CARACOM decides not to recognize the US Coup in Haiti-

[dax]

I just heard on the C-Span hearing the Democrat from the Virgin Islands read a statement from Caracom ?sp. somebody help me-that they will NOT recognize any "new government" in Haiti achieved by a coup and Aristide must be restored . I only heard it read and don't have a link yet but this is Da Boot in Da Bush's face-they WILL stand together and if he cuts off their aid etc. now I think Europe and South America, Latin America and Africa will weigh in.

[Dover]

1. That's the only way ANY small nations will survive U.S. aggression.

Small defenseless nations will have to link arms and stand together.
CARICOM is trying to bring South Africa into their circle....


...Although Patterson offered no details of the nature of the discussion with Mbeki, it was being surmised last night that the South Africans were being asked not only to provide an exile home for Aristide, but to make common cause with Caricom in responding to what regional leaders stopped just short of branding as a coup d'etat against Haiti's elected leader.

"The Caricom countries are all very small, relatively weak countries although they have numbers and substantial voice," explained one analyst last night. "South Africa, on the other hand, is Africa's leader, a relatively significant power and one which, with Caricom, can help to make effective representations about the developments in Haiti. Indeed, if Mbeki is on board in a joint response with Caricom, it would not be surprising if Nigeria's Olusegun Obasanjo is also brought into the mix."

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20040302T220000-0500_56547_OBS_CARICOM_DRAWS_SOUTH_AFRICA_INTO_THE_LOOP_OVER_HAITI.asp

[Room101]

2. Caracom? Please explain and forgive my ignorance

This is good news Waters, Rangel and Lee wont let this die.
I will call my rep in the morning.

[I AM SPARTACUS]

4. Caribbean Community...

their website:
http://www.caricom.org

[I AM SPARTACUS]

3. I think it's CARICOM...link to earlier story...

Caribbean Leaders Call for Probe of Aristide's Exit
By REUTERS
Published: March 3, 2004
Filed at 4:44 p.m. ET

KINGSTON, Jamaica (Reuters) - The Caribbean Community on Wednesday called for an international inquiry into the circumstances of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's exile from Haiti and said it would not contribute troops to an multinational peacekeeping force.

<More...>

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/international/international-haiti-caribbean.html

[Dover]

5. Caricom calls for UN probe of Aristide's oust

Caricom calls for UN probe of Aristide's ouster

AP
Thursday, March 04, 2004

Caribbean leaders yesterday called for a United Nations-led investigation into Sunday's ouster of Jean-Bertrand Aristide from the Haitian presidency, a declaration that is likely to offend the United States whom Aristide accused of effectively kidnapping and shunting him out of Haiti.

At the same time, Caribbean Community (Caricom) leaders continued to brand Aristide's overthrow as unconstitutional and said that it "set a dangerous precedent to elected governments everywhere".

The leaders, at the end of a summit here yesterday, decided to defer consideration of Haiti's future in the 15-member regional grouping until they meet again later this month and they have had time to assess the interim administration that emerges in Port-au-Prince. Yet they signalled their commitment to the Haitian people and the country's long-term participation in the Community, which Haiti joined in 1998.

Caricom though warned that rebels, including death squad leaders who led an insurrection against Aristide, should not be part of the interim government. ".No action should be taken to legitimise the rebel forces nor should they be included in any interim government," the leaders said in a statement. "The heads of government also agreed that the issue of relations with the interim administration would be the subject of urgent review at the upcoming inter-sessional meeting of the Conference (of Caricom Heads of Government)."

In fact, Jamaica's Prime Minister P J Patterson told reporters yesterday that Haiti's continued participation in Caricom would depend on what transpires there in the next few days.
"(Caricom) was not prepared to deliberate with thugs, anarchists and persons with reputations contrary to the tenets of civil society," he told reporters.

With suspicion running deep over America's role in Aristide's removal, the leaders made clear that their countries would not participate in the US-led Interim Multinational Task Force, which the UN Security Council authorised for Haiti on Sunday, but said that Caricom would be part of a "follow-on" stabilisation force which would provide humanitarian assistance and help to rebuild the Haitian economy, civil society and democratic structures....more >>

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20040303T220000-0500_56592_OBS_CARICOM_CALLS_FOR_UN_PROBE_OF_ARISTIDE_S_OUSTER.asp

[Dover]

8. CARICOM felt betrayed...(from above article)

...Caricom, a trade and economic group of small regional states, felt betrayed by the United States, France and Canada, which backed away from their initial support of its proposal that would have involved Aristide sharing power with the Opposition. Instead, they joined the Opposition calls for Aristide to resign and leave the country.

Regional leaders were further angered that these countries refused to support a UN-peacekeeping force for Haiti after the rebels took over several towns and cities, but yet pushed through the authorising resolution at the Security Council only hours after Aristide's departure.

Caricom's suspicion of the attitude of the troika deepened on Monday when Aristide claimed from the Central African Republic, where he is in temporary exile, that he was forced to write a letter of resignation, forced out of his home and placed on a plane by US forces, heading into exile in an unknown destination....

[Joanne98]

6. I watched that hearing

I loved Maxine Waters. She's tough

[Dover]

7. Haitian rebel says his forces will disarm

Haitian rebel says his forces will disarm

AP
Thursday, March 04, 2004

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20040303T220000-0500_56593_OBS_HAITIAN_REBEL_SAYS_HIS_FORCES_WILL_DISARM.asp

___________

Gee, how "cooperative" of them....

[The_Casual_Observer]

9. Convenient diversion to redirect attention away from Kerry

What better place for the CIA to stir up trouble than Haiti?