18652: Erzilidanto: Haitian Legal Counsel Calls for US Investigation While Opposition Defies Calls for Peace (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Erzilidanto@aol.com


Haitian Legal Counsel Calls for US Investigation While Opposition Defies
Calls for Peace


PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, Feb. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Despite international calls to
end the sporadic violence that has spread throughout Haiti by armed gangs
this week, two opposition leaders directly called for Haitians to remain armed
until President Jean Bertrand Aristide has stepped down from office. Addressing
a crowd of supporters on Thursday, Andy Apaid, Jr. and Evans Paul, leaders of
the Group of 184, characterized the armed violence as legitimate political
expression and also placed the removal of the democratically elected president of
Haiti as a condition to the disarmament of these armed gangs. The statements
were made in Port au Prince as an opposition march was canceled and more
international questions emerged about ties between armed gangs and political
opposition parties.

Ira Kurzban, General Counsel for the Government of Haiti in the United
States, held a press conference today to denounce the opposition's calls for more
violence and to raise questions about the legitimacy of some opposition leaders.
 "Public encouragement of more violence flies in the face of common decency
and morality and is a direct challenge to the calls by foreign leaders to end
violence and renew efforts to reach a negotiated settlement," exclaimed
Kurzban.  "Unfortunately, this is the same kind of irresponsible and dangerous
rhetoric that these groups have practiced and perpetuated for over one year now.
The opposition leaders have not hidden their attempts to incite violence and
have even condoned it in past public demonstrations where innocent people were
brutally killed and where calls were made to overthrow the government.

"Today, however, I am taking a step to ensure greater accountability by the
leaders of the opposition and by my own government," Kurzban asserted.  "I am
calling upon the US government to launch an investigation into the legality of
Mr. Apaid's continuing leadership in a foreign political movement, especially
one that calls for the violent overthrow of a sovereign government. I am also
asking members of the United States Congress to investigate whether members of
the US Government knew of Mr. Apaid's U.S. citizenship and ignored possible
violations of the Neutrality Act, or worse, continued to fund and/or encourage
his participation in efforts to overthrow another Government," Kurzban said.

"As many people already know, Mr. Apaid remains an American citizen and also
holds a key leadership position in an opposition movement.  In organizing
efforts to overthrow the democratically elected government of President Aristide
and in suggesting that those who are using violent means should not immediately
cease their activities, Mr. Apaid is continuing to violate the Neutrality
Act.  He should be investigated by the US Department of Justice and, if the
evidence warrants, be properly brought to justice.  I am hoping that my government
will take this matter seriously and investigate immediately," declared Mr.
Kurzban.

Under the US Neutrality Act, a citizen is barred from participating in and
contributing to political activities in another sovereign nation, particularly
when those activities include participation in the violent overthrow of a
foreign government.

"Up until now Mr. Apaid has shown little regard for the law in Haiti or US
law," Mr. Kurzban remarked.  "It is well known in Haiti that almost five years
ago, Mr. Apaid's company was fined for what amounts to telecommunications fraud
under Haitian law.  The fine amounted to approximately 2 million Haitian
Gourds, which is the equivalent of the annual income of nearly 150 average
Haitians.  Now it appears that Mr. Apaid may have also committed fraud to obtain a
Haitian passport.   Mr. Apaid's public relations machine in the US has painted a
very different picture of Apaid's character, but I want people in Haiti and
the US to know the truth about people who call themselves responsible leaders
and at the same time break the law," Kurzban continued.

Under Haitian law, a person may not hold dual citizenship.  Mr. Apaid was
born in New York in 1952 and never renounced his United States citizenship. He
obtained a Haitian passport while knowingly retaining his US citizen status.

"This should not be construed as a way to target a political opponent of the
government of Haiti, this is simply a request to ensure more responsible
actions by people in the government and in the opposition.   But it is not enough,
however, for Mr. Apaid to face any criminal violations that he may have
committed vis-a-vis the US, Mr. Paul and Mr. Apaid also need to help calm the
situation on the ground by refusing to promote hatred and violence," Kurzban
explained further.

Global Market Solutions is an international public affairs and government
relations firm and is a registered agent for the Government of Haiti.

SOURCE  Global Market Solutions

CO:  Global Market Solutions

ST:  Haiti

SU:  FOR LAW

http://www.prnewswire.com

02/14/2004 16:01 EST