19505: Esser: 'This sets a dangerous precedent' (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. Esser torx@joimail.com

Jamaica Gleaner
http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com

'This sets a dangerous precedent'
Monday  March 1, 2004

THE CARIBBEAN Community (CARICOM) yesterday deplored 'the removal of
President Aristide' from office, as setting 'a dangerous precedent
for democratically-elected governments anywhere and everywhere...'

The statement, issued by Jamaica's Prime Minister P.J. Patterson,
chairman of CARICOM, said that CARICOM Heads of Government would meet
here tomorrow to discuss the situation.

Following is the text of the statement:

"President Aristide has submitted his resignation as the President of
Haiti and has left the country for an undisclosed destination. We are
bound to question whether his resignation was truly voluntary, as it
comes after the capture of sections of Haiti by armed insurgents and
the failure of the international community to provide the requisite
support, despite the appeals of CARICOM.

"The removal of President Aristide in these circumstances sets a
dangerous precedent for democratically-elected governments anywhere
and everywhere, as it promotes the removal of duly-elected persons
from office by the power of rebel forces.

"At no point in time was the CARICOM Action Plan predicated on the
unconstitutional removal of President Aristide from office. The
Action Plan, endorsed by the international community, was based on
the precepts of shared government, binding both President Aristide
and the legitimate opposition to specific commitments, which would
eventually lead to a political solution in accordance with the
Constitution of Haiti and result in a peaceful settlement of the
crisis and the promotion of the democratic process.

"Any suggestions therefore that CARICOM was a party to a plan or was
in consultation or had subscribed to the removal of President
Aristide from Office, as a prior condition, would be in complete
contradiction to the long- held CARICOM position that the removal of
the constitutionally-elected president by unconstitutional means
could not be supported by the CARICOM Community.

"With the removal of the President from office, the Constitution of
Haiti provides that the Chief Justice, subsequent to his affirmation
by a two-thirds majority of Parliament, would now act as President.
The non-existence of a Parliament in Haiti would bring into question
the constitutionality of the arrangement as reported. It further
underlines why the CARICOM Action Plan sought to promote a framework,
which would permit the elections to Parliament that would be free and
fair, so soon as the requisite conditions were in place.

"The situation which currently exists in Haiti and the circumstances
which led to it, raise grave issues which the Caribbean Community now
needs to address:

CARICOM's response to the installation of a regime in Haiti brought
about by a capitulation to armed groups.

The fact that the political solution as envisaged under the CARICOM
Action Plan is no longer possible and the Community's reaction to any
further plan of action by the international community.

The possible increase in the number of Haitians who might leave and
how this situation ought to be handled from here on.

"In light of the gravity of the situation and the immediate issues to
be dealt with, I have convened an emergency meeting of CARICOM Heads
to be held in Jamaica tomorrow.

"In the meantime, CARICOM continues to deplore the continued
breakdown of law and order in Haiti, the loss of lives and the wanton
damage to property. CARICOM has no desire to abandon the people of
Haiti and would wish to see the quick restoration of peace and
stability in that country, and the earliest return to constitutional
democracy."
.