22769: (Hermantin)Miami-Herald-A blemish on record of post-Aristide Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>


Posted on Sun, Jul. 18, 2004





A blemish on record of post-Aristide Haiti

OUR OPINION: NEW GOVERNMENT SHOULD SEEK EVEN-HANDED JUSTICE


In the coming days and weeks, nations and institutions around the world will
be asked to come up with nearly $1 billion to support Haiti. This is a
commendable effort led by the World Bank. Without this level of aid, Haiti
has no chance of achieving the elusive goal of self-sustaining, democratic
nationhood. Haiti deserves all the aid and assistance it can get.

At the same time, Haiti's leaders must strive to be more even-handed,
especially in projecting and administering justice. Some events since the
ouster of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide give rise to concern.

Armed and dangerous

This may be a harsh judgment, but it is fully justified by the poor record
of interim Prime Minister Gerard LaTortue, who took power on March 12.

Violence has subsided, but little progress has been made in disarming the
armed factions that roam the countryside and many of Haiti's urban areas.
The rebels who helped to topple Mr. Aristide are still armed and dangerous,
as are the so-called chimeres who acted as the enforcers of the former
government. The presence of, first, a U.S.-led military force, and, now,
U.N.-led peacekeepers, keeps a lid on the violence, but the danger is still
present.

Mr. LaTortue himself has lent credibility to the outlaw forces by lauding
the rebels and appearing on the same platform with their leaders shortly
after he took over, and he has never publicly disowned them. Recently, the
government issued a two-month warning for thugs to turn in their weapons or
face arrest, but it is unclear if this is a bluff or how the government
plans to enforce this order.

Meanwhile, instead of reconciliation, the new government seems intent on
revenge. Former Prime Minister Yvone Neptune, who turned himself in, sits in
the National Penitentiary facing murder charges for acts over which he
appears to have had little control.

Government's delays

The new government also has failed to announce new election dates other than
to say they will take place next year. That, too, is worrisome, given that
the initial idea was to begin a round of elections before the end of 2004.
Perhaps waiting is better, but the government's delays don't inspire
confidence.

Others share the blame, particularly Haiti's friends abroad. The U.N.
peacekeeping force is nowhere near the 6,500 troops promised. Training of
the new police force has been slow to materialize. The period of nearly five
months since the fall of President Aristide isn't a long time, but the
gravity of the situation in Haiti shouldn't be underestimated. The interim
government must move faster against all known perpetrators of violence
regardless of political stripe. Recent history shows that patience wears
thin quickly -- and understandably so -- among the people of Haiti.

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