16615: loveayiti :Four Wounded As Police Break Up Rally (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: love haiti <loveayiti@hotmail.com>


Haitian police break up opposition rally in northcoast, four wounded

Associated Press, 2003-08-30

.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) - Police fired tear gas to break up an opposition
rally against President Jean-Bertrand Aristide on Saturday during in a clash
that left at least four injured.


Thousands of government opponents and civil society groups had gathered in
Haiti's second largest city of Cap-Haitien when police started firing tear
gas at the crowd.


Witnesses said police also fired live rounds. At least one demonstrator was
shot in the side, private Radio Maxima reported. Three police officers were
injured in the northcoast city.


``The meeting was illegal. Those who attended persisted and resisted the
attempt of the police to disperse the assembly,' said Charles Shely,
Cap-Haitien police chief. Organizers of rallies have to inform the police
but the police do not authorize the demonstrations.


The rally was organized by an ad hoc committee called the North District
Front, which comprises the opposition People's Struggle Organization Party
and Citizen's Initiative, a civil society association.


Last month, Aristide partisans broke up a peaceful meeting of civil society
groups in Cite Soleil, a seaside shantytown bordering the capital. At least
40 people were injured.


``We invited the partisan and non-partisan opposition to try to find unity
in the face of Aristide's dictatorial regime,' said North District Front
coordinator Jean-Robert Lalane, who was slightly injured by a rock.


Citizen's Initiative leader Frandley Denis Julien said police had notified
him they were unable to ensure security of the demonstration.


Haiti has been deadlocked in political stalemate since Aristide's Lavalas
Family party swept May 2000 eections that observers said ere flawed and the
opposition said were rigged.


Since then, the Caribbean nation has plunged deeper into poverty and unrest
as international lenders suspended more than $500 million in loans and
grants, with some needing payments on arrears but others demanding
democratic reforms and greater stability.


Plans for new elections have been stalled as the opposition and civil
society leaders demand the government reform the police, disarm Aristide
partisans, and prosecute perpetrators of political violence.


``If the police cannot ensure the security of opposition partisans, how can
it ensure the security of elections,' asked opposition politician Andre
Michel, spokesman for the Convention of Democratic Unity party.

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