15694: Blanchet: Radio Mtropole -- Father Max Dominique's Harsh Criticism of JBA's Government

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Max Blanchet <MaxBlanchet@worldnet.att.net>

Monday May 26, 2003

Father Max Dominique's Harsh Criticism
of Jean Bertrand Aristide's Government

Father  Max Dominique of the Holy Ghost Congregation called the
Lavalas regime to account in the presence of President Jean Bertrand
Aristide on Friday, May 23 2003, during the funeral service for Father
Antoine Adrien.

During the homily he gave at the service, Father
Dominique notably denounced  the repressive system put
in place by the regime that targets its opponents. Father
Dominique singled out the specialized units of the Haitian
National Police, namely the Swat Team and CIMO. In the
context of this repression, Father Dominique equated the
"chim" -- the over zealous partisans of the current government --  with
the "attachs"  -- the thugs at the service of the military regime of
Prosper Avril (98-90,) the members of FRAPH  -- the torturers at the
service of General Cdras (91-94) --  and the "Tontons Macoutes" under the
Duvaliers (57-86.)

Father Dominique also denounced the corruption that is
used by the government to maintain itself in power. "Absolute power
corrupts absolutely," noted the priest who stressed that Father Adrien had
struggled for the implantation of democracy and not a dictatorship in
Haiti. In this regard, Father Dominique warned against amending the
Constitution, especially article 134-3, which forbids 3
successive presidential terms.