20711: Nealy: RE: 20672: Marassa: pwens and misreadings and "Salade Latortue" (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: David Nealy <dlnealy@msn.com>

RE: LaTortue in Gonaives

Comments and actions by M. LaTortue in Gonaives may involve some ambiguity,
but at least part of the message was clear. By omitting any mention of the
charges and even convictions by Haitian courts of some of the rebel leaders,
he was not supporting the rule of law. That is very serious.

His tactics may be calculated to defuse some of the tension and facilitate
disarming, but one result surely will be to discredit him in the eyes of the
Lavalas people, and to make disarming their chimeres less likely. His
"Freedom Fighters" designation of the rebels, and his reference to Aristide
as "dictator", if accurate, send a message that does not promote
reconciliation. Where are the touted skills as a mediator that we have
heard?  Add to that his rift with Jamaica's government and with Caricom, and
we must wonder what happened to those skills?

I, too, wish M. LaTortue success in stabilizing the country, reforming the
government, starting to address Haiti's many economic and social problems
(lack of potable water, disease, lack of functioning institutions...), but
already at this early stage, he seems to be reacting too much to Aristide,
Caricom, and  Lavalas, and needs to focus more on constructive tasks for the
people. Why cut funding for literacy???? At the least Haitians need some
explanation of the many decisions so  quickly made.  The "honeymoon" may not
last long.

David

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