23767: (pub) Chamberlain: Haiti-Caribbean (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

   By JENS-ULRICH POPPEN

   PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, Nov 9 (AP) -- Caribbean leaders again held off
renewing ties with Haiti -- suspended since the ouster of President
Jean-Bertrand Aristide -- citing concerns Tuesday over the way the
U.S.-backed leadership is governing.
   In a statement issued at the end of the two-day talks, leaders of the
15-member Caribbean Community said there will be "no compromise on the
fundamental principles of respect for human rights, due process and good
governance."
   Prime Minister Keith Mitchell of Grenada told The Associated Press that
"not only means the holding of democratic elections but also a stop to the
harassment of the political opposition."
   He didn't specify what he was referring to, but some Aristide supporters
say they are being persecuted, and a number of top pro-Aristide politicians
are jailed, including former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune, who denies
alleged links to killings during the revolt that led up to Aristide's Feb.
29 ouster.
   Interim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue said last month that most of the
Caribbean supported renewing ties with Haiti, while Guyana, St. Lucia and
St. Vincent and the Grenadines were preventing other nations from accepting
his government.
   Those three countries appeared to remain opposed to the idea.
   Relations between the Caribbean Community and Haiti collapsed in March
when the interim government was installed and Jamaica offered temporary
refuge to Aristide.
   Aristide, now in exile in South Africa, has said U.S. forces had
kidnapped him, an accusation U.S. officials deny.
   New violence has broken out in Haiti since Caribbean leaders discussed
relations at a July meeting.
   Violence has surged since Sept. 30, when police reportedly fired on
protesters demanding Aristide's return, killing two. The beheaded bodies of
three police were found the next day. Since Sept. 30, at least 80 people
have been killed and scores wounded in politically motivated clashes.
   Mitchell, chairman of the Caribbean Community, urged Latortue's
government to engage Aristide's Lavalas Family party to be involved in
elections planned for next year.
   The Caribbean leaders' decision means that for the moment Haiti's seat
in the regional bloc will remain vacant until a solution to the impasse is
reached.
   Caribbean leaders also have agreed to work with Latin American countries
under the leadership of Brazil to facilitate dialogue among Haiti's
opposing factions.