20972: Esser: The provisional government has a limited mandate (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. Esser torx@joimail.com

Agence Haītienne de Presse

March 29, 2004

The provisional government has a limited mandate and can in no case
take decisions that are binding upon the country's future, according
to COPAH

Port-au-Prince, March 29, 2004 -(AHP)- The Conference of Haitian
pastors (COPAH), declared that it has taken note of the changes that
have taken place in the Haitian political life and within the State
following the departure abroad of the constitutionally elected
president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide on February 29th.

In a press release made public on March 29, COPAH considered that
this post-Aristide transition must clear the way for free, honest and
transparent elections through the establishment of a credible and
constitutional electoral process that takes into account the
aspirations of all organized groups and political parties in the
country.

According to COPAH, the interim government has a limited mandate
defined in the Constitution of 1987 and can in no case take decisions
that bind the nation's future.

Any thoughtless action that throws back into question the functioning
of the State, particularily regarding the past three years, would be
harmful to the country, stated COPAH. The group called on the
authorities to get down to work dissecting the numerous questions of
a judicial nature and working to gradually curb the phenomenon of
violence gripping all levels of society.

The human rights situation has grown more deeply troubling in recent
weeks, characterized by cases of summary executions, arbitrary or
illegal arrests based solely and simply on wild denunciations made by
informants, declared COPAH. The pastors' organization asked local or
foreign human rights organizations to conduct impartial
investigations into these cases of violations.

According to the Conference of Haitian Pastors, the authors of any
and all crimes and human rights abuses must be condemned by a
competent and impartial judicial body. The State can not be built
upon lies and impunity, said COPAH.

It asked the authorities in Port-au-Prince to demonstrate their
political restraint and to avoid any regrettable diplomatic
incidents, notably regarding the neighboring countries in the
Caribbean. Diplomatic questions should not be handled or resolved
through the media, much less based on a knee-jerk emotional response,
said COPAH. 

The Conference is of the opinion that government action should take
into account the legitimate aspirations of the Haitian people, in
harmony with constitutional principles. No foreign force can be above
the Haitian Constitution and Haitian laws unless it is an occupying
force, it added.

Finally, COPAH made the point that the current government is
responsible for the security of the life and property of every
citizen and the police must be an instrument at the service of the
State and the nation.
.