18868: Benodin: Res./861 SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC ORDER AND STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY IN HAITI (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Robert Benodin <r.benodin@worldnet.att.net>

Res./861 SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC ORDER AND STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY IN HAITI
PERMANENT COUNCIL
OEA/Ser.G
CP/RES. 861 (1400/04)
19 February 2004
Original: French

CP/RES. 861 (1400/04)
SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC ORDER AND STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY IN HAITI

THE PERMANENT COUNCIL OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES,

HAVING HEARD the remarks of the Permanent Representative of Haiti about the
events that have occurred since February 5, 2004, which have disrupted
public order in many regions of the country, in particular the city of
Gonaives, and resulted in the loss of numerous human lives;

DEEPLY CONCERNED by the gravity of the current situation, the tenacity of
the political crisis, the enormous socioeconomic challenges, particularly
extreme poverty and its devastating effects on the Haitian people and the
polarization that characterizes the political situation in Haiti;

CONCERNED ALSO by the growing humanitarian crisis and the plight of the
civilian population affected by the current violence;

RECOGNIZING that violence and armed gangs constitute a major obstacle to
governability and progress toward a peaceful, negotiated, democratic, and
constitutional resolution to the political crisis in Haiti;

CONSIDERING that the Charter of the Organization of American States
recognizes that representative democracy is an indispensable condition for
the stability, peace, and development of the region, and that one of the
main purposes of the OAS is to promote and consolidate it, with due respect
for the principle of nonintervention;

REAFFIRMING that the Inter-American Democratic Charter proclaims that "the
peoples of the Americas have a right to democracy and their governments have
an obligation to promote and defend it" and that "essential elements of
representative democracy include, inter alia, respect for human rights and
fundamental freedoms, access to and the exercise of power in accordance with
the rule of law, the holding of periodic, free, and fair elections based on
secret balloting and universal suffrage as an expression of the sovereignty
of the people, the pluralistic system of political parties and
organizations, and the separation of powers and independence of the branches
of government";

REAFFIRMING the spirit of resolution AG/DEC. 31 (XXXIII-0/03), which states
that democratic governance requires the responsible participation of all
social actors in building the necessary consensus to strengthen its
democracies;

REAFFIRMING the importance of resolutions CP/RES. 822 (1331/02), "Support
for Strengthening Democracy in Haiti"; CP/RES. 806 (1303/02) corr. 1, "The
Situation in Haiti"; and CP/RES. 786 (1267/01), "Support for Democracy in
Haiti";

REAFFIRMING ALSO the importance of resolutions AG/RES. 1959 (XXXIII-OJO3),
"Support for Strengthening Democracy in Haiti"; AG/RES. 1841 (XXXH-0/02),
"The Situation in Haiti"; and AG/RES. 1831 (XXXI-0/01), "Support for
Democracy in Haiti," adopted by the General Assembly;

RECOGNIZING the important role of the OAS Special Mission for Strengthening
Democracy in Haiti; and

WELCOMING the important initiative of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to
help to resolve the current crisis,

RESOLVES:

1.             To condemn vehemently, and call for an immediate end to, the
violence in several regions of Haiti, to deplore the loss of lives and
physical damage which have resulted from the current crisis, and to condemn
criminal elements and activities that defy the rule of law and established
government institutions.


2.             To express its support for constitutional order in Haiti and
its fin-n support to the CARICOM initiative aimed at promoting a peaceful
resolution of the situation in Haiti.


3.             To call on all relevant Haitian actors to comply with the
confidence-building measures proposed in the CARICOM Pnor Action Plan
produced at the meeting on Haiti in Kingston, Jamaica, in January 2004,
inter alia,.

-               Compliance with relevant OAS resolutions

-               Need to negotiate rules for demonstrations

-               Release of detainees

-               Disarmament of armed gangs

-               Establishment of a broad-based advisory council

-               Appointment of a new government through the identification
of a neutral and independent Prime Minister who enjoys the public trust
-               Implementation of the CARICOM Charter of Civil Society.

4.             To express its firm support for the Government of the
President of Haiti, Jean-
Bertrand Aristide, in its efforts to restore public order by constitutional
means and to call upon it to
fulfill all commitments and adhere to the timeframes outlined in the CARICOM
initiative, including commitments arising from relevant resolutions of the
OAS.


5.             To call specifically on the democratic political opposition
and civil society to act responsibly, denounce the use of violence, and
fulfill their responsibilities and engage in the democratic process in
accordance with the CARICOM proposal.

6.             To call upon all parties involved in the current crisis to
ensure the full, safe, and unhindered access of humanitarian personnel and
assistance to all civilians who need it.

7.             To call upon the Government of Haiti to respect the rights,
especially the human rights, of all citizens and residents of Haiti, and to
call upon all Haitians to respect the rule of law.

8.             To call upon the Government to take all appropriate measures
to strengthen its support for the effective implementation of the mandate of
the OAS Special Mission.


9.             To reiterate its firm support for the efforts of the OAS
Special Mission to contribute to strengthening Haiti's democratic
institutions and to call on the member states and other members and
organizations of the international community to bolster the Special
Mission's efforts, through the provision of financial and personnel support.

10.           To request the OAS Special Mission to support the CARICOM
initiative in meeting its objectives and to instruct the Secretary General
to continue to cooperate with CARICOM in seeking a solution to the crisis in
Haiti.

11.           To launch an appeal for international solidarity to support
the efforts of the Haitian Government and people to find a peaceful
resolution to the current crisis and to prevent a further deterioration of
the humanitarian and socioeconomic situation.

CP12295EOI