AP: Aristide Arrives in Central Africa

[Snazzy]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18531-2004Mar1.html


Aristide Arrives in Central Africa

By JOSEPH BENAMSSE
The Associated Press
Monday, March 1, 2004; 4:48 AM


BANGUI, Central African Republic - Former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide arrived in the Central African Republic Monday, fleeing Haiti under an asylum offer negotiated by France and the United States, the government here said.



Aristide and a small entourage including his wife flew into this impoverished, Africa nation in the early morning. Shortly after arriving, he gave a brief address to Central African Republic state radio - his first public comments since leaving Haiti.

"In overthrowing me, they cut down the tree of peace," the exiled leader declared. "But it will grow again, because the roots are well-planted."

He also thanked authorities here, and saluted Africa and its people - "because Africa is the father of us, Haitian men and women."

State radio said that Aristide would stay in the country for "a few days" and possibly head to South Africa afterward, although that could not be confirmed.



.... 2 web pages total at WaPo (sorry, need reg free breaking news source).

-----

Anyway, he speaks. The Yahoo version has a 1994 photo with Warren Christoper on a plane with him, which had me wondering how surreal the whole thing would be. I want to highlight a paragraph in the later part of this article which, in what is becoming the Snazzy style, I will do by replying to myself shortly (and thereby not mess up four graf copyright zeitgeist).

[Snazzy]

1. Not dupe BTW. End of story enlightening

I'm sort of an AP junkie over many years. They have a unique style and dictionary that is a bit different, the wire service style. What I think that often amounts to is a lead for some other journalist to go more in-depth, which of course frequently does not happen in today's spoon fed world. The wire was raw, now it is somehow as deep and often as authoritative as we get. Investigative journalism is rare.

But my point was that AP often still thinks the old way. They are still sending out pointers to the bigger story for other reporters--that's the style, nobody cares is all.

Here's what they conclude with:

"It was not clear why Central African Republic was the choice for at least a first stop in exile.

A former French colony, Central African Republic stands today as one of Africa's most turbulent countries, weathering nine coups and coup attempts since independence in 1960.

Current military ruler Francois Bozize took power in a March 2002 coup - himself ousting an elected but increasingly upopular leader. Bozize has been courting international support as he tries to restore aid and stability to his country.

Although rich in gold, diamond and other resources, the impoverished nation of 3.7 million is habitually unable to make its civil servants payroll, helping spark incessant strikes, unrest and coup attempts."

So why the hell did he go there? Betcha there's a big CIA station there for one thing....

[htuttle]

3. Why the Central African Republic?

No other country would allow the US to ask for asylum for Aristide as a third party. All the other possible destinations mentioned earlier (such as South Africa), required that Aristide ask for asylum himself. Aristide did not want to go, and would not ask for asylum, so the US sent him to C.A.R.

[Snazzy]

5. bingo. Thanks. Be nice if that was noted in press. eom

[Judi Lynn]

2. It would be great to see a Democratic President return Aristide

as did our own ELECTED President Bill Clinton.

Found this photo of the new puppet:

Prime Minister Yvon Neptune, center, and newly appointed President Boniface Alexandre, right, take questions.
(L.A.Times)

L.A. Times journalistic effort:

(snip)
March 1, 2004

ARISTIDE FLEES HAITI
U.S. Ponders Its Role at Start of a New Era
Lawmakers consider investing in the poor neighbor's future in hopes of preventing further chaos and waves of boat people.

By Paul Richter, Times Staff Writer


WASHINGTON — After helping oust a president it once supported, the Bush administration now confronts the question of whether to take a larger and long-lasting role in Haiti in hopes of ending the cycle of political collapse that has again brought the U.S. Marines to its shores.

President Bush has long vowed to avoid such nation-building. Any U.S. effort would be burdensome now, when U.S. troops, aid money and attention are focused on Iraq. Yet the United States has already shouldered a significant role in trying to bring about a new political order in the country and is committed to lead an international peacekeeping contingent that would seek to safeguard the emergence of a new leadership.

Even some Republicans wary of foreign aid are asking whether it would be wiser to accept greater involvement in Haiti's long-term development rather than risk further eruptions of chaos and waves of emigration. Every new crisis underscores for the United States the implications of having a failed state and center of misery on its doorstep.

"You're going to have the burden, no matter how you slice it," said Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.). "I don't think anybody's going to walk away from this."
(snip/...)

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-ushaiti1mar01,1,16424.story?coll=la-home-headlines
(Free registration required)

[htuttle]

4. Randall Robinson on Democracy Now this morning...

...stated that he spoke to the foreign minister of South Africa this morning on the phone.

The US State department is lying. They released a statement that South africa denied Aristide asylum to avoid political controversy. That is not true, according to South Africa's foreign minister, via Randall Robinson, a close friend of the Aristide family. South Africa has a policy that an asylum seeker must ask for asylum themselves -- it was the US asking FOR Aristide, since Aristide did not want asylum -- he didn't want to leave Haiti. Aristide was not denied asylum in South Africa -- he never asked.

The US eventually just dumped Aristide in the cash-strapped Central African Republic, a former French colony. No doubt a check is in the mail.