23193: Esser: Haitians demonstrate in Montreal against the presence of the Group of 184 (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. E s s e r <torx@joimail.com>

Agénce Haïtienne de Presse

September 17, 2004

Hundreds of Haitians demonstrate in Montreal against the presence of
leaders of the Group of 184

Montreal, September 17 2004 (AHP)- Over 350 persons demonstrated
Friday night in Montreal against the presence of the leader of the
Group of 184 and members of his political organization.

Leaders of the group of 184 are in Montreal to present their social
contract to a group of supporters. The activity took place at the
Baptist Church of New Jerusalem in the Saint-Michel neighborhood
where there are many Haitians.

Up until 7 o'clock in the evening, there were many more policemen to
protect the group than people who came to see them. There were about
only a dozen.

Outside, demonstrators chanted slogans hostile to M. Apaid whom they
called terrorist and they demanded his arrest. The demonstrators also
demanded the return without condition to constitutional order, while
they accused Mr. Apaid of participating to a coup d'état against
President Jean Bertrand Aristide.

Interviewed by the AHP correspondent in Montreal, the demonstrators
pointed out that the leaders of the Group of 184 and their supporters
have failed their mission. "They wanted to gather a few individuals
in the church and then make believe that they had been acclaimed by
Haitians in Montreal, but we are vigilant", the demonstrators
declared.

Others declared that the leaders of the platform of the former
opposition can't even gather a hundred demonstrators in
Port-au-Prince today, since teachers, students, human rights
organizations and demobilized military forces now understand their
game well.
.