17252: Holmstead: Note new date: AHP News - November 12, 2003 - English translation (Unofficial) (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: John Holmstead <cyberkismet@yahoo.com>

AHP News - November 12, 2003 - English translation
(Unofficial)

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Supporters of the Opposition set fire to the office
and equipment of Radio Pyramide in Saint-Marc
------------------------------------------------------------------------



Saint-Marc, November 12, 2003-(AHP)- Members and
supporters of the opposition who are active in an
organization named RAMICOS set fire Wednesday to the
offices of Radio Pyramide in Saint-Marc.

The opposition members threw rocks and fired weapons
to destroy radio and other equipment. The station's
director general, Fritson Orius, formerly associated
with Radio Haïti Inter, and other staff members,
escaped safely thanks to the intervention of the
police.

However the programmer of the station, Wisler
Marc-Arthur, was injured by rocks thrown by members of
the opposition.

Mr. Orius said that the local branch of the opposition
is accusing the radio station of being close to
Lavalas and broadcasting reports that do not support
the opposition and tend to have a demoralizing effect
on those who are trying to oust the current
government.

RAMICOS includes members of OPL, the Democratic
Convergence and the Group of 184. It has organized
several anti-government demonstrations in recent
weeks.

Fritson Orius was brought to the city's police
station. He called on the judicial authorities to take
appropriate action against those responsible for the
acts of sabotage perpetrated against Radio Pyramide.

He would like to see the arrest of the armed attackers
in order that they may be held accountable.

However, during the afternoon, the supporters of the
opposition were reportedly out on the streets of
Saint-Marc looking for supporters of Lavalas.

According to several accounts, the police appeared to
be powerless to act against the members of the
opposition group, Ramicos, who were reportedly
carrying weapons of various caliber.


AHP November 12, 2003  5:00 PM


------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Secretary General of the AJH condemns the
destruction of the offices and equipment of Radio
Pyramide by members of the opposition in Saint-Marc
------------------------------------------------------------------------



Port-au-Prince, November 12, 2003-(AHP)- Guyler C.
Delvas, Secretary General of the Association of
Haitian Journalists (AJH), spoke out Wednesday against
the acts of violence perpetrated against Radio
Pyramide and its general manager, Fritson Orius.

According to reports, the attack was committed by
members of two organizations (one is named Ramicos)
associated with the opposition.

These individuals set fire to the radio station
building, broke equipment and threatened the general
manager and the staff with death. They were rescued
through the timely intervention of the police.

Mr. Delvas expressed indignation at the fact that the
opposition supporters engaged in such savage acts.

He appealed to the police and judicial officials to
arrest one of the leaders of the groups, Marc Antoine
Adolphe, and other attackers identified by Mr. Orius.

"Such acts of violence, whether they come from Lavalas
or the Convergence, must never be tolerated in any
democratic society", said Guy Delvas, deploring what
he described as the disturbing polarization of the
media.

According to a number of residents of Saint-Marc, the
destruction of Radio Pyramide is contrary to the
principles of tolerance so often espoused by the
opposition.

*** The Circle of Professional Journalists and the
Association of Victims within the Journalistic
profession also condemned the violence reportedly
committed by supporters of the Convergence in
Gonaives.

The opposition supporters who belong to the
organization named RAMICOS allegedly set fire to Radio
Pyramide's offices and equipment.


AHP November 12, 2003  2:00 PM 


------------------------------------------------------------------------
Supporters of the opposition  set fire to the home of
a Lavalas activist in Gonaïves
------------------------------------------------------------------------



Gonaïves, November 12, 2003-(AHP)- Opposition
supporters set fire Wednesday to the home of Lavalas
activist William Joseph during a new violent
demonstration organized by the group named the
Anti-Aristide Resistance Front in Raboteau (Gonaïves).

The demonstrators shouted slogans hostile toward
President Jean Bertrand Aristide.

A young woman was seriously injured  Tuesday by
gunshots during a demonstration organized by the
front, which consists of local representatives of the
opposition parties and the Group of 184.

The opposition demonstrators were led by the fugitive
Jean Tatoune and were carrying heavy weapons. The
escaped prisoner had wrapped himself in an American
flag as he called on the U.S. government to support
the opposition in its actions.

On Monday, opposition supporters  set fire to homes
and vehicles of Fanmi Lavalas supporters in the City
of Independence.

Activities proceeded normally this Wednesday in
Gonaïves despite the demonstration.


AHP November 12, 2003  1:20 PM


------------------------------------------------------------------------
Residents of several districts of Cité Soleil say they
are being held hostage by a group of individuals
believed to be close to the opposition.
------------------------------------------------------------------------



Port-au-Prince, November 12, 2003-(AHP)- Residents of
the Route Neuf, Bois Neuf and wharf areas of Cité
Soleil took part in demonstrations again this
Wednesday to call for the arrest of gang leader
Robenson Thomas, known as Labanyè, and his supporters,
accused of terrorizing residents of the Cité.

Activities such as schools, the hospital and
businesses, came to a standstill in these
neighborhoods.

Residents of these districts said they have been taken
hostage by Labanyè's supporters because they don't
dare leave their homes to go about their normal
activities.

They said that in order to obtain food and drinking
water they must travel along the seacoast to escape
the sentries of  Labanyè'.

Labanyè's comrades are believed to be close to the
opposition and are accused of barricading the only
road that leads into the wharf area, of cutting off
electricity an damaging telephone and water lines in
the area.

They are also said to have threatened to poison the
Cité's drinking water.

These residents are asking the authorities to unblock
the road and re-establish peace in Cité Soleil within
three days, otherwise they will take action
themselves.


AHP November 12, 2003 4:30 PM


------------------------------------------------------------------------
Violence paralyzes activities at Sainte-Catherine
Hospital: the residents of Cité Soleil would like
those who are financing the armed bands to give them a
chance
------------------------------------------------------------------------



Port-au-Prince, November 12, 2003-(AHP)- Sainte
Catherine Hospital has been virtually out of service
for close to two weeks due to the violence that has
been prevailed in Cité Soleil since the killing of
Wilson Lemaire, known as Colibri.

The doctors and nurses no longer show up at the
hospital. Only the auxiliary personnel are present to
try to provide health services at the hospital out of
solidarity with the residents of the Cité.

This situation is a severe blow for some 700,000
inhabitants of Cité Soleil. The residents would like
the armed bands and those who are financing violence
for political purposes to give them a chance.

They said that it is impossible for them to be treated
by other doctors as they lack the resources to do so.

Members of the hospital support staff are asking the
authorities to intervene quickly to re-establish peace
in the Cité.

In their view, this peace is indispensable for the
resumption of activities at the hospital.


AHP November 12, 2003 3:45 PM


------------------------------------------------------------------------
The lethal violence of July 12, 2003: André Apaid's
attorneys appear on his behalf before the examining
magistrate
------------------------------------------------------------------------


Port-au-Prince, November 12, 2003-(AHP)- The
coordinator of the Group of 184, André Apaid, did not
himself appear Wednesday before the examining judge in
order to provide an explanation in response to the
accusations that have been made against him in
connection with the lethal violence of last July 12 in
Cité Soleil.

Mr. Apaid was represented by his lawyers, Mr. Gervais
Charles and Mr. Rigaud Duplan who transmitted a
document to Judge Napela Saintil .

The attorneys' document chiefly states that an error
was made in the warrant issued against their client.
The alleged error pertains to the date indicated in
the warrant.

The two lawyers also disclosed their intention to
appear before the judge in the presence of Mr. Apaid,
but only when they deem it to be a favorable moment.

For his part, the investigating judge, Napela Saintil,
said that he plans to summon once again the leader of
the Group of 184 at a future date.


AHP November 12, 2003  3:05 PM


------------------------------------------------------------------------
The question of Mr. Apaid's nationality: two Haitian
legal authorities believe that the Haitian judiciary
must decide in this case
------------------------------------------------------------------------



Port-au-Prince, November 12, 2003-(AHP)- Former
Minister of Justice Camille Leblanc indicated
Wednesday that André Apaid, the leader of the Group of
184, is a Haitian citizen.

According to Mr. Camille Leblanc, even though André
Apaid availed himself of his right to be a U.S.
citizen, he always maintained his Haitian nationality
and had at one time represented Haiti in international
tennis tournaments.

However Camille Leblanc said that it is up to the
Haitian judicial authorities to make a determination
as to the type of legal decision that would enable Mr.
Apaid to recover his Haitian nationality given that he
was born in the United States.

For his part, a member of the Office of International
Lawyers (BAI),  Mario Joseph, also said that it is up
to the haitian judiciary to make a determination on
the question of Mr. Apaid's nationality.

According to Mario Joseph, Haitians should start
getting accustomed to letting the judicial system do
its work.

Justice and the law should have the last word in this
matter, said Mario Joseph.


AHP November 12, 2003  11:00 AM


------------------------------------------------------------------------
NCHR characterizes the warrant issued against the
leader of the group of 184 as political persecution;
the September 30 Foundation urges that the judiciary
be left to do its work
------------------------------------------------------------------------



Port-au-Prince, November 12, 2003-(AHP)- The National
Coalition for Haitian Rights (NCHR) declared Wednesday
that the warrant issued against André Apaid, leader of
the Group of 184, amounts to political persecution.

Mr. Apaid had his two legal representatives appear on
his behalf Wednesday before the investigating judge to
respond to the accusations against him in connection
with the acts of violence perpetrated July 12 in Cité
Soleil. 

The violence resulted in six deaths and several
injuries among the population that was protesting
against the visit to Cité Soleil of the  campaign
labeled the Caravan of Hope.

The director of NCHR Haiti, Pierre Espérance, accused
the office of the investigating judge of portraying
the victims in this case as if they were the thugs.

The coordinator of the September 30 Foundation,
Lovinsky Pierre Antoine, declared for his part that
the judiciary waited too long before summoning André
Apaid following the complaints made against him by the
families of  victims.

Mr. Pierre Antoine claims that heavily armed
individuals who accompanied the Group of 184 are the
ones who are accused of having committed these
murders, as they were furious that members of the
population threw stones at the Caravan.

At the same time he criticized officials of NCHR who,
according to him, practice a double standard in their
treatment of human rights violations. Mr. Pierre
Antoine stated that he believes NCHR has lost all
credibility.


AHP November 12, 2003  11:40 AM 


------------------------------------------------------------------------
The new Executive Council of the UEH is installed:
Pierre Marie Maquiot promises once again to reform the
university
------------------------------------------------------------------------



Port-au-Prince, November 12, 2003-(AHP)- The Executive
Council of the State University of Haiti (UEH),
chaired by Rector Pierre Marie Paquiot who was
recently elected to this office, became operational
this Wednesday.

In his remarks on the occasion, Mr. Paquiot indicated
that the council will do all it can to reform and
restructure the UEH.

Reform of the university must take place, he said,
through a process which includes the drafting of a
 basic framework law.

Pierre Marie Paquiot also stated that the council
intends to work to set up a set of common standards
that will govern the operations of the various
entities of the university.

He pointed out, however, that the amount allotted to
the university in the new draft budget, which will not
exceed 1% of the total, is insufficient.

Pierre Marie Paquiot called on the government to
provide a larger share of the national budget to the
UEH in order to facilitate the implementation of
reforms announced by the UEH.

For his part, the Coordinator of the Electoral
Commission, Professor Ernst Camille, described the
mandate of the UEH Executive Council which includes
assisting in the general administration of the UEH,
promoting and maintaining  coordination among the
administrative services of the various educational
establishments and the central administration.

The Executive Council of the university is also
mandated to implement the decisions of the Council of
the University.

The Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Odontology promised
the new UEH executive council that it will enjoy the
full support of the Council of the University, of
which he is the senior member.


AHP November 12, 2003  1:55 PM
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