Haiti Ex-PM Fears for Life, Seeks U.S. Help

[seemslikeadream]

By Joseph Guyler Delva

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (Reuters) - Former Haitian Prime Minister Yvon Neptune, in hiding after a bloody revolt toppled his government last month, said rebels are threatening to murder him and he wants U.S. protection.

Neptune, who was appointed by ousted former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, is moving from one friend's house to the next in secrecy. His home was burned down during last month's uprising in the poorest country in the Americas.

"U.S. officials and everybody else know the rebels have said they will come and arrest me, and they know the rebels don't really mean arrest," Neptune told Reuters by cellular telephone from his hide-out in a weekend interview.

"I have been left without security, so I have to take personal measures to protect myself," he said, referring to his decision to go into hiding. "I'm not afraid to die, but I don't want to die under these circumstances."

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=4687915

[daleo]

1. I thought he provided "constitutional legitimacy"

I thought the U.S. liked the idea that he was "appointed" by Aristide and therefore provided a patina of legality to the coup. Has the coup gotten out of hand, or does Bushco not care about these legal niceties any more?

[htuttle]

2. He was booted out of the government by the US almost immediately

Apparently, the likes of Guy Phillipe and Chamblain demanded that he be removed.

So the US removed him. Just like that.

The current 'government' in Haiti has absolutely NO patina of legality no matter how you look at it. That's just one of the many reasons CARICOM refuses to recognize it.

[seemslikeadream]

3. Interview with Prime Minister Yvon Neptune

Interview with Prime Minister Yvon Neptune


Kevin Pina and Andrea Nicastro
Mar 2, 2004
Port au Prince, Haiti


Kevin Pina of KPFA Flashpoints and Black Commentator, and Andrea Nicastro of the Italian daily Corriere della Sera, interviewed Prime Minister Yvon Neptune in his office at 9:00 a.m. EST today, Tuesday, March 2, 2004.

The following are relevant quotes from the interview:

1. "Even though I am the legal Prime Minister I am a prisoner in my office. That's a fact."

2. "The President called me a few hours before he was taken out of the country and told me, 'Where I am now, I am like a prisoner'"

3. "Whoever has allowed those armed bandits in the opposition to get into Haiti and to sow violence and death, they should be in the position to control them." Asked whether he was referring to the Bush administration the Prime Minister answered: "Statements were made asking the Haitian government to meet certain requirements so that the armed gangs would not be allowed to come into the capital. That statement was made. They wanted us to quiet the demonstrators asking for President Aristide to finish his term. They wanted us to force them to stand down and stop demanding new elections. They wanted that vast majority to remain quiet. They wanted us to tell them to sit down quietly and allow the coup machine to crush them.."

4. "Some in the international community don't want Haiti to become a democracy where the majority of the poor have a voice."

5. "The coup machine is in motion because the opposition knows they cannot win elections with President Aristide in the country."

6. "The resignation of the President is not constitutional because he did that under duress and threat."

6. "The chief of the Supreme court was brought here into my office by representatives of the international community. I was not invited or present when he was sworn in." It wasn't until well after this swearing in that Yvon Neptune was handed the "resignation letter" to read.
http://www.haitiaction.net/News/kp3_2_4.html

[daleo]

4. That clarifies things

He certainly doesn't sound like a Bushco stooge.

[seemslikeadream]

5. Yvon Neptune

Yvon Neptune (born November 8, 1946) was the Prime Minister of Haiti from 2002 until 2004. He was appointed by President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, and took office on March 15, 2002. On March 2, 2004, shortly after Aristide's resignation, a mob attempted to arrest Neptune on corruption charges, but it was not successful. A week later, US Marines guarding his residence killed two gunmen there. Neptune was replaced on March 12, 2004, by a provisional government, led by Gérard Latortue, which had been appointed three days earlier. On March 27, 2004, the provisional government banned Neptune from leaving the country, along with 36 other senior officials of the Aristide investigation, in order to more easily investigate corruption allegations. As of that date Neptune is in hiding, but he has released a statement calling the ban a "witch hunt."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yvon_Neptune

[Judi Lynn]

6. I hope he's also keeping open his options towards Caricom countries

I don't think anyone can expect ANY help from _Bush under any circumstance if he doesn't present a HUGE advantage for him.

Obviously a sense of obligation, responsibility, a sense of "compassion" don't register with this guy. I'm sorry to say it, but I'm really scared P.M. Neptune is lost unless someone decent can help.

What a shame.