti politically and economically. He took the
opportunity to talk about launching the work of the compensation commission.
(1 min)
8. The Lavalas regime has launched an offensive against the international
community, the opposition, and the business sector concerning the economic
sanctions imposed on the government by international financial
organizations. (3 min)
9. In reaction to the president's statement about economic sanctions, the
Convergence said that it never asked for economic sanctions against Haiti
following the contested elections of May 2000. According to the opposition,
Aristide holds the key to the solution of the problems connected with the
sanctions. The Convergence notes Aristide's requests during the coup d'etat
period for an embargo against the country to force the military government
to relinquish power. (3 min)
10. Activities were at a standstill in the lower Delmas area yesterday due
to a confrontation between members of rival groups. (2 min)
11. There was also unrest in Gonaives yesterday where several houses were
set on fire in the Raboteau and Jubile areas. Residents of those areas
strongly criticized the president. (1 min)
12. Several activities were held yesterday to mark the anniversary of
Saint-Yves, patron of lawyers. Rigaud Duplan, president of the association
of lawyers, seized the occasion to plead once again in favour of the
independence of the judiciary. (3 min)
Source: Radio Metropole, Port-au-Prince, in French 1145 gmt 14 May 02
/¸ BBC Monitoring