a143: COMMITTEE FOR PROSECUTION OF DUVALIER / PRESS RELEASE (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Stanley Lucas <slucas@iri.org>

COMMITTEE FOR PROSECUTION OF DUVALIER / PRESS RELEASE


About the recent events in Haiti:

COUP ATTEMPT OR "SKILLFULLY ORCHESTRATED
PROVOCATION?"


It is becoming increasingly obvious that the violence targeting the democratic organizations (in such a large scope and so skillfully orchestrated in a few hours, all over the country) cannot be seen as a simple coup attempt launched by a small group of men who tried to take over the National Palace.

It can be ridiculous to say that a handful of individuals would contemplate the goal to seize power with such a precarious strategy.

There is every reason to believe that they were manipulated. Otherwise, how could their cars have entered the compound so easily?

Where are those men now? From the information made available, except for one, they all evaporated in nature.

The calls to remain calm and the statements of government officials (without any sincere note of indignation) against the murders and barbaric acts perpetrated by the arsonists, seem to be part of a scenario designed to relieve the Haitian government from any responsibility.

They would have us believe that the democratic organizations and their leaders are, in fact, the instigators of this so-called attempt of coup d'état. How much responsibility is shared by the Chief of State, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who recently advocated the "ZERO TOLERANCE" theory, immediately followed by the murder of activists of democratic organizations and assassinations of journalists, such as Brignol LINDOR?

Let's not forget the murder of Jean Dominique, whose perpetrators are widely known to be henchmen of the regime.

If it was so easy for the government to overcome the "aggressors" of the National Palace, how come the government could not intervene to protect all those buildings so shamefully looted as well as the homes of several leaders of democratic organizations, recognized internationally as such?

It should not be forgotten that since the victory of Aristide's party, the Lavalas Family, in the May 2000 legislative and municipal elections, the country is facing political instability. The member parties of the Convergence have challenged the voting results and several donors, including the United States and the European Union, have frozen their economic aid. There is also a growing resentment against Aristide within his own party.

The "wrongly elected" government must honor its commitments to the international community (including the organization of fair elections), because otherwise, aid from the United States and the European Union will continue to be withheld.

What a wonderful opportunity for our "President" to appear (through what we call a skillfully orchestrated "provocation",) as the person who is in control and issues syrupy calls for calm and democratic values!

We firmly condemn those maneuvers which cause the demise of democracy in Haiti. We call on all those, men and women, who embrace the cause of Human Rights to stop that new dictatorship establishing itself with increasing boldness in the country.

Enough of the lies and unctuous statements.

For the Committee:

Gerald BLONCOURT (President)
Jean-Marc NUMA (Assistant President),
Alemy ILOFILS (Secretary).

Paris, December 17, 2001