From: nyt@nyxfer.UUCP
Newsgroups: alt.activism
Subject: Haiti Newsbriefs 1/25 ed-lp
Date: 27 Jan 93 06:28:00 GMT
Nf-ID: #N:u1g1XB13w165w@nyxfer.uucp:1192855351:000:6689
Nf-From: nyxfer.uucp!nyt    Jan 26 22:28:00 1993


Subject: Haiti Newsbriefs 1/25 ed-lp
From: nyxfer!nyt (NY Transfer News)


Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit

From el diario/La Prensa

Translated and edited by Toby Mailman. "el Diario/La Prensa" is 
a Spanish language newspaper published in New York City.

Haitains Return from Cuba

One of the survivors of a sunken ship, Celon Sullivan, said 
that the catastrophe had caused over two hundred deaths and that 
he was saved because during three days he floated on a piece of 
wood along with seven other people until a Cuban ship rescued 
them. The ship was overloaded with Haitians trying to go to 
Florida. The eight survivors were among 102 Haitians returning on
January 20 from Cuba to Haiti through arrangements made with the 
Red Cross and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). This
makes 1,298 Haitians who have returned voluntarily to Haiti so 
far, since the "air bridge" was established on January 12. (edlp 
01/21/93 from AFP)


Haitian Foreign Minister Signs Agreement for Interntional Mission

The Haitian Foreign Minister, Francois Benoit, signed an 
agreement regarding the arrival in that country of an 
international civilan mission. In statements published by the 
newspaper Le Nouvelliste, Benoit said the agreement could be 
fulfilled rapidly if it is encouraged by those who noted the 
presence of UN and OAS (Organization of American States) 
observers during the 1990 general elections. The role of the 
mission, according to Benoit, will be to calm passions and the 
fear of reprisals in the country, owing to the guaranteed 
neutrality of its members. At the same time Benoit considered 
appropriate the naming of a new prime minister to direct a 
government of national reconciliation, letting it be understood 
that the current government would be willing to withdraw if that 
would help to find a way out of the crisis. (edlp 01/21/93 from 
AFP)


Insubordination in Haitian Army

A group of Haitain soldiers refused to accept their transfer
to a training base in Port-au-Prince, and began firing their 
weapons, but their rebellion was stopped quickly, said a military
source. The soldiers involved escaped, said the offical who spoke
on condition of anonymity. It was the first report of 
insubordination in the army since the September 1991 coup which 
deposed President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. However, since the coup
there have been rumors of division within the armed forces. (edlp
01/21/93 from AP)


UN-OAS Mediator Prepares for Negotiations On Haiti

The mediator for the UN and the OAS (Organization of 
American States), Dante Caputo, from Argentina, confirmed on 
January 21 in Washington that he expects different factions in 
the Haitian conflict to renew negotiations within three days. He 
said he would be meeting with President Jean-Bertrand Aristide on
January 22 in Washington to discuss the situation. The first 
discussion with the various sectors will be concerning the site, 
length and who the participants will be in the negotiations. 

Caputo also had conversations on January 21 regarding the 
"terms of reference" for sending an OAS-UN mission to Haiti with 
the main objective of "holding down human rights violations." 
Caputo said neither the identities nor the number of the members 
of the mission are negotiable, and will be decided by the UN and 
the OAS together. The mission could be in Haiti within ten days. 
Secretary General of the OAS, Joao Baena Soares, said the number 
of participants would depend on need and the available resources.
OAS sources said it could reach as many as 50 people. The US has 
offered $1 million, Chile $20,000 and Argentina transportaion and
telecommunication equipment to support the misison.

The acceptance of the mission was one of the commitments 
made by the Haitian military, as well as agreeing to new 
negotiations to restore democracy to Haiti. Caputo said General 
Raoul Cedras, head of the army, had not commited himself to 
accepting the return of Aristide to Haiti and that the subject 
had not been discussed between them. "It was my decision not to 
discuss substantive issues" with any of the parties during the 
first stage of the mediations, said Caputo. The restoration of 
democracy supposes the return of Aristide to the presidency, said
Caputo during a presentation to the Permanent Council of the OAS,
and afterward at a press conference together with Baena Soares.

"The marginalization of Aristide would be a victory for the 
coup leaders," Caputo went on, adding that the return of the 
constitutional president is "indispensable" to the return of 
democracy and would set a precedent in Latin American history.

Caputo confirmed that he had received the agreement of all 
parties involved - Cedras, de facto prime minister Marc Bazin, 
and Aristide, in separate letters. Although there is no document 
signed by all three, Caputo said he made it clear to all parties 
that their letters constituted a "contract" which it would be 
advisable to respect. (edlp 01/22/93 from AFP) 


Dominican Republic To Sell Rice To Cuba and Haiti

Dominican rice producers have been granted the right by 
their government to negotiate the exportation of rice to Cuba and
Haiti, as of January 25. The announcement was made by rice 
producer Joaquin Crespo, President of the Santiago Rice Factories
Association. According to Crespo, producers plan to export about 
one million quintales of rice to Cuba and Haiti, in hopes of 
keeping factories and mills from going bankrupt, even though Cuba
and Haiti pay the lowest prices for the product. At present there
is an excess of rice in the Dominican Republic of about four 
million quintales, plus approximately 1.5 million more which the 
spring harvest beginning in May should produce.

Rice is produced at a cost of about 300 pesos the quintal 
($24), which is considered excessive by some producers. In 
addition, the majority of the supplies they need for production 
are imported. As a solution to the rice growers crisis, Dr. 
Joaquin Balaguer, President of the Dominican Republic agreed to 
buy 300,000 quintales of rice from the upcoming harvest, at a 
cost of 100 million pesos. The rice will be sold to the 
population through government programs.

This information was given out by the administrator of the 
Agricultural Bank, Pedro Breton, who added that President 
Balaguer has also directed another $50 million pesos to the 
program. (edlp 01/24/93 byline Isabel Butten)




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