17437: (Chamberlain) Protesters occupy OAS office in Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

     PORT-AU-PRINCE, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Nine members of a group opposed to
Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide occupied a conference room at an
Organization of American States office for a second day on Wednesday to
protest the detention of two colleagues.
     The protesters, members of the Group of 184, a coalition of
professional, religious and social groups, took over the room on Tuesday to
urge the OAS to pressure Aristide's government for the release of Charles
Baker and David Apaid.
     Both were detained 12 days ago in the impoverished Caribbean nation on
charges of illegal weapons possession.
     "They intend to stay inside until we reach our goals," said novelist
Yannick Lahens, a member of the Group of 184.
     An OAS spokesman in Washington said the group came for a meeting on
Tuesday and "they decided not to leave."
     "They're trying to sort the situation out," he said.
     Opposition politicians and human rights activists have criticized the
detention of the two men as a political decision designed to punish
government opponents. Baker is vice chairman of Haiti's Manufacturers
Association.
     Among the nine who occupied the OAS conference room were a doctor,
union leaders and businessmen. A police car was stationed outside the OAS
office to monitor the protest.
     Earlier this week, Haitian government spokesman Mario Dupuy told
reporters the Apaid-Baker case was in the hands of the judiciary.