21710: White: Maxine Waters Denounces the Illegally Appointed Prime Minister (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Randall White <raw@haitiaction.org>

PRESS RELEASE


For Immediate Release
Contact: Betty Edwards
May 5, 2004
(202) 225-2201



CONGRESSWOMAN WATERS DENOUNCES

THE ILLEGALLY APPOINTED PRIME MINISTER GERARD LATORTUE

AND HIS VISIT TO CAPITOL HILL


         Washington, D.C. -- Today, at a press conference on Capitol
Hill, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), several other members of the
Congressional Black Caucus and representatives of Haitian
organizations met to denounce the illegally appointed Prime Minister
Gerard Latortue and his visit to Capitol Hill.  The Congresswoman
made the following statement:


         "Gerard Latortue is a mere puppet installed by the supporters
of the coup d'etat that ousted the democratically-elected President
Jean-Bertrand Aristide.  He is totally controlled by Assistant
Secretary of State  for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Roger Noriega,
the former chief of staff for Senator Jesse Helms and the Haiti-hater
who has used his power hold at the OAS and the State Department to
carry out the policy of right-wing conservative American and Haitian
business elites.  The opposition in Haiti, led by the Group of 184
and the so-called rebels who were thugs and criminals in exile, were
organized by these rich Haitian business elites to play their role in
the ouster of President Aristide.

         "Gerard Latortue demonstrated his ignorance and his
allegiance to the coup plotters by first announcing he was severing
diplomatic relations with Jamaica and then trying to force his
acceptance at the intercessional Caribbean Community (Caricom)
meeting held in St. Kitts.  Caricom voted to not recognize Latortue
and is discussing a formal request for an investigation at the United
Nations."

         "Gerard Latortue further demonstrated his complete lack of
respect and concern for the Haitian people by holding a public
meeting in the Haitian city of Gonaives and declaring Guy Philippe,
Louis-Jodel Chamblain, and Jean Tatoune to be "freedom fighters."
Guy Philippe is a known drug dealer who returned from exile, occupied
Gonaives, spearheaded burnings and killings and threatened to kill
President Aristide.  Louis-Jodel Chamblain and Jean Tatoune are both
former death squad leaders who were convicted in abstentia for the
killing of thousands of Haitians in the 1994 Raboteau massacre.

         "Gerard Latortue has not denounced the on-going killings of
members of Lavalas, President Aristide's political party.

         "Gerard Latortue is presiding over widespread human rights
violations since the removal of the elected government of President
Aristide on February 29, 2004.  His so-called "freedom fighters"
released over 2000 prisoners and recruited armed gangs, former
paramilitary leaders and former Duvalier army soldiers.  They are now
in control of many areas of Haiti.

         "There have been over 1,000 killings in Haiti since Gerard
Latortue took office.  Lavalas members have been found shot in the
head with their hands tied behind their backs.  There are reports of
Lavalas members being placed in a container and drowned at sea.  Many
Aristide-supporters are in hiding.  Delegations from Amnesty
International, the National Lawyers Guild and Let Haiti Live have
documented the repression and killing of Lavalas party members.

         "Gerard Latortue is a shameful Boca Raton buffoon --
incapable of independent leadership.  He is but a misguided tool
being used to prop up an illegitimate government until the Haitian
business elite with the support of Roger Noriega, France and Canada
can install their own leaders with a controlled election and a
pretense of democracy.

         "We are not fooled by Latortue.  He is not worthy of being
called prime minister.  At least 22 members of the Congressional
Black Caucus refused to attend a meeting with him they had been
invited to attend today.  Others could not be reached."

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