21609: Esser: Lavalas supporters meet at Tabarre (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. Esser torx@joimail.com

Agence Haītienne de Presse

April 26, 2004

A thousand Lavalas supporters meet at Tabarre: they ask the interim
authorities to create conditions to allow them to name an official
for the new CEP

Port-au-Prince, April 26, 2004 (AHP)- The political organization
Fanmi Lavalas reaffirmed Monday that it cannot name its official for
the new Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) as long as the Latortue
government has not put an end to the persecutions and aggressions on
its members and supporters throughout the country.

At a meeting attended by more than a thousand people this Monday on
the premises of the Aristide Foundation for democracy, the leaders of
this party reaffirmed their desire to see democratic elections. 

However, Fanmi Lavalas spokesman, Gilvert Angervil, asked the
Latortue government to put an end to the repression against the
party's supporters, in places such as St Marc, Plateau Central and
Artibonite. 

Many party delegates who are in hiding condemned the exactions
directed towards them by men who spread fear in different regions of
the country.

How can we participate in the creation of the electoral council when
our supporters are killed or hunted down, without anyone saying a
word, Gilvert Angervil said with frustration. 

Many delegates who asked to stay anonymous for security reasons said
many Fanmi Lavalas supporters in Plateau-Central have been killed by
former military men and supporters of what used to be the opposition. 

Some were electrocuted, others killed with sharp edge weapons, and
others were shot and buried in collective pits, they revealed. 

The Fanmi Lalavas officials who say it is impossible for them to meet
approve the decision of their party's leaders who will not name an
official for the new CEP, as long as the interim authorities have not
rectified the situation.
.