14165: Thousands of Haitians March in Support of President Aristide (PRNewswire) (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: MKarshan@aol.com

Thousands of Haitians March in Support of President Aristide
Supporters Gather to Commemorate 12th Anniversary of First Democratic
Election in Haiti

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Tens of thousands of Haitians marched
to the National Palace in Port-au-Prince, Haiti yesterday to demonstrate their
overwhelming support for President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and to celebrate the
anniversary of the first democratic election in Haiti.  President Aristide,
the first democratically elected president in Haiti, won by popular vote Dec.
17, 1990.
    The thousands of demonstrators, young and old, represented members of the
university's student body, neighborhood groups and women's groups, among many
others.  Carrying placards with the same message, President Aristide's
supporters chanted, "Yes to elections, no to a coup d'etat."  Other signs at
the demonstration read, "Aristide: Five years!" referring to the length of the
constitutionally mandated presidential term to which President Aristide was
elected.  The President's second term began Feb. 7, 2001.
    "Last year I lost my arm for democracy but the rest of my body continues
to fight for democracy," said a victim who lost his arm during the attack on
the National Palace on Dec. 17 of last year.  The victim was one of many
innocent bystanders who were injured when assailants fired weapons into the
crowds while escaping.  To honor those who died and who were injured in the
attack last year, the National Palace in Port-au-Prince is draped today in
black and is flying black flags.
    "December 16, 1990 the Haitian people affirmed their will when they voted
for President Aristide.  Today, after twelve years, despite all of the
difficulties, the Haitian people came to reaffirm their will for the principle
ideals of December 16th which are justice, transparency, participation and
democracy and their confidence in President Aristide," said Lovinksy Pierre
Antoine, head of a Haitian human rights group representing victims of the
1991-1994 coup d'etat period, during an interview on Television Timoun.
    The demonstrations outside the National Palace continued throughout the
day yesterday, as the thousands of supporters chanted "We won't hide again!" a
reference to the three years of the coup d'etat period in Haiti when
approximately 300,000 people were displaced throughout the country in an
effort to escape military control.
    Haitian television and radio stations covered the various demonstrations
and press conferences held yesterday in Cap Haitian, Cayes and Petit Goave.
Radio Galaxy and Radio Plus reported that several thousand came out in support
of President Aristide yesterday in Jacmel.

    This material is distributed by Downey McGrath Group, Inc., on behalf of
the Government of Haiti.  Additional information is available at the
Department of Justice, Washington, DC.