25281: Holmstead: (NEWS) Fwd: Spokesman for Aristide's Lavalas movement condemns violence in Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

FROM: John Holmstead    <cyberkismet5@yahoo.com>


FWD: Haiti Information Project

Spokesman for Aristide's Lavalas movement condemns
violence in Haiti

June 3, 2005

Port au Prince (HIP) - A spokesman for Aristide's
Lavalas movement in Haiti's capital, Mr. Samba
Boukman, condemned an attack and firebombing against a
popular market in Port au Prince this last Wednesday.
At least 10 people are reported to have died in the
blaze that was started after unidentified gunman began
shooting in the area.

"We condemn this attack against a marketplace of the
poor and disassociate ourselves with this violence. We
call on our communities to continue to demonstrate
non-violently for the return of our constitutional
president and the release of all political prisoners
in Haiti," Mr. Boukman declared.

Haiti's recent wave of violence and insecurity began
after the Haitian police fired on peaceful marches in
the capital demanding the return of President
Jean-Bertrand Aristide on Feb. 28 and April 27.  At
least 11 unarmed demonstrators were killed in the two
attacks forcing U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan to
echo recent demands of human rights organizations for
an official investigation. The U.S.-installed
government of Gerard Latortue has dismissed the
allegations despite statements made by Brazilian
General Heleno Ribera and video footage taken by a
local television station confirming the unprovoked
attacks.

U.S. Ambassador James B. Foley and the Haitian
business elite have blamed recent violence and an
epidemic of kidnappings in the capital on gangs
claiming allegiance to ousted President Jean-Bertrand
Aristide. The French honorary consul to the northern
city of Cap Haitien, Paul-Henri Mourral, was shot and
killed on the outskirts of Port au Prince last Tuesday
in an apparent carjacking. The Haitian police have
blamed armed "bandits" associated with Aristide for
the killing and claim Haiti's violence is due to an
"urban guerilla" movement attempting to destabilize
the government.

A recent report released by the International Crisis
Group (ICG) based in Brussels blamed most of Haiti's
violence on "spoilers", namely drug traffickers,
absent of any particular political affiliation. The
ICG report states, "Groups linked to criminal
activities, particularly drugtrafficking and
contraband (in Haiti and abroad), are behind much of
the current wave of violence. It is plausible that
they will attempt to establish (or indeed have already
established) ties to political parties, and will offer
financing or other kinds of support. While the extreme
weakness of the transitional government and state
institutions might suit them, they can be expected to
follow politics closely so as to be able to adapt to
any conceivable post-election scenario and to quickly
establish a modus vivendi with the new government, as
they have done in the past."

The ICG report also criticized Haiti's current
government for not doing more to reign in the police
and for stalling investigations into alleged human
rights violations committed by the force.

In yesterday's press conference, Mr. Boukman also
accused Chief of Police Leon Charles of blocking
attempts to organize peaceful demonstrations in the
capital. "The Haitian constitution allows us to give
them 48 hours notice with a request to demonstrate
peacefully. They are not allowing us to deliver the
requests. No one, not even Leon Charles private
secretary, will accept our requests to demonstrate
peacefully. This is a ban on legal and public
demonstrations and our rights to freedom of expression
under the Haitian constitution," declared Mr. Boukman.

Recent violence in Haiti's capital has also decreased
the chances of holding elections scheduled to begin in
October of this year. The body overseeing the election
process, the Provisional Election Council, announced
on May 30 that only 60,000 people have registered out
of an eligible 4.5 million potential voters since the
process began more then a month ago.

The current crisis in Haiti prompted an editorial in a
California newspaper, the Contra Costa Times, to
conclude, "Rushing to hold elections in the midst of
anarchy is a formula for disaster. The United States
must use its leverage to force the Latortue government
to negotiate with Aristide and Lavalas. Aristide
remains the country's most influential political
figure and there will be no solution to the current
crisis without his participation."


The Haiti Information Project (HIP) is a non-profit
alternative news service providing coverage and
analysis of breaking developments in Haiti.

For more information visit:
http://www.teledyol.net/HIP/about.html
Contact: HIP@teledyol.net







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