a1983: The political crisis between the Lavalas Family, FL, andthe Democratic Convergence is almost two years old (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Robert Benodin <r.benodin@worldnet.att.net>

Haiti: Highlights of Radio Metropole news 1145 gmt 07 May 02
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; May 8, 2002


2. The political crisis between the Lavalas Family, FL, and the Democratic
Convergence is almost two years old, and there is still no hope for a
solution. According to Micha Gaillard, the Convergence is concentrating its
efforts on working with people in the field to prepare them for
demonstrations that should take place locally. Jean Numa reviews the
situation. (4 min)
3. The Struggling People's Organization, OPL, denounces the persistence of
the climate of repression against its members in the Cavaillon area. During
a press conference yesterday, Gerard Pierre-Charles vigorously criticized
the Lavalas regime. Pierre-Charles said, "//Fourteen OPL partisans in
Cavaillon were served arrest warrants while demonstrating peacefully with
the permission of the local authorities. The thing is, the government is
using one of the judicial procedures so that it may commit injustices. It
manipulates judicial procedures by getting judges to issue arrest warrants
under false pretences.//" (1 min)
4. Concerning the case of Prosper Avril, the wife of the former president of
the military government wrote to President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Madam
Marie Ange Avril asks the president of the Republic to intervene to have her
husband released. (2 min)
5. The Port-au-Prince Bar Association will stop working today to protest the
dysfunctional judicial apparatus. The association wishes to denounce the
human rights violations that are taking place throughout the country that
prevent lawyers from doing their jobs properly and obstruct the regular
operations of the judicial apparatus. Attorney Constantin Mayard Paul said
that he will observe this day of reflection in solidarity with other
lawyers. (2 min)
7. Fights between rival gangs in La Saline and Fort Touron continued
yesterday. A Tele Haiti team just managed to escape from a gang that threw
stones at them. It is very difficult for the press to enter the area. The
fights resumed after a demonstration that was announced by the residents of
Fort Touron failed to take place. Two people were injured in that incident.
Bandits broke windshields and ransacked cars. (4 min)
8. The orthopedic department's medical staff at the Port-au-Prince general
hospital is observing a work stoppage. Doctors are asking for better working
conditions and better equipment so they may offer better services to the
population. The doctors say that the strike will continue until they obtain
satisfaction. Patients who are affected by the strike want the authorities
to intervene to put an end to the crisis. (2 min)
9. An eight-year-old died at the general hospital on Saturday 4 May with
typhoid and an internal bleeding. She was unable to get the blood
transfusion that was needed to save her life. (4 min)
10. The Centre for Free Enterprises and Democracy, CLED, tonight will launch
an international conference with the theme "justice for a competitive
nation." The CLED wants to emphasize the importance of justice for business
development. It will put in perspective the problem of corruption and its
impact on the business sector. The conference will take place from 7 to 9
May in Port-au-Prince. (1 min)
11. The Initiative of Cooperatives, Inicoop, confirms that cooperatives will
offer lower interest rates. In a note made public yesterday, Inicoop
announced that monthly interest rates of 3 to 5 per cent will be given on
term accounts. Zache Michel said that cooperatives no longer have the
capacity to grant monthly interest rates of 10 to 12 per cent. (3 min)
15. Special Guest of the Day: Jeremie Bishop Willy Romelus on the conflict
between him and Father Jude B. Frederick. According to Romelus, Frederick
was not sanctioned for denouncing corruption in the diocese of Jeremie. He
was sanctioned because he refused to comply with church regulations.
Frederick is forbidden to speak in public but will remain a priest. Romelus
said that Frederick is in Port-au-Prince right now, and that he called
Romelus yesterday to apologize for what had taken place in Jeremie. Romelus
says he forgives the priest and wants him to return to the diocese to resume
his church activities. (14 min)
16. A security agent of Senator Pierre Sancon Prince has reportedly been
shot in the Cayes-Jacmel area. We now have Prince on the phone. (9 min)
Source: Radio Metropole, Port-au-Prince, in French 1145 gmt 7 May 02
/¸ BBC Monitoring