18693: Esser: Waters Charges U.S. Is Encouraging A Coup in Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. Esser torx@joimail.com

Democracy Now!
http://www.democracynow.org
Rep. Maxine Waters Charges U.S. Is Encouraging A Coup in Haiti

Monday, February 16th, 2004
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=04/02/16/1746202

Several thousand demonstrators clashed with supporters of Haitian
President Jean Bertrand Aristide this weekend as they marched through
the streets of the capital Port-au-Prince. We speak with Rep. Maxine
Waters (D-CA) about what role the U.S. is playing in the current
events in the country.

In Haiti, anti-government gangs and militias are working with
opposition groups and former army officers in an effort to overthrow
the government of Jean Bertrand Aristide. There is concern that
Washington is once again working behind the scenes to foment a coup.

For weeks, Haiti has seen armed gangs attacking government forces and
supporters in various towns and cities across the country.
Pro-government supporters have been defending Aristide. There have
been a series of armed battles that have resulted in at least 40
deaths. Haiti has no army and has a dwindling police force numbering
only a few thousand.

On Sunday, several thousand demonstrators clashed with Aristide
supporters as they marched through the streets of the capital,
Port-au-Prince. Police used tear gas to keep the two sides apart.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yvon Neptune told the BBC that the
government planned to launch an attack to regain control of Gonaives,
the fourth-largest city in Haiti. Anti-government gangs are thought
to control about 11 towns and cities across the country.


* Rep. Maxine Waters, Democratic Congresswoman from California
serving in her seventh term. She is the Chief Deputy Whip of the
Democratic Party and serves as Co-Chair of the House Democratic
Steering Committee. She is the former chair of the Congressional
Black Caucus. She recently returned from Haiti.

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