21324: (Arthur) Philippe protests detention of "freedom fighters" (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Tttnhm@aol.com

(This news report is written by EFE.)

Port-au-Prince, Apr 10 (EFE).- Haitian ex-rebel leader Guy Philippe on
Saturday described as "a revenge operation" the arrests of two top former insurgents
by the U.S.-led multinational force.

He also pointed the finger at the Haitian police for the detention of Wilford
Ferdinand, a rebel commander accused of kidnapping a police officer, and Jean
Robert, a rebel sympathizer accused of terrorizing supporters of ousted
President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

"It's not a process of disarmament. It's a revenge operation by members of
the international force who have been badly informed by police officers rejected
by the people," Philippe told local radio.

Officials said Ferdinand was arrested and later released in the northern city
of Gonaives on April 7, while Jean was arrested four days earlier in
Ouanaminthe, in northern Haiti, and later taken to Port-au-Prince. There was no word
yet on whether he had been released.

Philippe said French and U.S. troops helped carry out the arrests "under
orders from the Haitian police."

He said Jean had taken part in several operations to "weaken Aristide's
repressive structure" in the north of the country, but did not offer details on
Ferdinand.

The former rebel commander characterized as a "discrimination campaign"
attempts to link former rebels to acts of vandalism and drug trafficking.


______________________________________________


This email is forwarded as a service of the Haiti Support Group.

See the Haiti Support Group web site:
www.haitisupport.gn.apc.org

Solidarity with the Haitian people's struggle for justice, participatory
democracy and equitable development, since 1992.
____________________________________________