18512: (Hermantin) Sun-Sentinel- U.S. Must Use Its Influence (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>

U.S. Must Use Its Influence

South Florida Sun-Sentinel Editorial Board
Posted February 12 2004

A potentially catastrophic uprising in Haiti requires greater outside
pressure, from Caribbean nations and the United States, to quell the
violence and reassert support for a peaceful settlement.

The attacks by armed civilians began last week in Gonaives when groups
opposing President Jean-Bertrand Aristide overwhelmed local police in what
is Haiti's fourth-largest urban area. From there, the rebellion spread,
threatening greater upheaval, more deaths and a humanitarian crisis.

Haiti ranks among the planet's poorest countries, and faces a debilitating
ecological crisis that, in turn, deepens the country's economic and social
collapse. Haitians simply cannot afford a violent power struggle on top of
everything else.

South Florida, which is home to Haitian immigrants and exiles, has much at
stake as well. A gradual socio-economic renaissance in Haiti is in
everyone's interest, while strife could spark a chaotic mass migration to
South Florida shores.

Fortunately, talks to end the conflict are under way. It's time to redouble
the efforts led by Caribbean nations including the Bahamas and Jamaica.

The sticking point in the negotiations is Aristide's future as president.
Aristide is willing to call for new elections, if he is allowed to complete
his term, which expires in 2006. The opposition insists he must resign now,
arguing they are not safe seeking political office while Aristide is in
power.

A compromise is necessary to break the deadlock, and to quell the violent
rebellion. Aristide should accept an offer by Caribbean countries to send
peacekeepers to keep tranquility and to reassure opposition leaders and
others.

The opposition must also acknowledge that Aristide is the nation's elected
leader. Unpopular as he might be, coups, uprisings and forced resignations
hurt democracies and undermine stability.

The United States should endorse this position. On Tuesday, the State
Department again endorsed the talks led by the Caribbean nations.

Washington must be more forceful. It must flatly state it would not embrace
the violent overthrow of the Aristide government -- and that a settlement
that leaves Aristide in office in return for meaningful elections and
restoring a parliament could be the most viable path to peace.

U.S. diplomacy has been cool toward Aristide for many years, and with good
reason. But Washington must adopt the position that a settlement allowing
Aristide to stay in power is one that sides with democracy, and not
necessarily with the embattled Haitian president.

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