From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: Haiti: Carter says US Policy is Racist
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Distribution: na
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 01:11:07 GMT

/** reg.carib: 461.0 **/
** Topic: IPS:Haiti - Carter says US policy i **
** Written  7:07 pm  Dec 15, 1992 by caribdesk in cdp:reg.carib **
From: Bob Thomson <caribdesk>
Subject: IPS:Haiti - Carter says US policy is racist

/* Written 12:24 am  Dec 14, 1992 by newsdesk@igc.apc.org in igc:ips.englibrary */
/* ---------- "HAITI: Carter calls U.S. policy on " ---------- */
Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Reference: North America
Title: HAITI: Carter calls U.S. policy on Haitian refugees ''racist''

washington, dec 11 (ips) -- former u.s. president jimmy carter
has described as ''racist'' washington's policy of forcibly
repatriating haitian refugees before finding out whether they
were qualified for asylum or not.

stressing the difference in the treatment of refugees in
europe and even in cuba, he said he did not doubt the existence
of an element of racism or racial insensibility in u.s.
immigration policies.

he denounced the u.s. policies when the carter center gave out
its seventh annual human rights award to the fund for the rights
of native americans and the haitian refugee centre in washington
this week.

the first repatriation took place after u.s. president george
bush ordered the return to haiti of people who fled the country's
repressive military regime in improvised boats.

washington had ruled that most of them had left for economic,
and not political, reasons, despite the rampant torture,
executions and illegal detention documented by human rights
groups under the raoul cedras military regime.

the flow of haitian refugees toward the united states rose
dramatically after cedras deposed haitian president jean-bertrand
aristide in a bloody coup d'etat on sep. 30, 1991.

carter, who is remembered for his international policy on the
defence of human rights, said haitians live ''in a state of
permanent fear, while their oppressors are free to kill, torture
and terrorise''.

he said aristide had just informed him of a new wave of
repression against high school students who dared speak out
against the regime.

carter noted the apparent lack of consistency between the u.s.
habit of welcoming immigrants of countries which have been
blacklisted by washington, like cuba, and its policy of refusing
entry to ally nations like haiti.

he urged a more decisive international effort to end the
haitian crisis, adding that he would meet this weekend with
former jamaican prime minister michael manley and u.n. secretary-
general boutros boutros-ghali to discuss the matter.

under the clinton administration, which begins in january,
carter said the united states should assume the role of leader
and join efforts with france, canada, venezuela and the
organisation of american states (oas) to help haiti.

during his speech, he acknowleged the presence of a clinton
senior aide though he did not reveal his name. aristide was also
present during the ceremony. (end/ips/trd-sp/mas/er/cir/92)

** End of text from cdp:reg.carib **

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