(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 15 October 1995, Vol. 3, #26 Contents: Stories: CLOUDS BETWEEN WASHINGTON & ARISTIDE Gore Issues Warning, Troops May Stay On SCHOOL STARTS New Programs Try to Fill in Gaps GOV'T IMPORTS U.S. RICE POLICE, REFORM CRITICIZED MORRISAINT MAY BE IN U.S. JUSTICE: PRESSURE PAYING OFF? Close-Up: FOURTH INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S CONFERENCE Stories: CLOUDS BETWEEN WASHINGTON & ARISTIDE Gore Issues Warning, Troops May Stay On PORT-AU-PRINCE, Oct. 15 - One year after President Jean-Bertrand Aristide returned in a U.S. military airplane, the government and the international diplomatic community celebrated their success with ceremonies, monuments and speeches. But with the presidential elections still unscheduled, the impending resignation of Prime Minister Smarck Michel and a question as to whether the new parliament will approve the ongoing neoliberal economic reforms, clouds have darkened the relationship between Aristide and his benefactors. Today U.S. Vice President Al Gore warned him to continue with the reforms. At the same time, this week the U.N. announced it is discussing "the possibility of maintaining a political and police presence" here for up to six months after the troop mandate expires. Commemorations and Ceremonies In a speech today, General Boutros Boutrous-Ghali commended the Haitian people for their determination to pursue democracy, "pluralism and tolerance." Aristide said today is the anniversary of the day "the egg went back in," mocking the putschist Sen. Josue LaFrance who, after coup d'etat, sneered, "You can't make an egg go back into a chicken." Yesterday, Aristide unveiled a monument to Justice Minister Guy Malary, gunned down on Oct. 14, 1993 and said: "We are still in the night of mourning but with the hope that we will arrive in the sunlight of justice." Warning from Washington Gore's message darkened the celebrations. He very clearly said: no SAP and no presidential elections - no "aid." At stake is most of the US$1.2 billion of grants and loans promised by the U.S. and multilateral banks. The current year's budget counts on that money for half of its income. "We note several important transitions which are rapidly approaching," Gore said, reminding journalists of "Aristide's commitment" to the reforms "put forward... in Paris" and saying that today he told Aristide "the steps the government of Haiti and its people need to take in order to ensure the continued flow of these funds." Aristide responded that Haiti "is a free country; it is an adult" and that it "listens" to other countries, but went no further. Gore was directly warning the president (who recently said: "If I know of someone who dares to sell the goods of the state... I will have them arrested.") and also the new parliament, scheduled to open Monday. At that point, Michel will probably resign. Gore put in a plea for him to stay, with good reason. He has steadfastly stood by the reforms. The Michel team (including the Unite pour la Democratisation des Entreprises Publiques) continues to lobby hard for privatization, and recently inviting 60 journalists, all expenses paid, to a weekend "seminar" at the luxurious Club Med. What About Presidential Elections? The government and its international supporters were able to pull off local and legislative races but now face the presidential race, which will almost certainly not be held in December. In the meantime, the elite is making noises that, since he is seen as a stabilizing force, it has no problems with Aristide staying in office, although that would give opponents, here and in Washington, an excuse to cry "foul play." The administration is caught in a contradiction: it must push Aristide to move forward with the reforms and in which they are heavily invested, because if he does not, the administration has failed; but, if too much pressure is applied and the "cloudiness" becomes open disagreement, it will give the Republicans an opening to attack. The next few days and weeks will show how far Washington can go and to what point Aristide can refuse to continue in the direction of privatization and economic reforms. 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. 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