21785: (Hermantin)Miami-Herald-Aristide's supporters protest Latortue visit (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>

Posted on Sat, May. 08, 2004



NORTH MIAMI


Aristide's supporters protest Latortue visit

Supporters of Jean-Bertrand Aristide demanded his return near a North Miami
event where Haiti's new prime minister helped to raise money for a Haiti
exhibit.

BY JACQUELINE CHARLES

jcharles@herald.com


Outside, demonstrators sang and waved neon-colored signs demanding the
return of former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide while denouncing
U.S. officials as kidnappers who installed an illegal government.

Inside, an equal number of enthusiastic Haitians sipped white wine and
munched on shrimp and cheese as they waited for former South Floridian
Gerard Latortue -- the retired economist who was tapped two months ago to
lead Haiti's new transitional government after Aristide's forced Feb. 29
resignation.

MISSION TO D.C.

Fresh from Washington, D.C., where he spent this week pleading for money on
behalf of his bankrupt country, Haiti's new prime minister made a special
appearance Friday night at North Miami's Museum of Contemporary Art to help
raise money for this summer's Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington,
D.C., that will commemorate the Haitian bicentennial. It is scheduled for
June 23-27 and June 30-July 4 on the National Mall.

The live exhibit, two years in the making, is one of the few projects
supported by the Aristide administration that the Latortue government has
embraced.

That meant little to the crowd of 300 protesters gathered on the museums
sidewalks -- far out of earshot of those inside the museum's courtyard -- to
demand Latortue's resignation and decry the United States and its ambassador
to Haiti, James Foley, as ``kidnappers.''

CROWD'S TARGETS

''We are protesting against President Bush, Latortue and Foley,'' said
Nacivre Charles, 46, of Miami. ``Latortue is illegal. He's not supposed to
be in that position. He is supporting what happened to the Haitian people.
Aristide was elected by the Haitian people and he has to finish his term.''

Others like Patrick Eli said they were there to complain about the killings
in Haiti of Aristide supporters whose bodies are allegedly washing up on the
shores. Ludner Beauvoir, a local Haitian broadcaster, blasted recent
statements by Latortue, including a controversial meeting in Gonaives where
he referred to the rebels who forced Aristide's departure as freedom
fighters.

''He knows nothing about being a prime minister,'' said Beauvoir, surrounded
by members of Veye Yo, a long-standing pro-Aristide group in Miami. ``He
must resign if he has any sense of character. He has no respect for the
Haitian people, and he is embracing terrorists.''

Inside, Foley, who traveled to Washington with Latortue, was unfazed by the
demonstrators. Neither were the group of about 300 invitees who pledged
their support -- and gave their minimum $50 donations -- toward meeting the
festival's deficit, which is between $75,000 and $300,000.

''They have a right to protest; it's part of the democratic process,'' said
J.C. Cantave, whose group, the Haitian-American Center for Economic and
Public Affairs, was cosponsoring the fundraiser.

``But what is taking place tonight is what was supposed to happen on Feb.
27, before Aristide's resignation. The good press that Haiti will receive
from this is very important. We think there is going to be a positive
economic benefit from people visiting the festival and wanting to learn more
about the Haitian people and Haitian culture.''

Geri Benoit, who is the ex-wife of former president and Aristide protégé
René Preval, couldn't agree more. Benoit has spent the past two years
advocating the project and was on hand Friday night to tout its significance
as well as the fundraising efforts.

''This has been a very difficult year. But I still think out of a difficult
situation, something positive can come,'' she said.

``This symbolizes the rebirth of Haiti in 2004.''

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