21774: Esser: Most members of the Black Caucus refuse to meet Latortue (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. Esser torx@joimail.com

Agence Haïtienne de Presse

May 6, 2004

Most members of the Black Caucus refuse to meet Gérard Latortue and
denounce the illegal character of his visit at the Capitol

Washington, May 6, 2004(AHP)- Most members of the Black Caucus
refused Wednesday to meet Interim Prime Minister Gérard Latortue who
is presently visiting the United States.

During a press conference at the Capitol on Wednesday, several
American parliamentarian and representatives of Haitian organizations
denounced the illegal character of Gérard Latortue's visit at the
Congress.

In a communiqué dated of May 5th, Congresswoman Maxine Waters
presented the Haitian provisional prime minister as a "puppet
installed by supporters of the February 29th coup d'état". According
to her, the provisional prime minister is completely controlled by
American Assistant Secretary of State to Hemispheric Affairs Roger
Noriega, and by Haitian and American conservator business sectors.

Maxine Waters recalled that the former opposition had had the support
of the rebels and these businessmen in the fight to overthrow
President Jean Bertrand Aristide.

The 22 Black Caucus parliamentarians who refused to meet Latortue
denounced his behavior, when last March, in Gonaïves, he had
presented ex-prisoners Louis Jodel Chamblin and Jean Tatoune as
freedom fighters.

Maxine Waters recalled that several of the individuals admired by the
interim prime minister are drug traffickers who held the city of
Gonaïves in hostage, killing policemen and setting police stations on
fire. Maxime Waters wondered why Gérard Latortue hasn't condemned the
witch hunt taking place against Fanmi Lavalas supporters.

Gérard Latortue is a puppet put there by foreign powers who want to
have their own leader in Haiti in the next elections, Mme Waters
declared. She claimed that the provisional prime minister cannot take
any decision without the support of France, Canada and Haitian
businessmen.
.