19828: (Chamberlain ) Aristide shows brave face to Central African hosts (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

     By Andrew Gray

    BANGUI, March 4 (Reuters) - Ousted Haitian leader Jean-Bertrand
Aristide is showing a brave face to his new hosts in the Central African
Republic -- who used the spotlight to call for Western aid.
     "He's a statesman. Maybe the image he gives us when he sees us is
different from what he's feeling," Information Minister Parfait Mbay told
Reuters on Thursday, "but when we see him he has all his presence and the
dignity of a former head of state."
     Aristide arrived on Monday after fleeing a rebellion which swept
across Haiti and was installed in an apartment in the impoverished African
state's presidential palace. But he has not been seen in public.
     Asked if he saw Aristide's stay as temporary or longer term, Mbay
said: "The question isn't relevant. If Mr Aristide today wants to stay,
Central Africa is a land of hospitality, there's a lot of space for
everyone. He will be able to stay. Equally, if he wants to leave tomorrow,
he'll be able to leave tomorrow."
     International media have speculated he may seek asylum in South
Africa, which said it would consider any request from him.
     Mbay said Aristide, accompanied by his wife, brother-in-law and two
bodyguards, seemed calm.
     In an apartment in the boxy white presidential palace in the
dilapidated capital Bangui, he has satellite television and a telephone --
but he has been told not to use it to stir up trouble back home, the
minister said.
     Mbay said his country could slide into the same sort of turmoil as
Aristide's Caribbean nation if the world does not give it more aid, adding
he that hoped Aristide's arrival would help put the spotlight on his
country's problems.
     The Central African Republic has a history of coups d'etat, the most
recent bringing General Francois Bozize to power last March. His government
says it wants a return to democracy but badly needs international help to
stabilise the economy.
     "We came out of a very grave crisis some months ago, nearly a year ago
now, which could have badly damaged our national unity, just like in
Haiti," Mbay said.
     "Today, in the same way as the international community is helping
Haiti to get out of its crisis, it should help Central Africa too."
     Since last year's coup the Republic's leaders have been striving for
international approval and analysts have suggested they took Aristide in to
curry French and U.S. favour.
     Central Africans have an average income of just $260 per year. After
decades of misrule, state coffers are nearly empty in a country rich in
diamond and other natural resources.
     Workers often receive no pay for months. Many are owed a backlog of 40
months' salary. Strikes are part of daily life.
     Mbay said there was a danger of political instability in perhaps six
months or a year if these problems were not solved.
     Asked if that could mean another coup attempt, he said: "It's very
possible, especially as there are many weapons circulating in the country
and because people in this country often have the habit of getting into
power by creating crises."