21812: Esser: Haitian prime minister blasts opposition (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D.. Esser torx@joimail.com

New York Newsday
http://www.nynewsday.com

May 10, 2004

Haitian prime minister blasts opposition
By Ron Howell
Staff Writer

Haiti's interim prime minister said Monday that opposition to his
U.S.-backed government is being fomented by black Americans more
interested in "black power" than in the plight of the Haitian people.

Speaking to reporters at the Harvard Club in Manhattan, Gerard
Latortue also called exiled Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide
an inveterate "liar."

Latortue charged that African-American politicians organizing
protests against his government are making the question of who should
rule Haiti "a racial issue that doesn't correspond with the
aspirations of the Haitian population today."

"This has been promoted more by Afro-Americans than by Haitians, in
the name of black power," Latortue said, referring to a Brooklyn
rally last month attended by 1,500 Aristide supporters, who see him
as Haiti's only legitimate ruler.

Ron Daniels, an African-American who has organized protests in
support of Aristide, replied that Latortue's comments show "he is
really out of touch with reality."

"The fact is that many African-Americans simply believe his
government came to power in an illegitimate manner," said Daniels,
executive director of the Manhattan-based Center for Constitutional
Rights.

On Feb. 29, Aristide, viewed as a pro-poor leftist by his supporters
but as an unstable demagogue by opponents, signed a letter of
resignation and went into exile on a U.S. chartered plane to the
Central African Republic.

Soon after his arrival there he began telling associates he had been
"kidnapped" by U.S. soldiers and diplomats, a charge repeated by U.S.
supporters.

Latortue said Aristide is a "liar" capable of asking U.S. officials
to help him escape Haiti's spreading violence and then deciding to
accuse them of kidnapping him.

"The man really has a double personality, and sometimes one
personality will say yes, then the other personality says no,"
Latortue said.

Latortue, a business consultant in Boca Raton, Fla., before being
tapped two months ago to be interim prime minister, said American
presidential politics play a role in the U.S.-based opposition to his
government. "It is a fight against President Bush and the Republican
Party," he said.

The protesters "hope that if the present administration loses the
election and Democrats come back, there will be a chance for the
Democrats to return Aristide."

Outside the Harvard Club on West 44th Street, several dozen
protesters carried signs saying, "Down With Gerard Latortue" and "End
the U.S. Occupation of Haiti."

"He's taking his orders from the United States embassy," shouted
Haitian-born Jean Kernizan, 50.

Latortue visited U.S. officials in Washington last week and was
expected to travel last night to France, where he will continue
efforts to get international financial aid for his troubled nation.

Latortue maintains Aristide was corrupt and that he orchestrated
violent repression of political opponents. Aristide's supporters say
he was loved by most poor Haitians but was opposed by wealthy,
lighter-complexioned Haitians and by the United States because of his
leftist policies.

Copyright © 2004, Newsday, Inc.
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