20886: Harvey: Travel ban on Haiti ex-officials (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Sean Harvey <seanharvey@juno.com>

Travel ban on Haiti ex-officials

By Claire Marshall
BBC News

Haiti's new government has banned senior figures from the administration of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide from leaving the country.

There are 37 names on the list, including the former prime minister, police chief and Central Bank boss. The move comes ahead of inquiries into alleged corruption and embezzlement by the previous government. Meanwhile, the regional organisation Caricom is debating whether to recognise Haiti's new administration. Those barred from leaving Haiti include former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune, ex-police chief Jocelyne Pierre and the former head of the Central Bank Venel Joseph.

Inquiry demand

Justice minister Bernard Gousse said that keeping them in Haiti was an insurance policy, pending investigations into alleged crimes committed by the former administration. However, he added that it did not mean they were automatically guilty. This would be for the justice system to decide, he said.

Former Prime Minister Neptune - now in hiding in the capital - has said that the new government is conducting a witch-hunt. This comes as Caribbean leaders demand the UN investigates claims by Mr Aristide that he was ousted in a US-sponsored coup. At the end of day one of a two-day meeting, the regional body Caricom has said it would consider not recognising the new administration.