14411: Karshan: Today's demonstrations, Aristide on opposition, Gonaives, reducing suffering (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: MKarshan@aol.com

AHP News - January 10, 2003 - English translation (Unofficial)

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At least five people including one journalist and three members of populist
organizations are injured by volleys of rocks thrown during pro- and
anti-government demonstrations
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Port-au-Prince, January 10, 2003-(AHP)- A journalist from Magik Stéréo
Radio, Rony Mathieu, was injured Friday, struck by a bottle during incidents
between two groups of demonstrators in the context of a strike called by a
group of labor unions who had announced from the outset that they wished to
protest the new fuel prices.

This demonstration, which was quickly taken over by the 22 parties of the
Democratic Convergence, drew  some 200 people.

The incident took place at the moment when the supporters of Fanmi Lavalas
and those of the Convergence had begun to confront each other, throwing
volleys of stones. The opposition called for the ouster of the elected
authorities while the members of the pro-government organizations called on
the opposition to take the path of the ballot box if they wish to hold
office.

In addition to the journalist who suffered head injuries, three members of
the pro-Lavalas populist organizations and one supporter of the Convergence
were also injured.

According to various accounts, including that of Rony Mathieu, the
journalist, the object (a bottle) that wounded him was thrown from a
position occupied by the Convergence demonstrators.

The journalist was rushed to a hospital, accompanied by police officers,
fellow journalists, and many members of populist organizations. He returned
to his home after receiving treatment. He said however that he was in a lot
of pain.

Several leaders of the Convergence, including Evans Paul, Roselaure Aubourg
and former Colonel Himler Rébu took part in the demonstration launched
initially by the MSH. Several members of populist organizations, including
the leader of JPP, René Civil, accused the opposition of having fired at
members of populist organizations Friday morning, wounding one person in the
foot.

Several labor union leaders who organized Friday's protest had issued a call
on Friday morning for the protest to be canceled, explaining that it had
lost its raison d'etre now that negotiations were underway with the
government on the question of fuel.
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Jean Bertrand Aristide criticizes the behavior of opposition parties with
respect to the fuel crisis
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Port-au-Prince, January 9, 2003 -(AHP)-  President Jean Bertrand Aristide on
Thursday denounced the behavior of opposition parties over the question of
the fuel crisis .

At a meeting with jornalists, the Chief of State criticized opposition
sectors that he said are speaking out of both sides of their mouth in the
context of this crisis.

These sectors, he noted, are calling for the country to be blocked because
the government can no longer continue to subsidize the cost of petroleum
products, while at the same time these sectors are supporting the economic
embargo against the Haitian people.

''Those who ask for the country to be blocked can not today criticize the
government for not being able to find the money to subsidize the price of
fuel", Président Jean Bertrand Aristide asserted.

The Haitian president also said that the parties of the opposition and the
five sectors of civil society which must participate in the formation of the
new CEP should shoulder their responsibility with respect to this situation.

These five sectors, including the Conference of Bishops, the employers, and
the protestant Federation have designated their representatives, however
they have not authorized them to take the oath of office.

Mr. Aristide believes that only the establishment of the CEP can contribute
to reducing the consequences of the economic embargo imposed upon the
country by the international community.

The president declared that the question of security should not serve as a
pretext for blocking the process of forming the electoral council.

''The question of security is important before, during and after the
elections, but should not serve as a pretext for those who are afraid of
elections because of their lack of popularity with the voters", the Chief of
State remarked.

Jean Bertrand Aristide indicated that the political parties have no base
that can take advantage of the election campaign period in order to make
themselves known to the voters.

Pointing out that the Fanmi Lavalas party has always been willing to make
sacrifices, ever since the beginning of the political crisis, Mr. Aristide
noted that the formation of the CEP has not been blocked by the party in
power.
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Another day of incidents in Gonaives
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Port-au-Prince, January 9, 2003-(AHP)- Armed individuals claiming to be with
the Democratic Convergence paralyzed traffic for the second consecutive day
in Descahos, a populous district of Gonaives, firing rounds of gunfire,
throwing rocks and erecting flaming barricades.

They declared that they wish to do everything they can to bring about the
departure of President Aristide.

One person was killed Wednesday during a similar protest by the Convergence.

The political coalition is accusing the police, who deny any involvement.
The Haitian National Police contend that their intervention tookplace after
that incident.

For its part, another opposition coalition, Democratic Action (AD) denounced
the use of violence as a means to attain power. It appealed to the
Convergence to put an end to what it characterized as the violence of its
armed wing, particularly in Gonaives and in the Central Plateau.

Elections constitute the only constitutional path for attaining power in a
democratic system, recalled  Simon Jean-Poix, the principle leader of AD.
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The Haitian government opens talks on mechanisms for relieving the suffering
of the population
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Port-au-Prince, January 9, 2003- (AHP)- The Haitian government announced

Thursday that it has initiated a dialogue with the social sectors of the
country concerning mechanisms to be defined in order to reduce the suffering
of the population.

In that context, the Minister of Social Affairs, Eudes Saint-Preux Craan,
met with leaders from the labor unions including the CATH ( Group of
Autonomous Affiliated Labor Unions of Haitian Workers), the FOS (Federation
of Unionized Workers), and the CTH (Confederation of Haitian Workers).

Discussions focused particularly on proposals relating to a possible
reduction in the prices of basic necessities and petroleum products, the new
prices established for fuel, the setting of new prices for mass transport,
and an adujustment in the minimum wage.

The Secretary General of the CTH,  Jacques Belzin, said that the government
has not ruled out the possibility of a decrease in prices for petroleum
products if the international aid intended for Haiti is unblocked and if
fuel prices fall on the international market.

As for the adjustment of the minimum wage, Jacques Belzin indicated that the
labor unions have submitted a proposal to the government which seeks an
increase in the minimum wage from its present level of 36 gourdes to 100
gourdes.

According to Mr. Belzin, this proposal is being discussed in talks between
the Minister of Social Affairs and business leaders.

Eudes Saint-Preux Craan is scheduled to meet with labor union leaders again
this Friday to inform them of the outcome of her discussions with the
employers.
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