From: hrcoord@igc.apc.org (Human Rights Coordinator)
Newsgroups: soc.rights.human
Subject: HAITI: UN SAYS HUMAN RIGHTS, ECONOM
Date: 12 Nov 92 17:30:00 GMT
Nf-ID: #N:cdp:1476700796:000:3918
Nf-From: cdp.UUCP!hrcoord    Nov 12 09:30:00 1992


From: Human Rights Coordinator <hrcoord>
Subject: HAITI: UN SAYS HUMAN RIGHTS, ECONOM

/* Written 12:11 am  Nov 12, 1992 by newsdesk@igc.apc.org in
igc:ips.englibrary */ Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all
rights reserved.  Permission to re- print within 7 days of
original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Title: HAITI: UN SAYS HUMAN RIGHTS, ECONOMY DETERIORATED OVER PAST
YEAR

new york, nov 9 (ips) -- human rights violations have increased in
haiti under the military regime there, the economy has
deteriorated and thousands face starvation, a report by un
secretary-general boutros boutros-ghali warned.

the document, released monday, has been presented to the un
general assembly, which will discuss it at a plenary meeting on
nov. 17, devoted to the human rights situation in haiti.

the 13-member caribbean community (caricom) and venezuela have
asked the secretary-general to send another good offices mission
to haiti to seek a solution to the crisis sparked by the 30
sep.1991 military ouster of president jean-bertrand aristide.

un representatives participated in a previous mission headed by
organization of american states (oas) secretary-general joao baena
soares, which visited the caribbean country in august.

in a draft resolution circulated among un delegations, caricom
also called for a strengthening of the economic embargo imposed by
the oas on haiti on oct. 8, 1991.

aristide himself made a similar call when he addressed the general
assembly on sep. 29.

in his report, boutros-ghali recalled that the authorities
installed in port-au-prince following the coup have not been
recognized by the united nations, which continues to await the
return to power of the deposed president.

according to data from the united nations and international
humanitarian organizations, human rights violations in haiti are
serious and widespread.

these violations include executions, ill treatment which can be
considered torture, and arbitrary and illegal detentions, the
secretary-general's report stated.

abuses by members of the security forces and civilians who act in
connivence with them and with total impunity characterize the
situation in haiti, where the system of justice has broken down,
it added.

the report condemns repression against journalists, opposition
members, lawyers and clergymen.

it also describes the caribbean country's economy in alarming
terms.

the report warns that haiti's economy is sliding rapidly downward,
tens of thousands of jobs in industry and services have been lost,
the private sector is going to ruin and unemployment, which has
always been high, has increased even more. (more)
----

without mentioning the oas embargo, the report states that the
lack of fuel has accelerated deforestation and increased the
prices of essential goods.

and the drop in the buying power of families, the reduction of
food imports and fertilizers, coupled with the fuel shortage,
which limits transport have caused the already precarious food
situation to deteriorate since october 1991, it states.

malnutrition hits the most vulnerable groups hardest, especially
young children. moreover, famine could break out in various
regions of northwest haiti due to two years of drought there, the
report adds.

this combination of political and economic factors explains the
massive wave of refugees from haiti, boutros-ghali stated.

stopping short of condemning the united states for denying haitian
refugees intercepted on sea the right to asylum, he recalled that
un high commissioner sadako okata had lamented this attitude.

the u.s. marine has intercepted 39,315 haitian refugees, most of
whom were repatriated by force and only 11,617 admitted as
asylum-seekers, according to the report.

it disclosed that the united nations would soon set up offices in
haiti and the dominican republic to attend to the refugee
situation. (end/ips/trd/so/mg-oh/kb/92)
----