From: Human Rights Coordinator <hrcoord@igc.apc.org>
Newsgroups: soc.rights.human
Date: 28 Dec 92 12:31 PST
Subject: haiti bulletin #171
Nf-ID: #N:cdp:1476700919:000:6520
Nf-From: cdp.UUCP!hrcoord    Dec 28 12:31:00 1992


From: Human Rights Coordinator <hrcoord>
Subject: haiti bulletin #171

/* Written 12:45 pm  Dec 26, 1992 by jburnette@igc.apc.org in
igc:reg.carib */

Haiti: Resistance & Democracy.  Bulletin #171 Port-au-Prince.
December 21, 1992

NOTE: THE NEXT BULLETIN (#172) WILL COME OUT MONDAY JANUARY 4,
1993.

    This bulletin is produced clandestinely in Port-au-Prince,
    Haiti


HUMAN RIGHTS

VIOLATIONS
Central Plateau: Mare-Rouge (Mirebalais).On Sunday December 20,
1992, the decapitated body of a Haitian Army soldier was found by
farmers in Mare- Rouge, communal section of Mirebalais (70 km
northeast of Port-au-Prince).  According to information from a
human rights organization, the soldier, Bazile Leonais, was
assassinated by machete blows. His rifle and his uniform were
placed on top of him. The Army has already arrested several people
in the area; their number and identies are not known.

South-East: Bainet (4th communal section). On Tuesday December 8
at about 5 p.m., Maurice Damucy, KONAKOM coordinator for the
Bainet region, was arrested by soldiers from that area.  The
arrest took place in the street, as Maurice Damucy was trying to
inform some local KONAKOM militants about the wave of repression
which has recently fallen on their party. Maurice Damucy was
savagely beaten by the soldiers and is now imprisoned in Bainet.

POLITICAL SCENE

Special UN representative in the Haitian crisis on 48-hour mission
to Haiti. On December 20, former Argentinian chancellor, Dante
Caputo, the special representative of the UN Secretary General for
the Haitian crisis, met with Reverend Antoine Adrien, coordinator
of the Presidential Commission, head of the Army, Raoul Cedras, as
well as Marc Bazin. Mr.  Caputo, who arrived in Haiti on December
19 is to meet with the presidents of both Legislative Chambers,
Dejean Belizaire and Alexandre Medard, Rene Theodore (prime
minister designate in the Protocol of Accord of Washington, some
diplomats, including the leader of the OAS observer mission, as
well as Platform of Human Rights officials. The Argentinian
diplomat, who is carrying out his first mission to Haiti since his
appointment by Mr. BOoutros Boutros Ghali on December 11, sent a
message to all parties, according to a diplomatic source cited by
Interpress:  "Establishment of a state of law in Haiti will be
accomplished by applying the choice of the majority as expressed
in the elections." (Tropic FM, 12/2192)

Father Antoine Adrien, coordinator of the Presidential Commission,
contests the interdiction by the police. The Nouvelliste reports
remarks by Father Antoine Adrien in a press conference held
onDecember 18 at the Hotel Christopher folowing police
interdiction of the march planned by the Presidential Commission:
"...The response of the police tramples on our right to
demonstrate guaranteed by Article 31.2 of the Constitution. (...)
Today the law and the Constitution seem not to exist for the
government of shame. (...) Now only the law of the Army of Haiti
exists in the country.  (...) How can a march of nine people
threaten national security? (...) Yet the electoral campaign for
nominations is going to start. I find all this absurd."

According to Le Nouvelliste, "once again the Presidential
Commission drew the attention of the other camp to the neessity to
resume, indeed to complete, negotiations. Otherwise the
international community will impose its solution, said the
Presidentail Commision leader. As evidence, he offered a letter
which he just received from the OAS Secretary General, informing
him of the latest resolution of the ad hoc meeting of OAS foreign
ministers. Mr. Soares reiterated his intention to pursue the role
of faciliator in the Haitian crisis. He also announced that a new
OAS ission will be sent to Haiti at the beginning of 1993. (...)
He also mentioned the need to engage in dialogue to find a
solution in accordance with the Haitian Constitution."

"The mayor elect of Port-au-Prince, Evans Paul, also a member of
the Presidential Commission, enumerated concessions already made
by the COmmission: acceptance of the principle of nominating a
prime minister agrred on by all parties, formation of a government
of national concord and amnesty for soldiers implicated in the
coup d'etat. In the words of Father Adrien, this proposal has been
sent many times to the other camp, who have never responded."
(...)

PARLIAMENT

A session of questioning the de facto prime minsiter, Marc Bazin,
is expected tomorrow in the Senate. The Villa d'Accueil prime
minister is expected to appear in the Senate tomorrow.
Parliamentarians of the anti- corruption bloc succeeded in calling
this session for December 22. The points to be discussed in the
session are: negotiation to obtain lifting of the embargo, respect
for the autonomy of the University, return of all elected
officials to their posts, social appeasement, 100,000 jobs, laws
to establish democratic institutions specified by the
Constitution.  (Tropic FM, 12/21/92)

INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

Clinton pushed to act. Tropic FM mentions that the December 21,
1992 edition of the Washington Post carries an article referring
to American foreign policy experts according to whom Bill Clinton
must act promptly to end the Haitian crisis to avoid an increase
in the number of boat people leaving for Florida. To achieve this,
Bill Clinton should tighten the embargo against the de facto
regime and support UN intervention in Haiti if the military won't
give up power before January 20, 1993. The newspaper proposes the
intervention of UN peacekeeping forces such as those in Cambodia.

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister, Mrs. Monique Landry, favors the
return of President Aristide. After meeting with representatives
of the Haitian community in Montreal on December 18, Mrs. Landry
stated: "Canada is more determined than ever to help the Haitian
people in their quest for democracy. We will not stop our efforts
until the legitimate president elect is returned to power and a
state of law is restored to Haiti. To this end, Mrs. Landry
announced that Canada will try to obtain approval and support of
the international community to instate an international embargo
against the authorities in Port-au-Prince.

OTHER ITEMS

ell and Esso gas stations stopped distribution this morning.
Dozens of drivers are already lined up at various locations to
fill up. (Tropic FM 12/21/92)

    Translated by Haiti Communications Project - Boston

   This bulletin depend entirely on you for its distribution.