29991: Potemaksonje (News) Tens of thousands of Fanmi Lavalas supporters demonstrate (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Potemaksonje


AHP News - February 7, 2007 - English translation (Unofficial)

Tens of thousands of Fanmi Lavalas supporters demonstrate peacefully on the 
occasion of the 16th anniversary of the first time a democratically elected 
president (Jean-Bertrand Aristide) took office in Haiti


Port-au-Prince, February 7, 2007 (AHP)- The streets of the capital were filled 
with tens of thousands of members and supporters of   Fanmi Lavalas 
demonstrating peacefully to mark the 16th anniversary of the first inauguration 
of Jean-Bertrand Aristide as president of Haiti.

The demonstrators spoke out on a number of issues, particularly calling for the 
release of the remaining political prisoners incarcerated under the Latortue 
regime, the departure of the UN force and the return of all who were forced 
into exile for political reasons, primarily former president Aristide, who was 
forced to depart on February 29, 2004.

Wearing t-shirts depicting Mr. Aristide and carrying placards and branches of 
trees, the demonstrators commenced their march outside the Saint-Jean Bosco 
Church in La Saline, proceeded down the Delmas highway, paused outside the 
headquarters of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) and the office of the 
Prime Minister, before concluding their march in front of the National Palace.

All along their route, they chanted slogans denouncing the violence and 
exclusion which they said they have faced ever since February 29, 2004.

In front of the public square known as "Place Miel" (Honey Square), which was 
inaugurated by the former president now in exile, they criticized the Group of 
184 (opponents of Aristide) whom they accused of having inflamed emotions and 
exacerbated division in Haiti,  plunging the country further into misery, in 
collaboration with the interim government of Latortue.

Outside the headquarters of the Provisional Electoral Council, they accused 
Council president Max Mathurin of having organized massive fraud at the time of 
the last elections that they said was designed to exclude Haiti's majority from 
governance.

Speakers at the march, such as Lavalas Deputy Jonas Coffi and a former 
candidate for a seat in the Lower House, Marc Foreste Casséus, said that the 
current CEP is the most deviously mischievous and incompetent of all of the 
CEPs in Haiti's history, and remains incapable of publishing the election 
results two months after Haitians went to the polls on December 3, 2006.

As they approached the Prime Minster's office, the demonstrators denounced the 
fact that there are still political prisoners incarcerated under a 
constitutional and democratic government.

" Why is it that people who were thrown in prison by an illegitimate government 
for political reasons continue to languish behind bars, while notorious 
criminals and others who escaped from prison after they had been locked up 
because of their participation in massacres continue to walk the streets 
freely", they asked, suggesting that Prime Minister Jacques Edouard Alexis has 
some explaining to do.

They also asked the head of the government to clarify the statements of 
MINUSTAH officials insisting that every operation conducted by the UN force in 
Cité Soleil, which left innocent victims, had the prior approval of the Haitian 
government.

As they arrived at the MINUSTAH headquarters in Bourdon, their emotions 
stirred, the demonstrators called for the departure of the UN force whose 
mandate expires in mid-February.

They blamed the UN mission in large part for the violence committed against the 
population.

"They have always stood by, their arms crossed, as massacres take place, 
organized by police officers together with members of the  Timanchèt Army in 
the populist districts under the interim government", they protested, outraged 
at the fact that all of the investigations that were announced have come to 
nothing, such as the investigation into the massacre at the National 
Penitentiary on December 1, 2004.

The coordinator of the  Fondation 30 Septembre (September 30 Foundation), 
Lovinski Pierre-Antoine, asserted that MINUSTAH is not worthy of the mission of 
stabilization and democracy that it claims to fulfill.

Outside the National Palace, declaring that President Préval is insensitive to 
the suffering of the population and of those who languish behind bars, the 
demonstrators urged him to demonstrate prudence toward those the protesters 
called "opportunists".

"Those who raise their glasses in toast with you today are the same ones who 
will be fomenting plots aimed at throwing you into the abyss", they shouted in 
the direction of the president, asking him to remain loyal to his historic base 
while at the same time being a president who represents all Haitians.

The demonstration, with security provided by the National Police, proceeded 
without incident.

Demonstrators rallying by the thousands also gathered in provincial cities, 
notably Cap-Haitien, Saint-Marc and Miragoâne to commemorate February 7th.

February 7, 2007 also marks the 21st anniversary of the end of the dictatorship 
of the Duvaliers and the first anniversary of the second election of Mr. Préval 
as President of Haiti.




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