18849: Congresswoman Maxine Waters warns of bloodbath in Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: radtimes <resist@best.com>

Congresswoman Maxine Waters warns of bloodbath in Haiti

http://www.sfbayview.com/021804/maxinewaterswarns021804.shtml

Demands that US stop supporting forces plotting to overthrow Haiti's
democratically-elected government

by Congresswoman Maxine Waters

A statement made Wednesday at a press conference on Capitol Hill:

Yesterday, I returned from a trip to Haiti, where I observed the escalation
of political violence that occurred over the weekend. This was my second
trip to Haiti so far this year. I am deeply concerned about the growing
violence organized by the so-called opposition and what now appears to be
gangs in the northern part of the country being supported in their violent
activities by this so-called opposition.

Unfortunately, the opposition, led by Andre Apaid, under the banner of the
Group of 184, is not simply a peaceful group trying to correct the problems
of the government. Andre Apaid is a Duvalier-supporter, who allegedly holds
an American passport and obtained permanent resident status in Haiti
through deceptive means. Andre Apaid is ferociously adamant about forcing
Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the first democratically-elected president in the
history of Haiti, out of office.

Andre Apaid is the owner of 15 factories in Haiti. He has been accused of
tax evasion, operating sweatshops and being a President Aristide hater. The
so-called peaceful protests led by Andre Apaid and his Group of 184 are
responsible for defying the rule of law as it relates to parade routes,
notification of protest actions and other laws that are normally respected
in any democratic society. The protests he organizes have become
increasingly violent. Police officers are confronted, property is damaged
and roads are blocked.

It is my belief that Andre Apaid is attempting to instigate a bloodbath in
Haiti and then blame the government for the resulting disaster in the
belief that the United States will aid the so-called protestors against
President Aristide and his government. Andre Apaid refuses to negotiate
despite the fact that the State Department, the Organization of American
States and many other organizations are now supporting a proposal put forth
by CARICOM.

Andre Apaid continues to use inflammatory language, denounce President
Aristide, refuse to negotiate and demand that President Aristide leave his
democratically-elected presidency. His so-called opposition group has
accused President Aristide of everything from corruption and drug
trafficking to support for paramilitary activity. When asked for
documentation, they have not been able to produce anything more than
rumors, innuendos and allegations.

President Aristide disbanded the military when he returned to office and
has a police force of only 5,000 for a country of 8 million people. The
United States aborted its efforts to support and train the new police force
and currently has a ban on selling guns and equipment to Haiti. This policy
effectively denies Haitian law enforcement officers the essential equipment
that they so desperately need to maintain order and enforce the rule of law.

President Aristide has given the United States special authority to assist
with drug interdiction efforts by allowing the United States to interdict
drugs in Haitian waters. The government of Haiti does not have the
resources needed to wage a tough and consistent war against drugs, and the
president of Haiti is begging the United States for assistance to eliminate
drug trafficking.

President Aristide is pursuing a progressive economic agenda in Haiti.
Under his leadership, the Haitian government has made major investments in
agriculture, public transportation and infrastructure. On Feb. 7, 2003, the
government doubled the minimum wage from 36 to 70 gourdes per day, despite
strong opposition from the business community. There have also been a
number of reforms to prohibit trafficking in persons and protect the
estimated 400,000 children from rural villages who work as domestic
servants in households in the cities.

President Aristide has also made health care and education national
priorities. More schools were built in Haiti between 1994 and 2000 than
between 1804 and 1994. The government expanded school lunch and school bus
programs and provides a 70 percent subsidy for schoolbooks and uniforms.
The maternity wards of eight public hospitals have been renovated, and
hundreds of Haitians are being trained as physicians. Twenty new HIV
testing centers will open around the country during the next two years. All
of this is being accomplished despite a continuing embargo by the IMF and
the World Bank.

The so-called opposition is supported by many of the same people who were
content with the brutal dictators of Haiti's past. These are the same
people who enriched themselves on the backs of the poor in Haiti for so
many years with the support of the United States government. These people
do not want a strong president like Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who will force
them to pay their taxes and provide decent wages to their workers.

Last Thursday, armed gangs took control of the Gonaives police station
during a five-hour gunfight and set the mayor's house on fire. Since then,
these gangs have set fire to the police stations of Gonaives, St. Marc and
Trou du Nord. In St. Marc, they sealed off the city by dragging tires,
debris and logs across the main roads and setting them on fire. The armed
gangs have seized nearly a dozen towns in the past week, and at least 40
people have been killed.

Unfortunately, these gangs appear to be obtaining support from the
so-called opposition in the hope that their attacks will help to fuel other
attacks in other parts of the country and eventually a coup d'etat in
Port-au-Prince. This is clearly an attempt at a power-grab.

Unfortunately, the same forces that fashion themselves as the opposition
also have control over the broadcast media in Haiti. They have used the
power of the press to discredit President Aristide and disseminate false
information to the international press about the situation in Haiti.

The nations of CARICOM are trying to assist the people of Haiti to end the
violence and resolve this crisis peacefully. The CARICOM proposal includes
an outright rejection of a coup d'etat in any form and requires that any
change in Haiti must be done in accordance with the Constitution of Haiti.
CARICOM calls upon the opposition in Haiti to ensure representation on the
Provisional Electoral Council so that the council can begin to prepare for
the holding of elections.

CARICOM also calls upon the international community to provide economic
support to Haiti. Economic assistance, including assistance from the United
States, is essential to alleviate the suffering of the people of Haiti and
build a foundation for political stability and economic growth.

The State Department must denounce Andre Apaid and the Group of 184 and
must answer this question: How can the State Department remain silent while
Andre Apaid, who allegedly holds an American passport, creates so much
dissension, disruption and violence in this small, impoverished country?

.The State Department must use its influence to help stabilize Haiti,
provide assistance for health, education and infrastructure development,
and discourage Haitians from building boats and rafts to get to American
shores.

Finally, the international press must discontinue the practice of repeating
rumors and innuendos and begin to spend quality time learning the truth and
writing the truth about what is really going on in Haiti.

Congresswoman Maxine Waters is co-chair of the House Democratic Steering
Committee and a member of the House Judiciary Committee and the House
Committee on Financial Services. Following the 2000 U.S. presidential
election fiasco, Congresswoman Waters was named chair of the Democratic
Caucus Special Committee on Electoral Reform. Prior to being elected to the
United States Congress in 1990, Congresswoman Waters served in the
California State Assembly for 14 years, where she rose to the powerful post
of Democratic Caucus Chair. She was a leader in the anti-apartheid movement
in the United States, was a key figure in congressional efforts to restore
democracy to Haiti in 1994, and continues to be a no-holds barred voice for
justice and democracy at home and abroad. Her congressional website is
www.house.gov/waters/.

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