16552: Karshan: Concretizing Democracy August 25, 2003 (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: MKarshan@aol.com

Date:  August 25, 2003
Contact:  Michelle Karshan, Foreign Press Liaison
Tel: (011509) 228-2058
Email: mkarshan@aol.com

Concretizing Democracy

August 25, 2003 (Last issue released July 11, 2003)

Preparing for Local and Parliamentary Elections
The Electoral Council put into place in early 2001 has been preparing the
ground for local and parliamentary elections that it announced are tentatively
scheduled for November and December this year.  In addition to training staff,
taking inventory of materials, and doing an accounting of funds, they have met
with the High Council of the Police regarding security measures for the
electoral campaign period and the elections themselves and met with the Minister of
Interior regarding local needs and electoral offices. The President and
numerous representatives of the government continue to call on the opposition to
comply with the terms of the OAS Resolution 822 and its Terms of Reference that
which call on nine sectors to nominate their representative to sit on a new
consensus electoral council. At the moment when they do nominate their
representatives, or in the case of those sectors who have already made their nomination
but have refused to put forward their person for the eventual installation of
a new electoral council, the existing CEP will step aside so the new electoral
council can oversee the elections as planned.  Parliament's term expires the
second week of January and in order to prevent a Constitutional void the
Electoral Council has an obligation to move forward with elections according to the
law.

SECURITY, JUSTICE, FIGHTING DRUG TRAFFICKING & TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS,
PROTECTION OF VARIOUS RIGHTS

More International Police Experts Welcomed By Haiti
More international police experts have arrived in Haiti and were deployed to
Gonaives and the Central Plateau to advise Haiti's police and public security
department in accordance with the government's request to the OAS for
assistance in professionalizing its police force and providing security for upcoming
elections.

Police Inspector General Investigating Police Conduct
The Chief Inspector General of the Police, charged with investigating abuses
or corruption by police, reported that among other things, his office has been
conducting spot checks of police stations at night to determine whether
officers are actually on duty.

Haitian Government Seizes Heavy Weapons From US Government Agents
Customs' agents at Haiti's international airport seized automatic handguns
and assault weapons (including 9mm pistols and 4 MP5 assault weapons) being
brought in to Haiti by US Pentagon security agents who arrived on a July 31st
American Airlines flight.  The US had failed to obtain authorization for the entry
of these weapons as required by law.  The law forbids the use of assault
weapons by any individual or force other than the Haitian National Police force.
A few days later, at the airport, the Secretary of State for Public Security
returned the confiscated weapons to the US government who promptly repatriated
them back to the US Department of Defense. Haiti's Secretary of State for
Public Security pointed out that it would be a contradiction to allow heavy
weapons to remain in the country when Haiti is engaged in a disarmament campaign.
Disarmament, an initiative of the Haitian government, is also contained in the
OAS Resolution 822 and its Terms of Reference.  The US Embassy said the
weapons were intended to reinforce security of the US Embassy. Normally the United
States applies to the Minister of Foreign Affairs for permission to bring arms
into Haiti.  This seizure took place within a couple of weeks after a US
pastor was convicted and deported for attempting to bring in an assault weapon into
Haiti.

Haiti Attends Seminar at United Nations on Illegal Weapons
The Chief of Staff for the Secretary of State for Public Security attended a
series of evaluation meetings on illegal weapons held at the United Nations
headquarters in New York, and shared Haiti's progress in its disarmament
campaign with other countries in attendance meetings and was pleased to receive
feedback and suggestions as well.

Haiti Reinforces its International Airport
The Ministry of Interior installed a registration network computer system in
which every person entering and leaving the country will be entered into.  The
system, which has been installed in the international airport at
Port-au-Prince, will also be installed at all airports and ports throughout Haiti and is a
major tool in the fight against international terrorism and to combat
trafficking in all its forms (drugs, contraband, persons, vehicles, etc.).
Immigration personnel are receiving training in the use of this new technology.

Making Haiti's International Airport at Port-au-Prince Safer
The General Director of Haiti's Airport Authority announced plans to expand a
portion of the runway at Haiti's main airport to better facilitate landing
and take-off of Boeing aircraft, and discussed increased lighting and generators
as well. The goal is to permit four large aircraft at once to use the airport
and to comply with international standards. He also announced the
installation of new screening systems to prevent passengers from boarding with concealed
weapons or other contraband.  A training center has been set up to train
airport personnel in the proper use of the new screening equipment and
international experts are engaged in creating their training and in drafting instructional
materials.

New Ambassador from Columbia to Haiti Commits to Cooperation
At the ceremony presenting his credentials to the President of Haiti,
Columbia's new ambassador to Haiti pledged his country's cooperation in the fight
against drug trafficking.

Haiti Participates in Global Movement Against Corruption
The Director General of the Ministry of Justice and a representative from the
Prime Minister's office attended the Global Forum II conference in South
Korea dedicated to fighting corruption internationally.  Various countries
exchanged views and strategies in combating corruption.

Reinforcing Haiti's Superior Court of Accounting
After receiving the Senate's approval, twelve new members of the superior
Court of Account and Administrative Litigations (CSCCA) were sworn in before the
Court of Cassation for ten-year terms.

Investigation Enlarged in Search for Authors of Assassination in Jean
Dominique case
After entertaining the appeals submitted responding to the indictments handed
down in the Dominique assassination case, the examining magistrate has
released three of the six defendants, and has enlarged the inquiry in pursuit of the
actual authors of this crime, instead of moving prematurely to trial.
Additionally, new information in the investigation has been provided.

Chief Prosecutor Pleased with Recent Criminal Trials Held
At the rate of approximately three criminal trials by jury were held this
summer in various locations and including approx. 15 criminal trials by jury in
Mirebalais and approx. 20 criminal trials by jury in Port-au-Prince, including
murder cases, which resulted in 8 persons found guilty, 3 condemned to life
sentences, 7 discharged, 9 cases postponed. The government was pleased with the
success of the special sessions and the participation of jurors.

Investigation Into Marketplace Fire
The overnight fire in early August of the McDonald section of the large
downtown Hyppollite marketplace prompted authorities to investigate what forensic
experts determined was set by arson.  The fire caused extensive and costly
damage to merchandise stored there at night by small merchants estimated at
hundreds of thousands of dollars.  Merchandise lost included food products, building
materials, clothes and shoes.  Merchants also stated that the proceeds from
their sales for the recent period were lost in the fire as well. The fire
engulfed two long stretches of the densely congested marketplace.  Government
representatives immediately visited the site, which was still simmering, and
emergency meetings convened that morning.  President Aristide held a meeting the
same day at the National Palace with hundreds of victims of the fire and
announced would immediately respond with emergency assistance and that the government
would put aside [equals] $250,000 to assist the small merchants with loans
(with an interest rate of 1% per month/12% annually) to assist in replacing their
lost merchandise.  Victims were invited to apply at the Banque National de
Credit (BNC) the next day for assistance.  Subsequently the Bank reported that
it was receiving more than 100 victims per day, with 1,000 cases under review
for loans.  Victims with school age children were also given emergency
assistance to enable them to prepare for the upcoming school year.

Judges and Court Clerks Receive Additional Training
174 judges and court clerks participated in a training course at the School
of Magistrates addressing respect for human rights, impunity and issues of
detention.

Investigation Opened Into Tragic Accident in Petit Goave
An investigation was immediately opened after fifteen persons, primarily
teenagers, were electrocuted when a high power line fell on a crowd during a
basketball game.  Many others were injured as well.  Initial reports indicated that
the high voltage wire broke after persons tried to adjust the degree of
lighting.  The government compensated the victims' families and paid for some of
the funerals and visited the injured.  The government recently started to
provide 24-hour electricity to Petit Goave.

The Police Council Meets with the Electoral Council
The Superior Council of the Police (made up of the Prime Minister, the
Minister of Justice, the Minister of Interior, the Secretary of State for Public
Security, and the Police Chief) met with the Electoral Council to discuss
security matters for the campaign period and the elections, which are  proposed for
November and December this year. The elections are for local and parliamentary
posts.

Official Commencement of New Program to Professionalize the Police
The National Police held a ceremony at the Police Academy to kick off its new
professionalization of the police effort that will include retraining of
personnel in various departments of the police including a ten-month course for
some of the specialized units and traffic agents.  A new specialized unit (USF)
to police the frontier will be created. Training will be done throughout all
the departments of the police and those re-trained will be distributed
throughout.  The event was attended by the Chief of Police, departmental directors,
instructors, etc.  The re-training is being done together with the assistance of
a retired Canadian commander.

Fighting Trafficking in Persons
The Ministry of Interior is installing new technology at all airports and
ports that registers all persons entering and leaving the country making it
easier to identify the illegal transport of persons, more specifically of children.
 Additionally, the Social Affairs Commission of the Lower Chamber of
Parliament met with the Minister of Social Affairs to discuss actions underway to
prevent child trafficking at the frontier between Haiti and the Dominican
Republic.  The Minister of Social Affairs stated that many concrete measures have been
taken but also pointed out that they are operating under serious financial
constraints as well. The police will be dispatching a new unit for the frontier
after completion of specialized training.

Investigation Opened Regarding Cite Soleil Incident
The government reported that five residents of Cite Soleil died, including a
child allegedly run over by an ambulance employed by the Group of 184 while
fleeing Cite Soleil after residents chased out the Group of 184 from holding
their rally there.  The day before residents of Cite Soleil held a demonstration
asking that the Group of 184 not come there. Several persons accompanying the
Group of 184 were injured as well.  The Group of 184 went to Cite Soleil
accompanied by hired private ambulances, press, NGOs and diplomatic observers who
were accompanied by foreign security agents with assault weapons. The Chief
Prosecutor subsequently called the head of the Group of 184 to court to respond
to complaints lodged against him and an inquiry into the incident. Funerals
were held for those Cite Soleil residents who died after being allegedly shot by
persons accompanying the Group of 184. Their families lodged the complaint
against the Group of 184 and presented their information before the Prosecutor.
The Secretary of State for Public Security said the police did try to contain
the situation on that day.  The Government also indicated that it would lodge
complaints regarding the security agents of foreign embassies who may have
acted outside of the framework of the law.

Police Capture Those Planning Attacks on Cultural and Historic Events in the
North
Police seized heavy weapons and arrested members of an armed group, and were
pursuing others, implicated in planning attacks on local fairs scheduled in
towns in the North and seized weapons as well as documents which may connect
them to the "armed wing of the opposition." The government is working to assure
the safety and security of all visitors to Haiti and local residents who will
be attending various fairs as well as the upcoming bicentennial activities
planned.  Many projects are underway in the north such as the construction of a
high school, a town square and the road from Cap Haitian to Milot, as well as
the renovation of the monument in honor of the Battle of Vertieres.

The Inter-Ministerial Commission on Reparations Reports on Their Work
The Commission, charged with working on the claim for restitution and
reparation from France for monies paid to it by Haiti, reported that they were
engaged in extensive research and obtained numerous documents supporting the
government's claim, including agreements signed between Haiti and France.
Restitution claims include the 90 million gold francs paid by Haiti pursuant to an 1825
agreement in exchange for recognition by France of Haiti's independence,
valued today at 21 billion US dollars. The Minister of Haitians Living Abroad
announced that a forum on this claim would be held in Haiti this October during the
month of Haitians Living Abroad.  Separately, Ira Kurzban, Esq., Haiti's
foreign counsel, reported that he has been consulting with experts on other
restitution claims, more specifically with those representing victims of the
Holocaust, and indicated that among the defendants in Haiti's claim against France
will be the French Republic and French banks for their role in the 1825
conspiracy to extort money from Haiti, which included threatening the people of Haiti
with re-enslavement. In 2001 France declared slavery to be a crime against
humanity.

Investigation of Massacre of Ministry of Interior Delegation in the Central
Plateau
The government is investigating the massacre of a high level delegation from
the Ministry of Interior as it was leaving a town in the Central Plateau after
installing a new communal commission.  The attack left four employees dead
and one seriously wounded and hospitalized in the Dominican Republic where he
was moved for medical attention.  This attack brings the number to 25 of persons
murdered by armed commandos in the Central Plateau who identify themselves as
former soldiers determined to overthrow the elected government. In the same
vein, the government arrested Judith Roy, and two others, relating to a large
cache of weapons seized at her home immediately following the attack on the
nation's hydroelectric plant in the Central Plateau.  Police allege that they
also found at her home detailed plans and diagrams for subsequent attacks to be
waged on the National Palace and the President's private residence.

Police Arrest Bandits and Pursue Drug Manufacturers in the South
Police are searching persons in the Cayes area who are allegedly
manufacturing fake cocaine for sale.  They also arrested eight persons alleged to be
bandits in that region.

Police Destroy Marijuana Field
The Police destroyed two hectares of land where marijuana was being
cultivated, arrested four persons alleged to be Bahamian, seized a vehicle equipped
with sophisticated land to air and boat communication system and seized infra-red
glasses as well.

Cocaine Seized
The police seized 15 kilograms of cocaine from a boat and arrested one person.

Draft Law for Child Support
The Ministry of Women held a forum on paternity obligations and announced
that a draft law has been submitted to Parliament to legislate the
responsibilities of fathers regarding child support.   The Ministry for Women's Conditions
and Rights is also working on the promotion of women's rights in various
sectors through collaboration with various organizations and through a public
information campaign. They also said they have a project to empower women to protect
themselves against HIV/AIDS.

Minister of Culture Holds Seminar on the Rights of Authors of Audio-Visual
Works

OTHER ITEMS

Preserving and Expanding Access to Potable Water
The Director of CAMEP (the quasi-government agency charged with providing
potable water to the Port-au-Prince region) described its current emergency
projects and said its technicians are presently working to recover water sources
that are being unofficially by residents. They are also repairing water
distribution networks and improving the drilling operations in the Plaine du
Cul-de-Sac.  He also stated that part of the reason for the shortage of water in the
region is attributed to the outdated state of construction, illegal taps into
the distribution network, and also asked that people pay their bills which in
turns supports the work of providing services.  IDB announced recently that it
intends to release monies, which they have been withholding which are partially
targeted for expansion of access to potable water.

Partial Census Results Released
Partial results of the fourth-ever national census in Haiti estimates the
population at 7,929,048.  History of census in Haiti:  1950, 1971, 1982 (which
put population at 5 million).  The campaign jingle created by President Aristide
aimed at getting the cooperation of each person in the census count says,
"Every person counts, count me!"

Website Promoting Haiti's Bicentennial Celebration
Prominent members of the African Diaspora call for a global celebration of
Haiti's revolution headed by an executive committee that includes President
Aristide and Haiti's Minister of Haitians Living Abroad, Leslie Voltaire.  Ayiti
Oui 1804 encourages artists, writers, choreographers, teachers, students,
activists and politicians to take a multi-faceted approach to commemorating the
Haitian Revolution of 1791-1804.  http://www.ayitioui1804.com/index.html

First Lady Attends Conference Focused on Fight Against HIV/AIDS
The First Lady, Mildred Aristide, who is the Chair of Haiti's national
commission on HIV/AIDS, attended a conference held by the National Conference of
Protestant Churches and attended by Reverend Canon Gideon Byamugisha of Uganda,
who declared in 1992 that he is HIV positive, and is an international activist
in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Tax Office on Collections So Far this Year
The tax bureau (DGI) reported that in the first nine months of this year they
have already reached 75% (or 2 billion 500 million gourdes) of their goal of
3.3 billion gourdes for fiscal year 2002-2003, which represents 25% more than
during the same period last year.  A commission was established to look for
ways to improve tax collection in the cities outside of Port-au-Prince,
particularly in cities where ports are operational.  Two new tax offices were
inaugurated recently in St. Marc and Coteaux.

Annual Assembly of Caribbean People Held its Conference in Haiti
The APC held its third annual meeting in Cap Haitian corresponding with the
212 anniversary of the slave uprising in 1791.

Haiti's National Archives
The Director General of the National Archives reported that their agency,
charged with housing and protecting historical archives and the civil registry
and includes a laboratory for restoration of documents and micrography, is
currently in transition modernizing from a manual to computerized system, which
will result in the availability of numerous texts to be examined by researchers.
The modernization of the archives will have a ripple effect throughout all
government ministries and civil registries, and will broaden genealogical
research as well.

Port-au-Prince Enjoys Marked Increase and Reliability of Electricity
Port-au-Princeans are enjoying stepped up availability of electricity since
the government reorganized the delivery of electricity in the region.

Government Inaugurated New Public High School in Croix de Bouquet

Literacy Program Ever Expanding!
The representative of the Department of the West announced that the new
"Alpha Radio" literacy show can be heard on radio now and literacy programs will be
carried on 233 radio shows for a 15-week period.  This effort is modeled
after a successful literacy program in Cuba over its airways.  Additionally,
cassettes will be available, a public information campaign, and additional training
of monitors. The Ministry of Education launched their literacy program center
at the Ministry to allow their employees, estimated at 50 persons currently
unable to read and write, to attend classes.  The Secretary of State for
Literacy inaugurated the 48th literacy center in the zone of Trouin in Leogane,
providing materials to the trained monitors there.  Incentives are offered to
monitors and supervisors in exchange for their work in literacy.  The Secretary of
State for Literacy also organized a seminar of training for 500 new monitors
to work in Cite Soleil.  Training sessions were also held for 500 monitors in
Archaie, 300 monitors in Cazale, and 250 monitors in Cabarat.  There are now
1,500 new literacy centers.  President Aristide met with all of Haiti's mayors
to evaluate literacy efforts in their regions since the launching of the
national campaign on literacy and asked them to reinforce their efforts citing the
value of literacy for the upcoming electoral period.

Renovated Orthopedic Room at the State University Hospital
The State University Hospital in Port-au-Prince inaugurated its fully
renovated orthopedic room to upgrade care provided the patients.

Haiti's Red Cross held 16 sessions of First Aid training for youth this
summer.

Ministry of Education Warns Schools on Inclusion of Unnecessary items on
their Lists
Responding to complaints by parents, the Ministry of Education warned all
schools not to include materials on their lists of what families must purchase
for their children, if the school does not actually intend to make use of those
materials/textbooks.  This practice has caused unnecessary hardship for
parents and the government has said it will sanction those schools that continue
this practice.

Government publicizes its 70% subsidy to school textbooks
As a follow-up to President Aristide's announcement that the government will
again subsidize school textbooks and will increase the subsidy to 70% of the
price of the book, the government is publicizing this information so parents
will be encouraged to enroll their children in school.  This will enable a
greater number of children to attend school, as the purchasing of schoolbooks is
often prohibitive to attending school.

Government releases numbers of persons passing the State Exams Bacc Part I
and Part II

Satellite System in Place to Assist in Development
To assist on several development projects (agriculture, environment, disaster
prevention and response, geology, property development and road planning) the
Ministry of Planification and the Ministry of Public Works together with the
European Union are engaged in a satellite observation program.

Ministry of Public Health Inaugurates New Morgue at the Notre Dame Hospital
in Petit Goave.

The Inter-American Development Bank Signs Agreement and Announces Release of
Withheld Loans Initially Releasing $50 Million
After three years of withholding agreed upon loans to Haiti, the IDB in four
new agreements announced the release of $146 million for water, health, road
and education projects.  So far they have released $50 million of the funds,
which are directed to budgetary action. The announcement of the release of the
funds was in the spirit of the OAS Resolution 822 that called for the
normalization of relations between Haiti and the international financial institutions.

Seminar Held on Use of IDB Loans in Health Sector Scheduled to be Released
Soon
A seminar was held regarding the project to reorganize the health care system
creating greater access for Haiti's poor once the $22.5 million loan from IDB
is released to Haiti.  In a recent press conference and agreement, IDB
announced that it would finally release the loans agreed to but has been withholding
for the last few years.  The Minister of Public Health stated that it was
encouraging that the IDB announced they would finally release the funds and hoped
that other international financial institutions will follow suite, saying
that it is extremely difficult to provide sufficient health care when the
Ministry of Public Health, the main health care provider in the country, is not
reinforced.

President Aristide Meets with Private Sector and Haiti Signs Draft Agreement
with Canada on textile goods and clothing
With an eye to stimulating investment in Haiti, job creation, and improving
the public-private sector relations in this vein, the President met with
approximately one hundred Haiti and foreign business people and representatives of
businesses associations.

Haiti's National Office Assisting the Elderly Explains Benefits Programs
The Director General of ONA detailed the numerous benefits provided to
retired government employees including new housing developed recently.

Minister of Education Visits Cite Soleil Schools to Identify Obstacles to
School Attendance this Fall and Committed to Obtain Necessary Funds to that
Schools Will Open this Fall.

The Ministry of Agriculture Inaugurated Completed Irrigation Systems in
Several Areas of the Country.

The Ministry of Agriculture Signed a Protocol Accord With Farmers in the
Central Plateau
This 8 million gourdes project will intensify the fish farming project,
support peanut, banana, rice, and vegetable production in the region.