Received: from rs6.tcs.tulane.edu (rs6.tcs.tulane.edu [129.81.224.57]) by mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu (8.6.9/8.5) with ESMTP id JAA37603; Tue, 22 Nov 1994 09:30:18 -0600 Received: (pbary@localhost) by rs6.tcs.tulane.edu (8.6.9/8.5) id JAA28086; Tue, 22 Nov 1994 09:30:17 -0600 From: Paul Bary Message-Id: <199411221530.JAA28086@rs6.tcs.tulane.edu> Subject: Haiti Info 11/19/94 To: pbary (Paul Bary) Date: Tue, 22 Nov 94 9:30:17 CST X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.3 PL11] Status: O Forwarded message: >From LISTSERV@MIZZOU1.missouri.edu Tue Nov 22 15:04:15 1994 Message-Id: <199411221503.JAA16789@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu> Date: Tue, 22 Nov 1994 08:55:28 -0600 From: BITNET list server at MIZZOU1 (1.8a) Subject: File: "DATABASE OUTPUT" To: Paul Bary > S * IN ACTIV-L --> Database ACTIV-L, 9590 hits. > PRINT 09561 >>> Item number 9561, dated 94/11/21 20:56:43 -- ALL Date: Mon, 21 Nov 1994 20:56:43 GMT Reply-To: Haitian Information Bureau Sender: Activists Mailing List From: Haitian Information Bureau Organization: ? Subject: Haiti Invo v3, #4 NEW GOVERNMENT IN HAITI (Below is the table of contents and lead story from the most recent issue of Haiti Info, the newsletter of the Haitian Information Bureau. The lead story from each bi-weekly issue is posted in this conference. To receive the entire newsletter, you may subscribe by email, fax or mail. See the subscription information at the end of this entry). * * * HAITI INFO * * * News direct from the people and organizations of Haiti's grassroots democratic movement 19 Novmber 1994, Vol. 3, #4 Contents: News Stories: A GOVERNMENT TO PLEASE THE U.S. ADMINISTRATION & THE BOURGEOISIE UNIVERSITY, STUDENTS BACK IN ACTION STRUGGLE GOES ON AT ELECTRICITY CO. HAITIAN PRIEST STRUGGLES IN D.R. - Despite Recent Honor, Fight Against Slavery A Tough One NORTH OCCUPATION: Mayor Back, Aristide Visits, Protests OVER 500 DEAD U.N. BOWS TO U.S. AGAIN Human Rights: MAYOR DECAPITATED ARIAS: ELIMINATE ARMY ABUSES IN GRAND-GOAVE RIGHTS GROUP DENOUNCES PRESS GROUP PROTESTS EMBASSY EMPLOYEES SHOT [No Close-Up or Development News this issue] News stories: A GOVERNMENT TO PLEASE THE U.S. ADMINISTRATION & THE BOURGEOISIE PORT-AU-PRINCE, Nov. 18 - The new prime minister and cabinet of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide offers one more proof of his complete capitulation to the U.S. government and the local bourgeoisie. Prime Minister "Choice" & Cabinet Last week, President Aristide was openly humiliated on the prime minister issue. In October, he made his choice - Claudette Werleigh - widely known. Immediately, local businesspeople and U.S. officials said she was not acceptable. Aristide was forced to step back and accept Smarck Michel, a former supporter, but also unabashedly pro-business, and a man who will not oppose the neoliberal economic model. Michel was imposed, not chosen. Michel's new 20-member cabinet has no single minister or secretary who can be seen to represent the popular movement. (The government created seven new posts - three ministers and four secretaries.) Worse, it is full of people who supported and benefited from the coup d'etat. Marc Henri Rousseau Francois, the new Public Works Minister, was not only the de facto minister for the first illegal regime following the coup, but also has been accused of massive corruption and embezzlement at the cement company and other public institutions. Dep. Patrick Norzeus denounced the appointment as an "unacceptable provocation" during Michel's ratification but was shouted down. The choice implies a de facto "largely large amnesty," including a "fiscal amnesty," (for embezzlement, etc.) that pro-putschist politicians repeatedly demanded earlier this year. Retired General Wilthan Lherisson, who made his career under Francois and Jean-Claude Duvalier, is the new Minister of Defense, illustrating that Aristide has accepted to collaborate with the most repressive members of the army. Another post is held by a high-level PANPRA leader. PANPRA openly supported the coup and participated in the de facto regimes that followed. U.S. Army Officials in Ministries In addition to having its allies and representatives in the ministries, the U.S. has actually placed army officers (in civilian clothing so they blend in) in all of the offices. Calling his unit "the best kept secret" in the armed forces, Brigadier General Bruce Bingham told journalists on Nov. 14 that 30 high-grade military reservists, working in coordination with the U.S. embassy, the U.S. Agency for International Development and the troops, are giving advice in "organization and administrative matters" in the government to help "prepare to receive long-term aid projects" and "coordinate" them. Bingham said advisors (bankers, businesspeople, engineers) are in the finance ministry (in part to supervise the Central Bank), and also in the education, justice, tourism and information ministries. They hope to improve National Radio's coverage, perhaps with equiment "donated" by Ted Turner or Pat Robertson, he said. Aristide himself approves and Bingham said the ministry employees "are very glad to see us." "[They] will provide office space so that we can actually be in their ministries, working on a day-to-day basis," he said, adding that their receptiveness is "heart-warming." Although only scheduled to stay until Dec. 15, Bingham's team will decide "which ministries continue to need assistance, haven't really had the full merging of their plans with AID [italics ours]... and if they are required, we will present... follow-on plans." Aristide's New Partners Aside from accepting a government full of U.S. "advisors" and those who have openly pillaged the state, repressed the people and opposed him, Aristide has also adopted new partners for his 15 months - the U.S. ambassador and the business sector (whom he once called "patripoche," "patriots of the pocket.") Aristide has not left the palace without U.S. Ambassador William Swing, who accompanied him on Dessalines Day, to Cap-Haitien, to see flood victims and even to his stronghold, the poor Cite Soleil neighborhood. Today, a holiday commemorating the army, Aristide's words and actions epitomized the "reconciliation" he never ceases to promote. The first shock is the fact that the day was celebrated at all, and that the army was honored with music, speeches and even flowers. (In keeping with his new protocol, Aristide gave flowers to Swing first.) Aristide addressed a massive crowd of youth and, to his credit, admitted there are still "security" problems but rather than point the finger at the army and paramilitary forces and at the complicity of the occupying troops, the president called for a "konbit for security... without vengeance, without violence." (When he asked the crowd if they wanted the army to ensure security, there was an overwhelming "No!") Aristide again failed to announce any efforts to investigate and judge those responsible for the past three years' abuses, and shocked listeners when he noted that "insecurity" is especially tough for the "businesspeople." When discussing "rights," he put the emphasis on the right to own property and criticized people who invade empty land to build shacks. An example of Aristide's fervent bid for the bourgeoisie's approval was given on Wednesday when, for the second time since his return, he met with businesspeople and said he was ready to walk "hand-in-hand." Michel told them "without you it is a failure, but with you, everyone together, we will suceed." Again, there was no mention of legal investigations into the widespread corruption where many of these same patripoches accumulated millions during three years of de facto rule and free-for-all pillaging. Conclusion All of these new developments - the imposed prime minister, the cabinet full of enemies and thieves, the U.S. "advisors" and accompaniment, and the total absence of anyone remotely connected to the popular sectors - are taking place in a context of incessant exhortations for "reconciliation" and complete silence on the issue of justice The new government is a government of "reconciliation,"but it is a "reconciliation" between the bourgeoisie, Aristide and the U.S. imperialists, and totally excludes the popular masses. One rights advocate summed it up when he despaired: "It is intolerable that the people who fought and died for the return of the govenment are in the paradoxical situation where they are being forced by the U.S. to give a show of faith to criminals and putschists. It is intolerable and unacceptable." 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 **