21556: (Chamberlain) Haiti fires 300 Aristide staff (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

                                        Haiti fires 300 Aristide staff


PORT-AU-PRINCE, April 26 (AP) -- Chilean troops began patrolling Haiti’s
strategically important city of Hinche overnight, the first troops from a
US-led multinational force to deploy in the rebel-held Central Plateau
where rebels launched a revolt to oust Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
        A US-backed interim government, meanwhile, announced plans to fire
or transfer nearly 800 people who used to work for Aristide in the
presidential palace.
        Only 125 of 620 security officials at the palace would be retained,
and another 272 administrative employees would be fired, cabinet director
Michel Brunache said overnight, without giving reasons for the dismissals
and transfers.
        Former palace security chief Oriel Jean, 39, was extradited from
Canada to the United States last month on drug trafficking charges. Palace
security officers also have been accused of giving directions to street
gangs that attacked Aristide’s opponents.
        Loyalties to Aristide or to his Lavalas party prompted an exodus of
government officials and police officers during the rebellion. Many left
their posts fearing reprisal attacks.
        The vacuum has forced the government to look for new police
recruits. Thousands of job applicants formed a long line today for a police
recruiting drive. A similar drive was suspended last week after a recruit
was asphyxiated during a stampede by eager recruits.
        Less than half of Haiti’s 5000 police have returned to their posts
since Aristide fled on February 29, posing challenges to the government in
regaining control of rebel-held areas or towns now patrolled by gang
members sympathetic to the rebels.
        In the southern town of Petit-Goave, a street gang that helped oust
Aristide surrendered seven weapons in a symbolic gesture yesterday.
        The old rifle and six pistols, which were looted when residents
ransacked a police station after Aristide left - did not include rifles
townspeople had seen the young men toting.
        In Hinche, meanwhile, Chilean troops arrived after an agreement
with former Army Master Sergeant Joseph Jean-Baptiste, who seized the town
in the second week of the rebellion and has held sway. The town is 113 km
northeast of Port-au-Prince.
        Thirty Chilean soldiers arrived overnight aboard two US Chinook
helicopters and began foot and vehicle patrols, said spokesman Gonzalo
Vega. The troops will return to Port-au-Prince at nightfall, and return for
daily patrols, he said.
        "Everything is calm there and we made contact with Mr
Jean-Baptiste, who has showed his willingness to collaborate to ensure the
security of the city," Vega said.
        The Chileans concede they are heavily outnumbered by an estimated
400 rebels in Hinche and its surrounding towns. Only 15 police officers
have returned since the revolt.
        About 3600 peacekeepers from Canada, Chile, France and the United
States are trying to help Haiti’s demoralised police force. Hinche, a town
of about 100,000 people, straddles a strategic crossroads and is in Haiti’s
agricultural heartland.
        The vacuum of leadership caused by the rebellion has forced
peacekeepers to negotiate with rebels, many of whom like Jean-Baptiste come
from the former Haitian army disbanded by Aristide when he was first ousted
in a 1991 coup.
        Meanwhile, interim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue yesterday visited
the northern port of St Marc, 70 km northwest of the capital, and asked for
patience.
        Some have said the government is working too slowly to restore
basic services, such as electricity and water, to punish people in former
Aristide strongholds.
        Latortue said people should give his government at least 100 days
before passing judgment.