19989: (Chamberlain) Aristide says he is well treated in Africa (later story) (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

     By Andrew Gray

     BANGUI, March 7 (Reuters) - Ousted Haitian leader Jean-Bertrand
Aristide says he is being well treated in the Central African Republic,
according to a message read out by a minister, but his wife was not allowed
to speak to the media.
     The impoverished African state held a news conference attended by
Mildred Aristide to try to quash reports her husband had been held a
virtual prisoner since arriving last Monday from his homeland as a
rebellion plunged it into chaos.
     But the event became a public relations nightmare, with armed men
ordering photographers and cameramen from the room and initially refusing
to let reporters make sound recordings. Heated arguments broke out between
officials and journalists.
     Foreign Minister Charles Wenezoui then read only a terse statement
from ex-president Aristide thanking the country for its hospitality and
refused repeated requests to let Mildred Aristide, looking uncomfortable at
his side, talk to the media.
     Central African authorities have expressed annoyance that Aristide has
repeatedly accused the United States of forcing him from office in phone
calls to friends and the media. Washington has strongly denied the
allegations.
     Asked directly if she would be happy to respond to questions, Mildred
Aristide replied diplomatically: "I take the lead from the minister and the
members of the government." The minister promptly said it was not
appropriate for her to speak.
     Dressed in a dark suit, the Haitian-American lawyer's only role in the
news conference was to shake hands with journalists at the end and pass the
hand-written message to the minister at the start.
     "We have been well received in the (presidential) Renaissance Palace
by his excellency President (Francois) Bozize, his government and by our
brothers and sisters of the Central African Republic," the note said.
     "We would like to take this opportunity to express our very sincere
thanks to them."
     Aristide, who has not been seen in public since arriving in the
capital Bangui last Monday with his wife, brother-in-law and several
bodyguards, also said in the note he would address journalists at "an
opportune moment."
     In the transcript of an address to a Californian radio station
released on Sunday, Aristide said he was forced to sign a letter of
resignation and did not know he was going to the Central African Republic
until shortly before landing there.
     The United States has said it helped Aristide leave Haiti but the
decision to go was his own.
     The Central African Republic, a land-locked state about the size of
Texas, is ruled by a military-led government which seized power a year ago
and badly needs Western help to tackle drastic economic problems.
     The average income per year is $260 and some public sector workers are
owed more than 40 months' salary.
     Wenezoui said Aristide had been accepted for a temporary stay and had
been reminded of his "obligation" not to cause problems in Haiti, where
tens of thousands of his supporters have marched in recent days demanding
his return.
     South Africa has said it would be willing to help in principle if it
received a request for asylum from Aristide, a former slum priest once
hailed as a hero of democracy but later accused of ruling autocratically
and tolerating corruption.