13964: (Chamberlain) Haiti-Protests (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

   By MICHAEL NORTON

   PORT-AU-PRINCE, Dec 4 (AP) -- Many businesses and most banks,
supermarkets and schools were closed Wednesday in a nationwide strike
against the government, a day after police and mobs broke up protests by
thousands of demonstrators.
   Traffic in the capital was light, but public buses were running. There
were fewer street vendors than usual.
   Fifteen major business associations said they would participate in the
strike. In a written statement, the associations accused President
Jean-Bertrand Aristide's government of "contempt for the most basic
democratic norms."
   The business associations that joined the strike said they were
concerned "the democratic process is in grave danger."
   Pressures have been mounting on Aristide's government, which has been
stymied by a lack of international aid and investment and growing poverty
in Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Although
parliamentary elections are planned for next year, presidential elections
aren't planned until 2005.
   The opposition says it wants the government to guarantee a peaceful
climate before a legislative vote is held. The government blamed Tuesday's
violence on the opposition.
   Aristide won the presidency in 1990, but was overthrown in a coup after
less than a year in office. He lived in exile in Washington until U.S.
troops helped restore him to power in 1994, then ceded power to chosen
successor Rene Preval in 1996. Aristide won a second five-year term in
November 2000.
   During Tuesday's clashes, Aristide's supporters wielded whips, hurled
rocks and fired guns as they attacked government opponents, witnesses said.
At least 16 people were injured in the Tuesday violence.
   Police fired tear gas to break up marches by thousands of demonstrators
in northern Cap-Haitien and southern Petit-Goave and wielded nightsticks to
break up a 500-person protest in northwestern Gonaives. Protesters are
demanding better living conditions and an end to Aristide's government.
   "This government accepts no form of dissent. That's what is called a
dictatorship," said opposition politician Rene Theodore, who urged Haitians
to join Wednesday's strike.
   About 2,000 Aristide supporters broke up a demonstration in
Port-au-Prince on Tuesday, using stones and small, rawhide whips to drive
away protesters. Witnesses said at least a dozen people were injured in the
melee.
   At least four others were injured elsewhere, though it was difficult to
determine the total number since the protests spanned the country.
   "We reject violent confrontations," government spokesman Mario Dupuy
said. He accused the opposition for polarizing the country and said
Aristide wants a "peaceful environment."
   Demonstrators on Tuesday also demanded justice in the death of
journalist Brignol Lindor, who was hacked to death a year ago by Aristide
supporters. Lindor was slain after he allowed opposition politicians on his
talk-show program.
   Protesters hung photos of Lindor's mutilated body on storefront doors.
Some set fire to shacks in Petit-Goave.
   Opposition leaders in Port-au-Prince said their motorcade was attacked
by hundreds of rock-throwing Aristide supporters, damaging their cars.
   Aristide supporters also threw stones at State University faculty
buildings, angered by anti-government students who had lowered the Haitian
flag and raised a black flag of mourning to honor Lindor, independent Radio
Kiskeya reported.
   At least three people have been killed and scores injured in three weeks
of anti-government protests in Haiti.