18300: Esser: Forget this sanctions talk against Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. E s s e r <torx@mail.joimail.com>

Nation Newspaper Barbados

OUR CARIBBEAN: Forget this sanctions talk against Haiti
Friday 06, February-2004
by RICHARD HOAD

WHILE a Caribbean Community delegation was locked in mediation talks
with representatives of opposition parties and civil society groups
in Haiti yesterday to  broker an end to a two-year-old political
impasse, speculations were growing about likely sanctions to be
imposed by CARICOM against the Haitian government of President Jean
Bertrand Aristide.

Such speculations, about possible expulsion from membership, or
suspension of arrangements for Haiti's access to the emerging CARICOM
Single Market and Economy (CSME), have resulted from media reports of
statements attributed to both Prime Ministers P.J. Patterson of
Jamaica and Kenny Anthony of  St Lucia.

Patterson, current chairman of the community, speaking  last week on
a radio talk show ahead of a scheduled meeting in Kingston on
Saturday, January 31, between some CARICOM prime ministers and
President Aristide,  was reported as warning that the Haitian
government could "face sanctions" within the framework of the CARICOM
Charter of Civil Society.

After the meeting with Aristide, at which he is reported to have
agreed to proposals for resolving the political crisis, including
composition of a new interim government pending new elections, Prime
Minister Anthony, who has responsibility for "justice and governance"
within CARICOM, and participated in the Kingston talks, dismissed any
suggestion of expulsion of Haiti from the community.

But he did signal that "some form of sanctions" could be enforced in
the context of violations of the CARICOM Charter of Civil Society,
should this become necessary.

The influential black American foreign policy  advocate and former
president of TransAfrica, Randall Robinson, recognised as "a friend
of the Caribbean", was among those disturbed about likely sanctions
by CARICOM against the Aristide administration.

He released "an open letter" to the community's heads of government
to make clear his own opposition to any question of sanctions against
Aristide, and cited examples of efforts by the Haitian opposition to
force the president out of power.

Whatever pressures CARICOM may consider appropriate to get Aristide
and the opposition forces in Haiti to end the current crisis, one
thing must be clear: Both Prime Ministers Patterson and  Anthony
would be aware that there is NO provision in either the CARICOM
Treaty, or the CARICOM Charter of Civil Society, by which Haiti can
be expelled from the community.

So far as the charter itself is concerned, it is at best, declaratory
in its objectives and not legally binding when it comes to enforcing
punitive measures against violations of  relevant articles,
especially that on "fundamental human rights and freedoms" which may
have triggered the comments and speculations about the imposition of
"sanctions".

This brings me to a very relevant question: How many of the
governments of CARICOM that are party to the charter, signed on
February 19,1997, in St John's, Antigua, to pay "due regard to its
principles", have in fact established National Committees, as
required, designated to "monitor and ensure" implementation of the
charter?

Allegations of violations and non-compliance have to be clearly
established by the required bipartisan National Committee in every
signatory member state, and forwarded to the Secretary-General
of CARICOM with comments and recommendations for relevant action.

I am not aware that any such National Committee exists in Haiti, or
of any specific recommendation placed before CARICOM dealing
with violations of the provisions of the Charter of Civil Society.

http://www.nationnews.com/StoryView.cfm?Record=46964&Section=LO