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Vast swaths of rural Haiti, particularly in the north, are still under the control of rebels who led the February uprising. A 3,500-strong U.S.-led multinational interim force, in place under a United Nations mandate, has not tried to disarm them.
To the horror of human rights groups, Latortue has dubbed the men, many of whom have been linked with murder and torture in the past, freedom fighters.
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Group calls for investigation of Congressional Black Caucus
By Talon News
An African-American group is calling for an investigation into the relationship between the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) and deposed Haitian leader Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
The Brotherhood Organization for a New Destiny (BOND), a family-focused, community-based organization in Los Angeles founded by Reverend Jesse Lee Peterson, issued a letter (the letter) to Rep. Joel Hefley (R-CO), Chairman of the U.S. House of Representative’s Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, asking for a formal investigation of the legislative caucus.
BOND’s request is in response to actions and comments by members of the CBC regarding American policy toward Haiti, particularly accusations that White House and State Department officials orchestrated the "forced" resignation of Aristide. These lawmakers are demanding conclusive evidence that Aristide was not forced out of office.
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"My own feeling was that Aristide had already decided to leave," Foley said. "He didn’t need convincing..."
Aristide has charged that the United States stripped him of his security, saying the embassy told his U.S. security agents that they had to leave the country and refused to allow the California company that provided bodyguards, under a contract approved by the U.S. State Department, to send additional agents.
U.S. officials have said only that they told Aristide the United States would not protect him if rebels attacked. Later, U.S. officials said they could not uphold a leader they accuse of ordering attacks on political opponents and condoning drug-trafficking.
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U.N.: Haiti faces massive funding shortfall
By The Associated Press
GENEVA, Apr. 17 - The United Nations is finding little donor interest in helping ordinary Haitians fight grinding poverty as the country emerges from political crisis, aid officials said Friday.
The global body has gathered just US$7 million of the US$35 million it has budgeted to help the struggling Caribbean nation, said Elisabeth Byrs, spokeswoman for the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
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Haiti drops 'ridiculous' $22 billion claim
By Joseph Guyler Delva, Reuters Writer
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (Reuters) - Haiti's new U.S.-backed leader said on Sunday he had dropped a "ridiculous" demand by ex-President Jean-Bertrand Aristide for France to return $22 billion he said the Caribbean nation was forced to pay its colonial masters after gaining independence in 1804.
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U.S., France blocks UN probe of Aristide ouster
By OneWorld.net
UNITED NATIONS, Apr 13 (IPS) - The United States and France have intimidated Caribbean countries into delaying an official request for a probe into the murky circumstances under which Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide was ousted from power in February, according to diplomatic sources here.
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''I don't think any purpose would be served by an inquiry,'' U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell told reporters during a 24-hour visit to Haiti last week. ''We were on the verge of a bloodbath and President Aristide found himself in great danger,'' he said.
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UNITED NATIONS, Apr. 20 - Secretary-General Kofi Annan (news - web sites) called Tuesday for a broad, new U.N. mission in Haiti to include 6,700 troops, more than 1,600 international police and experts to help turn the Caribbean nation into "a functioning democracy."
The U.N. military contingent would replace the 3,600-strong U.S.-led multinational force sent to bring stability to Haiti after a three-week rebellion ousted its first democratically elected president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, in February. About 2,000 of them are American troops.
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PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, April 27 (Reuters) - Haiti’s new leader said on Tuesday he was working with the United States, France and the European Union to track down and freeze bank accounts belonging to ousted President Jean Bertrand Aristide.
Interim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue told local radio he believed the accounts held as much money as the foreign governments were likely to lend his poor Caribbean country in its efforts to rebuild after a monthlong revolt. . . .
The former U.N. bureaucrat plans to travel to Washington, Paris and Brussels next month and said he would pursue the efforts to seize the accounts.
Aristide supporters say he lived modestly and they doubt he ever stole a cent of public money for himself.
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"Haiti doesn't really have the choice of missing this new last chance," he said. "It's going to change because it must change; the alternative is unthinkable."
The United States' main concern in Haiti is drug-trafficking (related story) that corrupted the ousted regime of Jean-Bertrand Aristide and threatens future governments, the U.S. ambassador said.
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After he was ousted, Aristide has been given temporary asylum in Jamaica on condition he remained silent about his charges that the United States engineered a coup against him — charges Foley denied.
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President Jean-Bertrand Aristide fled the country Feb. 29 as rebels closed in on the capital and lawlessness engulfed the city. A 3,600-member multinational force, including 2,000 U.S. Marines, is in Haiti to keep order. An interim government says it will hold elections next year.
http://www.wehaitians.com/april%202004%20news%20and%20analysis.html
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