20092: Marassa: GOPUSA.com (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: DeSprit Marassa <lwasauvaj@hotmail.com>

Questions About Aristide's Millions Cloud Leader's Departure
By Jeff Gannon
Talon News
March 3, 2004

WASHINGTON (Talon News) -- There is growing concern among opposition leaders
who forced President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to resign and flee the country
that the millions he amassed during his rule may have left with him.

Aristide and his wife were evacuated from the Haitian capital on Sunday and
are now guests at the palace of Central African Republic's leader, Gen.
Francois Bozize. Asylum for the deposed president has yet to be determined.
It has been suggested that his final destination may be South Africa.

The White House deflected questions from Talon News about Aristide's assets,
but Press Secretary Scott McClellan said, "The crisis in Haiti was largely
the making of Mr. Aristide. ... It was a failed government that condoned
official corruption -- including drug trafficking."

An estimated $6 billion in cocaine and other illicit drugs were trafficked
through Haiti to the United States and Europe last year. A convicted Haitian
drug-trafficker and former Aristide confidant, Beaudoin "Jacques" Ketant,
accused senior Haitian government officials of being involved in
trafficking. The State Department believes that corruption, weak law
enforcement, and lack of government commitment undermined the fight against
drugs.

The International Narcotics Control Strategy Report found that in 2003,
there were no government efforts to curb drug-related corruption and no
prosecutions or convictions of major traffickers in Haiti.

The Press Secretary also noted, "It was a failed government that engaged in
acts of political violence against a peaceful, democratic opposition."

The White House has adopted a forward-looking strategy for dealing with the
tumultuous island nation.

McClellan said Tuesday, "Our thinking is that everybody should focus on what
is in the best interest of the Haitian people, and everybody should get
behind the international community's efforts to help move forward on a
democratic political solution to the situation in Haiti."

He added, "We are focused on helping to bring order and stability to Haiti,
and helping to move forward on a democratic and constitutional government
for the Haitian people."

Members of the Congressional Black Congress and Rev. Jesse Jackson have been
questioning the circumstances under which Aristide left Haiti. Randall
Robinson, a Marxist activist, told the press that Aristide is claiming that
he was kidnapped in a coup orchestrated by the United States.

McClellan said, "I think the absurd accusations that some have chosen to
repeat do nothing to help the Haitian people, and they do nothing to help
move forward during this difficult period."

McClellan pointed out, "Ambassador Foley met yesterday with the democratic
opposition; today he is meeting with the Prime Minister and meeting with
other ambassadors to move forward on the framework that the Caribbean
Community outlined. The situation in Port-au-Prince is much calmer."

"We are focused on moving forward on the constitutional and democratic
process in Haiti," McClellan added.

Copyright © 2004 Talon News -- All rights reserved

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