23430: radtimes: D.C. Group Blames Powell, Latortue For Violence In Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: radtimes <resist@best.com>

D.C. Group Blames Powell, Latortue For Violence In Haiti

http://www.hardbeatnews.com/details2289.htm

WASHINGTON, D.C., Weds. Oct. 13: A top non-profit group in Washington says
the recent resumption of violence in Haiti is not the fault of ousted
President Jean Bertrand Aristide but U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell
and interim Haitian PM, Gerard Latortue.

Officials of the Council of Hemispheric Affairs say, "What Powell refuses
to acknowledge is that the recent violence and protests in Haiti are not
random acts, but are the direct result of popular resentment against the
U.S.-executed coup d'etat which he authored, and which brought about the
replacement of Aristide last February with someone whom the citizens view
as an imposture."

They also claim Latortue must be shoulder some blame since "Haitians are
also outraged over the manner in which (he) has embraced rather than
condemned the island's ex-military and rebel police who have persecuted
thousands of Lavalas members, solely on the basis of their political beliefs."

The COHA statement came on the same day the U.S. State Department issued a
statement condemning the violence in Port-au-Prince, that began on
September 30.

Department officials, like the Latortue government, yesterday reiterated
their claim that it is loyalists of ousted President Jean Bertrand Aristide
who are fueling the violence.

"These attacks recall the worst days of Mr. Aristide's rule, which was
characterized by the criminal use of street gangs to spread violence and
political repression," said the statement. "It is all the more
reprehensible that the pro-Aristide forces have launched their campaign of
violence at a moment when the people of Haiti are still suffering from the
catastrophic flooding in Gonaives, which claimed over 2,000 lives. We call
upon leaders of Fanmi Lavalas to break with the party's legacy of violence
and criminality that tarnished its image during the rule of Mr. Aristide,
and to participate peacefully in the electoral process."

They also said the Latortue government represents the best hope for
progress in Haiti.

.