15596: This Week in Haiti 21:9 5/14/2003 (corrected) (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,
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                           HAITI PROGRES
              "Le journal qui offre une alternative"

                      * THIS WEEK IN HAITI *

                         May 14 - 20, 2003
                           Vol. 21, No. 9

HAITIAN OPPOSITION'S "ARMED WING" STRIKES AGAIN

Haitian President Jean Bertrand Aristide received an unambiguous response to
his May 1 call for a truce with the opposition: armed commandos launched a
deadly attack on the Péligre hydroelectric dam, the power-starved nation's
most precious energy source.

Near 1 a.m. on May 7, about twenty heavily armed men attacked the
hydroelectric facility, situated just north of Mirebalais on the Central
Plateau, a region where anti-government contras have been active for almost
two years. The attackers killed two security guards, Jean Esthénio and
Célestin Arnoux, and roughed up and tied up custodians and operators. They
then doused the dam's control room with gasoline and set it ablaze.

"They have managed to reduce Péligre's output to zero megawatts," said
Public Works Minister Harry Clinton who led a delegation to inspect the
damage the same day. "The three turbines were not damaged, but the command
center and communication system were completely burned." The facility, which
was built in 1971, has a capacity of some 54 megawatts.

Jules André Joseph, director of the state power company Electricité d'Haïti
(EDH) called the damage "considerable" and promised to make repairs "as
quickly as possible."  By May 9, specialized EDH technicians had already
completed major repairs to the control room.

"Without a shadow of a doubt, this is an action by what it is fitting to
call the armed wing of the opposition," said Interior Minister Jocelerm
Privert of the attack. "This act can only come from traitors in the armed
opposition, which takes pleasure in creating disorder."

The attack on Péligre is just the latest in a series of assaults by former
Duvalierist soldiers who are reported to be training and based in the
Dominican Republic (see Haïti Progrès, Vol. 21, No. 2, 3/26/2003).

On May 6, the eve of the attack, Dominican military authorities arrested
former Haitian police chief Guy Philippe in the El Platanito Hotel of
Dajabon, a town on the northern Haitian/Dominican border. Philippe fled
Haiti in Oct. 2000 when the government of President René Préval accused him
and other police chiefs of planning a coup (see Haïti Progrès, Vol. 18, No.
32, 10/25/2000). He has since been implicated in the numerous armed attacks
against Haiti from the Dominican Republic.

Arrested with Philippe were Presler Toussaint, a former Haitian police
inspector, Hans German, a Haitian merchant, Bovinel Ancegard, a
Port-au-Prince banker, and Arcelin Paul, a former chargé d'affaires for the
dictatorship of Gen. Prosper Avril and an official representative in the
Dominican Republic of the Democratic Convergence, Haiti's Washington-backed
opposition front.

While admitting that Arcelin is an opposition representative, Convergence
spokesman Paul Denis tried to take some distance. "The Democratic
Convergence has designated a certain number of representatives in various
foreign countries, among these Paul Arcelin," Denis said. "But, I also know
that there has not been contact between the board of directors of
Convergence and all these people at certain times."

Despite the arrests, Ben Dupuy, secretary general of the National Popular
Party (PPN) predicted that Philippe would be freed. "Mark my words," he said
in an interview with Radio Solidarité. "It is certain that [the Dominican
authorities] will release them because they have a lot of connections, a lot
of powerful forces behind them." Indeed, on May 8, Philippe and his cohorts
were released by Dominican authorities because they were deemed not to
present any threat to the internal security of the *Dominican* state.

"There is no doubt, these guys are true terrorists working in conjunction
with the CIA and under the protection of the Dominican army," Dupuy said.
"Even when they deny their involvement, the members of the Convergence are
the intellectual authors of these terrorist acts."

While Convergence leaders are coy, Philippe is quite up front about his
subversive activities, openly calling on Haitians to overthrow the elected
Haitian government. "With the difficult situation in the country and the way
the authorities are handling it, it is a duty for all citizens to be
plotting,» Philippe said on one Dominican radio station, nonetheless denying
any involvement in the attack against the Péligre facility.

Philippe claims he was in Dajabon, which is outside the radius from Santo
Domingo which Dominican authorities allow him to travel, in order to put out
a document prepared by ex-police inspector Toussaint alleging that new
Haitian police officers are involved in banditry. "During this meeting, I
was in the company of ambassador Paul Arcelin and of the Police inspector
who had access to a list of the 900 policemen of the last class among whom
there are a lot of zenglendos [bandits]," Philippe said. "We were planning
to give these documents to Haitian journalists."

But Jean-Baptiste Bien-Aimé, the Haitian Consul in Dajabon, said that
Philippe was in the town planning an attack on police headquarters in Cap
Haïtien, where Philippe was once police chief.

Meanwhile, other developments indicated that the network of plotters extends
well beyond Philippe and his confederates. On the evening of May 7, Haitian
police raided the residence of Judie C. Roy on Delmas 60 in the capital.
They seized grenades, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and assault rifles
including Ghalils and Uzis. The police said they also found several thousand
shirts with the emblem of the «San manman» army, as the contra guerrillas
are now known. According to police spokeswoman Daphney Orlando, police also
found plans for an attack against the National Palace and Aristide's private
residence. Roy is member of the right-wing Patriotic Grouping for the
Revival of Haiti (REPAREN) and of the International Humanitarian League.

On May 9, James White, a 47-year-old North American pastor with the "Sharing
the Vision" mission in Cap Haïtien, was arrested in Gonaïves for the illegal
trafficking of firearms.  The arrest came after police in Gonaïves searched
the contents of a boat which had arrived from West Palm Beach, Florida and
found military arms and equipment. The police say they recovered rifles,
grenades, military uniforms, a bullet-reloading machine, a bomb-making
manual, and computer equipment, much of which was presented to the press.
White said these materials were destined for a Haitian pastor named Luc
Joseph, about whom nothing has been said and who appears to be in hiding.
Meanwhile, White, who has lived in Cap Haïtien for the past three years, is
being held by authorities in Port-au-Prince.

All these events suggest that Washington's low-intensity war against Haiti
is intensifying and that the Haitian opposition will continue to boycott
negotiations, bicentennial celebrations, and participation in the elections
that Aristide is trying to organize for later this year.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR THE BICENTENNIAL OF THE HAITIAN FLAG

Wednesday, May 14, 2003

8:30 AM
Medgar Evers College
1650 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
Haitian American Student Association (HASA)
The Haitian flag will be hoisted in front of the Bedford Avenue Building by
Dr. Edison O. Jackson, president of the school, and Rubens Sylvain,
president of HASA. To be followed by afternoon lecture and evening cultural
events. Info: 718-207-2354 or haitianclubfor2004@yahoo.com.

4:00 PM
The Ferguson Library
South End Branch, 34 Woodland Avenue, Stamford, CT
Contes Haïtiens avec Emmanuel Doreste.
Info: 203-964-1000 ext. 280 or www.fergusonlibrary.org.

8:00 PM
Queens Borough Hall
120-55 Queens Blvd, Kew Gardens, NY
Haitian Flag Day Commemoration
A Salute to Educators with Queens Borough President Helen Marshall. Info:
718-286-3000.

Thursday, May 15, 2003

4:00 PM
The Ferguson Library
South End Branch, 34 Woodland Avenue, Stamford, CT
Un documentaire sure Haiti accompagné d'un débat après la séance.
Info: 203-964-1000 ext. 280 or www.fergusonlibrary.org.

5:30 - 9:00 PM
City Hall
Manhattan, NY
New York City Council 2nd Annual Haitian Flag Day Commemoration
Haitian Flag Day Lecture & Recognition
Ceremony with NYC Council Members: Speaker Gifford Miller, Yvette D. Clarke
(40th Dist.), Kendall Stewart (45rd Dist.), Leroy Comrie (27th Dist.) &
James Sanders Jr. (Dist. 31). Info: Abel Pierre, 718-287-8762.

Friday, May 16, 2003

5:00 - 7:00 PM
The Ferguson Library
South End Branch, 34 Woodland Avenue, Stamford, CT
Un tour de la riche culture haïtienne à travers sa poésie, son art, sa
cuisine et l'histoire de son drapeau.
Info: 203-964-1000 ext. 280 or www.fergusonlibrary.org.

Saturday, May 17, 2003

9:00 AM - Noon
Bridgeport City Hall
45 Lyon Terrace, Bridgeport, CT
Haitian Flag Day Celebration
Youth In Action presents folkloric dance, Haitian music, poetry, stories,
Haitian arts & crafts.
Info: Ms. Sherly B. D'Haiti 203-372-3327 or James St. Paul 203-526-2114

12:00 Noon
Hamilton Avenue
Trenton, NJ
Haitian Flag Day Parade
The Haitian American Community Services sponsors a parade down Hamilton
Avenue to be followed by a soccer game and other events at Mercer County
Park in West Windsor. Info: Jerome 609-635-7577 or HaitianAmerican@aol.com.

2:30 -  4:30 PM
Mercer County Community College
1200 Old Trenton Rd., West Windsor, NJ
Haitian Community Outreach Program
A symposium to engage community leaders in a dialogue that will identify and
address issues confronting the Haitian community and celebrate the Haitian
Flag's bicentennial. With Renee Godefroy and Jocelyne Mayas. Info: Yve-Car
Momperousse, 866-768-3665

7:00 - 10:00 PM
St. Pius X Auditorium
1220 Front Street, Uniondale, NY
Kinanm
Haitian American Apostolate Ministry (HAAM) and Haitian American Family of
Long Island (HAFALI) present an historical cultural dramatization of key
moments in the history of Haiti that will depict 200 years of slavery,
freedom and turbulence. Call Barbara or Maryse at HAAM Diocese Office,
516-868-8076 for information. Free admission.

9:00 PM - 1:00 AM
MIT Student Center
84 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge, MA
Celebrate the Haitian Flag's 200th Anniversary. All money raised will fund
engineering projects of the MIT Haitian Alliance in Haiti. Donation: $6, $5
with a Haitian flag. Info: www.mit.edu/cidd or 617-669-0764. Email:
gjeune@mit.edu


Sunday, May 18, 2003

11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Eastern Parkway
Corner of Utica Avenue to Mt. Prospect Park, Brooklyn, NY
Haitian Flag Day Unity Parade
18 Mai Committee & HCAW Partners sponsors a parade with marching bands,
floats, steppers, dancers, decorative costumes & NYC Civil servants. Parade
participants must register. All Observers welcome. Info: 718-270-6935.

11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Nostrand Avenue
Between Beverly Rd & Ave. D, Brooklyn, NY
May 18th Festival
Yoyo Family Community Group. Info: 917-642-2265

12:00 Noon - 6:00 PM
York College, The Atrium
Guy Brewer Blvd. & Archer Ave., Jamaica, NY
Conference & Cultural Extravaganza
To celebrate Haitian Flag Day and to commemorate the Bicentennial of
Toussaint Louverture's death, Inisyativ Ayiti 2004 and The Association of
Haitian and Francophone Studies at York College. Haitian dance, music, free
Haitian food, & poetry reading. With historian Claude Moïse and musicians
Lody Auguste, Miryam Augustin, Sarah Dupuy, Alix Ambroise aka Bouyou, and
Georges Wilson aka Moumous with his group of students from Wingate High
School. Awilda Sterling and Albert Barton and their group, "Los Bomberos de
Brooklyn," an afro-latin drum and dance ensemble. Free admission.

1:30 PM - 7 PM
Spring Valley Village Hall
200 N. Main Street, Spring Valley, NY
Parade of Unity
IFG Productions sponsors a parade to Spring Valley Memorial Park, and then
speeches & cultural presentations. Info: 845-352-5897

2:00 - 6:00 PM
WBAI 99.5 FM in New York
The Haitian Collective at WBAI broadcasts a special 4-hour program for
Haitian Flag Day.

2:30 PM
Elizabeth City Hall
50 Winfield Scott Plaza, Elizabeth, NJ
Haitian Flag Day Planning Committee of New Jersey, Inc
Raising of the Haitian Flag and then a Parade. Info: (908) 820-4000

3:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Mt. Prospect Park, Eastern Parkway
Underhill & Vanderbilt Ave., Brooklyn, NY
Haitian American Cultural Festival (HACF)
With T-Vice, Carimi, Tabou Combo, Beethova Obas, Sheila Degraff, Phantoms,
Michael Benjamin, Kepopoz, Miel, System Band, NY All-Stars, Dekwochay, and
La Troupe Makandal. Open to the Public/ Donations suggested. Info: ET at
718-469-5030.

3:00 PM
Brooklyn Museum / Outdoor Culture Garden
Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY
Traditional Haitian drumming dances and songs.

Monday, May 19, 2003,

6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Brooklyn Borough Hall
209 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn, NY
Haitian American Economic Development Conference
Presentation on the economic status of Haiti.

12:00 Noon - 2:00 PM
Lutheran Medical Center
150 50th Street, Brooklyn, NY
Haitian Flag Recognition
Caribbean-American Family Health Center. Info: 718-630-6732

Friday, May 23, 2003

8:00 PM
Carnegie Hall
881 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY
Haiti: The Rhythms, The Dances and The Gods.
Historical/ cultural dramatization will depict two hundred years of freedom
and a glimpse and the next two hundred featuring Danny Glover, Emeline
Michel, Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon. Mapou Productions. Tickets: $30, $50, $75,
$100. Info: 866-655-7355 or 212-247-7800.

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

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