21439: (Chamberlain) Haiti police candidates riot (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

   By MICHELLE FAUL

   PORT-AU-PRINCE, April 20 (AP) -- Police fired tear gas and U.S. Marines
blocked the entrance of the police academy in the Haitian capital on
Tuesday as hundreds of candidates stormed the building during a recruiting
drive.
   The police used batons to beat back recruits and called off the
recruiting drive after several people reportedly were injured in the
incident.
   Haiti's interim government began the drive on Monday in an effort to
replenish the nation's depleted police force. Hundreds of officers, fearing
reprisal attacks because of their loyalties to ousted President
Jean-Bertrand Aristide, fled their posts when rebels launched an armed
rebellion that ousted Aristide on Feb. 29.
   The government fired 150 of the former officers last week for leaving
their posts or for ethics violations. Dozens more have fled the country.
   Most of Haiti's 8 million people are without jobs and live on less than
$1 a day, fueling desperation among the masses.
   "We were shoved back. The police attacked us," said Louis Hubert, 29, an
electrician and plumber who was among the potential recruits. "There were
lots of gun shots. There was also tear gas, plus they beat us with their
batons."
   Until elections are held next year, the interim government has said it
will work to create much-needed jobs in the country.
   But for elections to be held, an electoral committee must first be
selected.
   Ten hours of meetings Monday ended in a stalemate and interim Prime
Minister Gerard Latortue said Tuesday an electoral council would be named
next week with or without the participation of Aristide's Lavalas party.
   Lavalas had refused to participate in the council unless several demands
were met, including the release of party members arrested in connection
with corruption and murder investigations, and the lifting of a travel ban
on Lavalas officials.
   Latortue said Monday they had come to an accord on everything except the
timing of Lavalas naming its representative to the nine-member council,
made up of officials from political parties and civic societies.
   "They said they would do it as soon as possible but that's not good
enough," Latortue said.
   Crime has risen since Aristide and many of the country's police fled.
   Haitian radio stations and newspapers logged dozens of complaints that
the 3,600-strong U.S.-led multinational force sent to bring stability has
not ended kidnappings, robberies and reprisal killings.
   On Monday, Chileans in a peacekeeping force that includes French and
Canadian troops announced they would deploy in the strategic central city
of Hinche, expanding the presence in the Central Plateau region that is
under the control of several hundred rebels and former members of the army
that first ousted Aristide in 1991.