19782: (Hermantin)Sun-Sentinel:Editorial-Stop Duvalier, Philippe Now (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>

Stop Duvalier, Philippe Now

South Florida Sun-Sentinel Editorial Board
Posted March 4 2004


A high-ranking U.S. diplomat derided Haitian rebel leader Guy Philippe
earlier this week saying Philippe wasn't in charge of "anything."

Philippe, however, appears to be in charge of Haiti -- at least the
country's streets. And that has compounded the tragedy and bloodshed that
has befallen the impoverished Caribbean nation since an uprising began early
last month.

Inexplicably, Washington and its allies have moved slowly even as evidence
strongly suggests the rebels are engaging in revenge murders. On Wednesday,
they forced a number of Aristide supporters to seek refuge behind U.S.
Marines stationed at Port-au-Prince's airport. The United States, and its
allies in France and the Caribbean, justifiably pressed for the removal of
President Jean-Bertrand Aristide on Sunday. Though he was Haiti's
democratically elected leader, it became clear he could not hold onto the
presidency in the wake of an armed rebellion that left him president in
title only.

Nevertheless, Aristide's ouster dealt a devastating blow to Haitian
democracy. And the crisis will only deepen as long as Philippe remains
unchallenged. He has declared himself Haiti's "military chief" and has
threatened to arrest the nation's prime minister. Bodies of executed
Aristide supporters are turning up in Port-au-Prince on a frequent basis.

It's also a bad sign that deposed Haitian dictator Jean-Claude "Baby Doc"
Duvalier now plans a return to Haiti. The Duvalier family ruled Haiti with
an iron fist until Baby Doc was ousted in 1986.

U.S. officials must publicly state that Duvalier is not to return to Haiti,
and that he is especially not welcome at a moment when armed thugs are
grabbing hold of Haiti's future.

Fortunately, Philippe backed off the bravado Wednesday, after another round
of talks with U.S. officials and a greater presence by U.S. troops.

It's a step in the right direction that the role for U.S. troops has been
widened to allow them to prevent, when they can, rebel forces from carrying
out vengeance killings. But more troops, from the United States, the
Caribbean and other willing nations, will be necessary to restore order in
the capital and beyond.

That's the only way to force the rebels to stand down and allow a
transitional government to assume control of the country. This would pave
the way for elections and a resumption of democratic rule.

Letting Philippe and his rebel "ragtag" army call the shots, with Baby Doc
on the scene, will turn the clock back to the era of strongmen and
dictatorship. To permit this to happen would only validate Aristide's
charges that he was ousted in a coup designed to restore rule by bullets,
not law.

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