19238: loveayiti: Wyclef "Aristide must step down" (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: love haiti <loveayiti@hotmail.com>


Wyclef Jean Voices Support For Haitian Rebels

MTV News -

Wyclef Jean voiced his support for Haitian rebels on Wednesday, calling on
embattled Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to step down and telling his
fans in Haiti to "keep their head up" as the country braces itself for possible
civil war.



"The country's in an uproar, it's not safe. But for the safety of the country
and to stop the violence, it has to be a situation where he steps down," Jean,
who was born in Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti, told MTV News. "If the president
steps down, there will be some form of negotiation with the opposition force."



"I don't consider those people rebels," Wyclef said. "It's people standing up
for their rights. It's not like these people just appeared out of nowhere and
said, 'Let's cause some trouble.' I think it's just built up frustration,
anger, hunger, depression."



On Wednesday morning (February 25), the heavily armed opposition, led by
members of Haiti's now-disbanded army, approached the capital of Port-au-Prince
after laying siege to the country's second largest city, Cap-Hatien, on
Thursday. They demanded that President Aristide step down, called his
government corrupt and demanded new elections. Fifty-five U.S. Marines were
sent to Haiti to protect the U.S. Embassy there on Monday.



Rebels now have until 5 p.m. on Tuesday to respond to an international proposal
aimed at appeasing both the uprising and the U.S.-backed Aristide government.
President Bush has told the Coast Guard to maintain "a robust presence" against
any Haitian refugees seeking asylum in the U.S. It is a stance with which
Wyclef disagrees.



"They're coming because they can't work, they can't feed their children and
they're looking for a better life," he said.



Jean praised Al Sharpton's decision to visit the country on Tuesday ("I'm a
supporter and I know he's gonna do the right thing") and encouraged people who
wanted to understand the current situation in Haiti to see a new documentary by
Jonathan Demme called "The Agronomist," which Jean scored.



"It's about an MC/DJ named Jean Dominique who had a radio show and spoke out
for the people," Wyclef explained. "He was murdered. The movie will definitely
provide enlightenment about what's going on right now."



Wyclef also asked his fans to understand that the current uprising is not
simply senseless violence. "What I want people to be clear about is it's not
just people chopping up people for no reason. It's on the level of a civil war.
People want the president that is currently the state to step down. And him
stepping down will let the people make any kind of negotiation to come up with
some form of peace."








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