13971: (Chamberlain) Haiti-Unrest (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

   By MICHAEL NORTON

   PORT-AU-PRINCE, Dec 5 (AP) -- President Jean-Bertrand Aristide has
rejected calls for his resignation, accusing his opponents of sabotaging
progress in Haiti and downplaying a general strike called to oppose his
government.
   "It's not President Aristide they don't like. It's the Haitian people
they don't like," Aristide told a crowd in the southern coastal city of Les
Cayes on Wednesday.
   The speech coincided with an anti-Aristide strike by businesses in the
capital, Port-au-Prince. Banks were closed, gas stations empty, and many
students returned home when they found their schools shut. Similar strikes
were held in tandem in Cap-Haitien, Gonaives, and Jacmel.
   Wednesday's strike came after an eruption of anti-government
demonstrations on Tuesday that left at least 16 people injured. During many
of Tuesday's clashes, Aristide's supporters attacked demonstrators with
whips and rocks. Protesters are demanding better living conditions and an
end to Aristide's government, which they accuse of being autocratic and
anti-dissident.
   "The strike was a unanimous reaction of the people to the criminal
violence of the government," said former army officer Himmler Rebu, one of
the leaders in Tuesday's anti-government march in the capital.
   Aristide's allies called the strike a failure. The call was only
followed by the wealthy minority, said lawmaker Rep. Simpson Liberus. "The
vast majority of the people did not respect" it, he said.
   Fifteen major business associations participated in the strike. In a
written statement, the associations accused the government of "contempt for
the most basic democratic norms."
   About 2,000 Aristide supporters broke up Tuesday's Port-au-Prince march
using stones and rawhide whips to drive away protesters. Police fired tear
gas Tuesday at a crowd in Petit-Goave, where ten teenagers were injured in
an opposition protest last week.
   The government blamed Tuesday's violence on the opposition. "We reject
violent confrontations," government spokesman Mario Dupuy said. He accused
the opposition of polarizing the country and said Aristide wants a
"peaceful environment."
   At least three people have been killed and scores injured in three weeks
of anti-government protests in Haiti. Opposition leaders said they are only
seeking change.
   "The people don't stage coup d'etats. But they know how to chase
dictators like you (Aristide) from power," said opposition politician Evans
Paul.
   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 international community still supports ... the setting up of a
provisional electoral council in order to hold elections," said
Organization of American States special representative David Lee, who
deplored "the intimidation that marred" Tuesday's demonstrations.
   Although parliamentary elections are planned for next year, presidential
elections aren't planned until 2005. Some of the country's leaders say they
won't participate in elections unless the climate for democracy improves.