18919: Lemieux: Financial Times: US citizens in Haiti continue to flee fighting (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: JD Lemieux <lxhaiti@yahoo.com>

US citizens in Haiti continue to flee fighting
By Mark Turner at the United Nations and agencies
Published: February 20 2004 18:55 | Last Updated: February
20 2004 18:55


US citizens in Haiti on Friday continued to flee the
increasingly chaotic, rebellion-racked Caribbean country at
the State Department's urging.


The request late on Thursday came amid further violence in
rebel-held cities and towns, as Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the
embattled president, and opposition leaders indicated they
will not readily agree to a political peace plan backed by
a broad range of countries.

That agreement calls for an interim governing council to
advise Mr Aristide, the disarmament of politically allied
street gangs and the appointment of a prime minister
agreeable to both sides. The US, France and Canada, as well
as the Organisation of American States (OAS) and Caribbean
Community (Caricom), are backing this solution.

But Mr Aristide has insisted he would not negotiate with
"terrorists", while Evans Paul, an opposition leader and
former Aristide ally, said: "It will be difficult for us to
accept any proposal that doesn't include Aristide's
resignation."

In New York, delegates at a special United Nations General
Assembly meeting warned the crisis in Haiti could have
serious regional consequences. While backing the
Caricom/OAS initiative, they stressed the UN had an
important role in humanitarian relief and human rights.

"The current situation is alarming and dangerous," said Sir
Kieran Prendergast, the UN's political affairs chief. "We
are assessing our own role to see how the UN could be more
helpful in facilitating mediation efforts. A more active
humanitarian engagement by the UN is also required."

But he said the UN's capacity for political analysis
"remains limited and needs strengthening". Kofi Annan, UN
secretary-general, intends to appoint a special adviser for
Haiti, and the UN hopes to launch a flash appeal by the end
of the month. The UN said an appeal last year for Haiti was
funded by less than half.

Fred Mitchell, the Bahamian foreign minister, said
countries had both a legal and moral obligation to respond.

Were the government and democratic opposition to come to an
agreement, he said, "the world must provide security
assistance" to restore law and order, as well economic
assistance to address the "sense of hopelessness and
despair that has helped fuel current events".

Haiti's political and social situation has deteriorated for
two weeks as government opponents have seized cities and
towns north of Port-au-Prince, the capital.

About 60 people have been killed so far in the
insurrection, and police support has steadily decreased.

American missionaries and aid workers on Friday clogged the
airport in Port-au-Prince, waiting for flights. The Peace
Corps is withdrawing about 70 volunteers.

On Friday Guy Philippe, an opposition leader and former
Aristide ally, said he planned to attack Cap-Haitien, the
sole remaining big government bastion in the north, during
carnival celebrations, which were to have begun on Friday
and last until Tuesday.

On Thursday, an armed gang and former soldiers who seized
control of Gonäves declared themselves an independent
country called Artibonite, the name of the rice-growing
region around the city.

They also named Buter Metayer, the city's main opposition
leader, as president.



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