# # # # SPECIAL EXTRA-LONG OCCUPATION COVERAGE # # # # * * * HAITI INFO * * * News direct from the people and organizations of Haiti's grassroots democratic movement 22 October 1994, Vol. 3, #2 Contents: News Stories: ARISTIDE PLAYS ALONG - After One Week, President Clearly Endorsing "American Plan" [A News Analysis] POWER STRUGGLE: U.S. Wants to Control New Police THOUSANDS GREET MPP LEADERS DEMANDS FOR JUSTICE Opinion: THE RETURN & THE OCCUPATION - A Sampling of Seven Opinions Human Rights: IZMERY KILLERS "ESCAPE" Close-Up: INVISIBLE INVASION News stories: ARISTIDE PLAYS ALONG After One Week, President Clearly Endorsing "American Plan" [A News Analysis] PORT-AU-PRINCE, Oct. 21 - The declarations of returned President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and his government illustrate what was predicted by so many - he has come back to Haiti with little power. Not only is Aristide's margin of maneuver essentially nonexistent, but he has become a collaborator with, and a virtual promoter of, the neoliberal economic agenda and other aspects of the U.S. vision for Haiti's future, known here for the past decade as "the American plan." [See also Close-up] In all of the actions and speeches over the past week, there has been little mention of the Haitian people or their demands for economic and social justice. Instead, the president and his government are on the defensive, dominated by a preoccupation to please the local bourgeoisie and the U.S., whose troops installed them in the palace. Aristide Far From the People When Aristide spoke on Oct. 15, he appeared in a bulletproof glass box. For unknown reasons, his speech was broadcast through a terrible sound-system, making it virtually inaudible for the thousands gathered in front of the palace. On Oct. 17, instead of following tradition and going to the Pont Rouge, where Jean- Jacques Dessalines was assassinated in 1806, he went to the National Museum. When they saw a crowd in front of the palace, they whisked him out the back. Aside from those two events, Aristide's only other appearance was at a brief press conference where took a few questions and then, remarkably, his advisor asked the Haitian journalists to defer to the foreigners. Neoliberal Agenda Full Steam Ahead On Tuesday the Aristide government announced gasoline would sell for 38 gourdes a gallon, up from about 19 gourdes before the coup, because"the IMF says Haiti cannot subsidize the price of gas anymore." When the population panicked and criticized, the price dropped to 30 gourdes (US$3.00). On Wednesday Aristide announced he supports a "market economy" and "economic democratization" - the sale of the state-held businesses. He also talked about the importance of the private sector and said he is creating a private sector-state commission. Collaboration and Reconciliation Aristide and his cabinet members have repeatedly denounced the acts of looting and "violence." On Oct. 15 Aristide pleaded: "We don't pillage! Order and discipline everywhere, all the time, yes!... No violence, no vengeance, yes to reconciliation!" However, neither Aristide nor his ministers have talked about the root cause of the looting and the "violence" - the dechoukaj ("uprooting") of houses or offices belonging to coup supporters or "popular" arrests and assassinations. It is obviously inspired by peoples' fear that there will be no judicial proceedings against their abusers. (Aristide also said he believed the looting was being carried out by armed men as "a plan to discredit the beautiful democracy and reconciliation" starting to take root.) While condemning "violence," the population can see clearly that the Aristide government is carrying out "reconciliation" themselves by collaborating openly with those responsible for the coup. The army's "interim high command" is full of coup participants and is headed by Jean-Claude Duperval, part of the coup and also implicated in the drug trade by the foreign press. Thus far, Aristide has talked about the importance of "forces of order" but has not given any indication that he wants a different high command. He also has not reacted to the fact that a dozen known rights abusers and coup supporters are being "rewarded" with overseas posts rather than being subject to judicial proceedings at home. Many private sector and members of the de facto government also appear to be confident about their futures. Bonivert Claude, who oversaw three illegal emmissions of currency and numerous other irregularities, has been shifted from his post as governor of the Central Bank but remains as a member of the administrative council. What About Justice? "There is no doubt about our firm commitment to build a state of law through reconciliation, peace without violence, without vengeance," he told the press this week But in all of the plans and programs announced, there has been no mention of any to investigate and prosecute those who committed the thousands of human rights abuses or the "respected" members of the bourgeosie who collaborated with the de facto government in underhanded deals and schemes where they made hundreds of millions dollars of profits and wreaked havoc on the state, now in shambles. Aristide has mentioned "justice" but only in abstract terms. He has concrete plans for schools and businesses, but nothing concrete to reassure the Haitian population that justice will be served. The only way to prevent "popular justice" is to take steps toward justice with investigations and prosecutions. Rules of the Occupation? One week after his return and five weeks after the invasion, it is still unclear whether there is a document defining the guidelines of the U.S. occupation. Perhaps there is a deal, or perhaps the terms are still being negotiated. It is hard to believe there is no such paper, but it is also difficult to understand the total blackout on the matter. The lack of clarity on the occupation is just one more of the many indications to people and groups in the democratic and popular movement that the Aristide who returned is a different Aristide. Many predicted that would be the case, and today his actions are proving it to be the reality. As those in the movement watch and listen as he slides toward the right, they are beginning to speculate that Aristide has been recuperated by the U.S. imperialists and the local bourgeoisie for, incredibly, Aristide does not appear to be concerned about the massive needs and demands of those who elected him four years ago and who resisted three years of brutal hardship and repression in order to bring about his return. ABOUT HAITI INFO: * Haiti Info is published every two weeks in Haiti by the Haitian Information Bureau, an alternative news agency, and is edited by a group of committed individuals from democratic and popular sectors. * All articles Copyright HIB. REPRINTS ENCOURAGED. Please cite Haiti Info and send copies of usage. * Haiti Info is available by mail, by fax, and also electronically via computer. Subscription rates: Individuals E-mail in the Americas - US$20 elsewhere - US$35 Organizations E-mail in the Americas - US$70 elsewhere - US$90 [Those fees negotiable for journalists and non-profits] Write for more information, help for journalists, subscription costs for mail and fax: Haitian Information Bureau, c/o Lynx Air, Box 407139, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, 33340, USA. For electronic mail: hib@igc.apc.org. ** End of text from cdp:reg.carib **