15302: This Week in Haiti 21:4 4/9/2003 (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

"This Week in Haiti" is the English section of HAITI PROGRES
newsweekly. For the complete edition with other news in French
and Creole, please contact the paper at (tel) 718-434-8100,
(fax) 718-434-5551 or e-mail at <editor@haitiprogres.com>.
Also visit our website at <www.haitiprogres.com>.

                           HAITI PROGRES
              "Le journal qui offre une alternative"

                      * THIS WEEK IN HAITI *

                        April 9 - 15, 2003
                         Vol. 21, No. 4

PPN CONGRESS CALLS FOR HAITI'S "SECOND INDEPENDENCE"

Despite approaching its 2004 bicentennial of nominal independence, Haiti
today remains economically dependent on formerly colonial and presently
imperialist powers and hence open, if not obedient,  to foreign dictates and
meddling. The bicephalous ruling class which emerged after the 1804
revolution - composed of a comprador bourgeoisie and the land-owning
"grandons" - continues to dominate economic and political life. It is
largely responsible for the country's severe underdevelopment, ecological
crisis, and stunted political institutions.

This is the dire state of affairs addressed by the 5th Congress of the
National Popular Party (PPN) held at the Polyvalent Formation Center in
Croix-des-Bouquets, just north of the capital city Port-au-Prince from Mar.
28-30.

The PPN emerged in 1999 when the National Popular Assembly (APN), one of
Haiti's leading popular organizations founded in March 1987 after the fall
of Jean-Claude Duvalier, converted itself into a party at its 4th Congress
held at the Domaine Idéale in the capital's Carrefour neighborhood (see
Haïti Progrès, Vol. 17, No. 3, 3/31/99). PPN national congresses are held
every four years.

Some 600 PPN delegates from all corners of Haiti gathered on Duvalier's
former ranch - today a sports training camp - following a giant march
through the capital on Mar. 27 by 3000 PPN militants, joined by over 500
other demonstrators, to protest U.S. meddling in Haiti and the Iraq war (see
Haïti Progrès, Vol. 21, No. 3, 4/2/03).

The opening ceremonies on the morning of Mar. 28 were attended by such
invitees as Cuba's Ambassador to Haïti, Rolando Antonio Gomez Gonzalez, the
permanent representative of China's Commercial Development Office in Haïti,
Zhang Boqing, Haitian progressive activist Lionel Vieux, and representatives
of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's Fanmi Lavalas party, Jonas Petit,
Annette "Sò Ann" Auguste, and Wilfrid Lavaud.

Also taking part was an international delegation which included Pat Chin of
the Workers World Party (United States),, Johnny Stevens representing
International A.N.S.W.E.R, the International Action Center, and People's
Video Network, Kim Ives of the Haiti Support Network, Frantz Delva of the
Miami Support Committee for the PPN, and Katharine Kean of  Crowing Rooster
Arts.

Most of the Congress's proceedings took place in a large airy hall decorated
with bunting, banners, and balloons as well as rainbow colored flags from
Italy emblazoned with the word "PACE" (Peace). Images of Haitian
independence leader Jean-Jacques Dessalines and Cuban revolutionary heroes
Fidel Castro and Che Guevara also covered the walls, while both Haitian and
Cuban flags decorated the podium. "We see Cuba as a model," said PPN
Secretary General Ben Dupuy in opening remarks. "It is a country where
people have the possibility to develop their capacity. Since the Cuban
people carried out their revolution, the society has been transformed and
has achieved miracles in social development, education and health-care."

During the three days of the Congress, delegates elected regional
representatives to the PPN's Central Committee, which in turn meets to
select the seven members of the party's governing Political Bureau. Some
by-laws were amended, and lively work-shops debated themes such as "tactical
alliances in the political fight," "2004: second independence," and "the
international situation: false friends - true friends." In the work-shops
and plenaries, Haiti's complex political problems were discussed and
resolutions adopted.

"The class struggle in Haitian society is sharpening," said PPN's Under
Secretary General Evariste Wilson reading from the Congress's final
declaration on Mar. 30. The bourgeoisie and "grandons" seek to "bar the road
to popular movements" and "violate the people's right to freely elect their
leaders" using "the reactionary big media's propaganda and disinformation"
and "the inflationary problems linked to the price rise in petroleum
products to try to whip up the population and create a climate of disorder
and anarchy."

"The macouto-bourgeois alliance has no other objective than to provoke a
foreign military occupation so as to replace the government," Wilson read,
"because, it is clear that it is incapable of making the people rise up
against the government."



While criticizing Aristide for lack of firmness and resolve in defending
popular demands and Haitian sovereignty, the PPN reiterated its defense of
the government's legitimacy in the face of the Washington-backed opposition'
s subversion. "Despite whatever differences we might have with the Fanmi
Lavalas on how to steer the ship of state, we will never join the ranks of
traitors (Conzés) which make up the macouto-bourgeois alliance," the final
resolution said.

The PPN Congress also condemned Washington's war against Iraq, terrorist
attacks and embargo against Cuba, and destabilization campaign against Hugo
Chavez's government in Venezuela.

On Saturday night, delegates clapped and laughed with glee as video footage
of the Mar. 27th march was projected in the main hall. During the closing
ceremonies a PPN musical collective performed as did an all-women chorale
group led by "Sò Ann."

The final plenary the Congress was honored with a speech from Ricardo
Garcia, a member of the Cuban Communist Party's central committee. Other
members of the international delegation also addressed the PPN delegates.

"We are in a difficult and confusing period in Haiti," said Dupuy. "Both the
Mar. 27 march and the Congress have been great successes which have
strengthened our militants, encouraged our sympathizers, and helped transmit
our message and goals. We will continue our struggle with even greater
clarity and conviction."

All articles copyrighted Haïti Progrès, Inc. REPRINTS ENCOURAGED.
Please credit Haïti Progrès.

                               -30-