From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: Haiti: US PR Firm Lobbys for Coup Government
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 03:46:23 GMT

/** reg.carib: 288.0 **/
** Topic: HAITI: US PR firm lobbys for milit **
** Written  5:38 pm  Jul 20, 1992 by caribdesk in cdp:reg.carib **
US FIRM HIRED TO PORTRAY HAITI'S EXILED LEADER AS 'AGENT OF
TERROR'

Guyana Catholic Standard, Sunday July 5, 1992

A Washington area law firm hired by Haiti's coup government has
set out to convince U.S. political leaders and the public that
Haiti's exiled president became an "agent of terror".

Foreign agent papers filed with the U.S. Justice Department May
20 say that the Washington-based Law Offices of Robert C.
McCandless has been hired to represent the coup government.

According to the papers, McCandless, in turn, has subcontracted
with Craig Shirley and Associates, a public relations firm, to
help change U.S. policy on Haiti, including persuading U.S.
officials to end an economic embargo against the Caribbean
nation.

In the papers, McCandless describes his philosophy on bringing
about what he sees as the necessary changes in U.S. attitude
toward Haiti.

"To change the administration's policy toward Haiti, you have to
demonstrate that the policy of embargo forces the poor Haitians
to try to come to the United States for jobs, food and medicine,"
according to McCandless.

"You have to demonstrate that democracy is an important goal, but
it must produce at least benign results not a dictatorship of the
left as it did in this case where President Aristide became an
agent of terror, embezzlement and murder," he said in the papers
filed with the US Justice Department.

Bush administration officials and lawmakers must be persuaded "to
go to Haiti and see what (Father) Aristide did and how peaceful
it is now," he said.

Haitian human rights groups estimate that since the nation's
military coup, 2,000 Haitians - mostly unarmed civilians - have
been killed by bullets, 500 by torture and 6,000 wounded in
gunfire.  Church workers, in particular, have been targeted,
according to Amnesty International.

Contracts between foreign governments or political parties and
public relations firms signed in hopes of shaping U.S. policy are
legal and not unusual.

The Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 requires anyone
engaging in 'propaganda activities' on behalf of foreign
governments, political parties or other foreign organizations to
register with the Justice Department so that the U.S. government
and citizens may be informed of the identity of these persons and
'may appraise their statements and actions in the light of their
associations and activities.'

The papers are open to public examination.

A spokeswoman for the Justice Department told Catholic News
Service that in mid-June, some 800 parties were registered with
the government as foreign agents, representing foreign
governments, political parties or individuals.

The McCandless firm was hired by Haiti's coup government and an
informal group of Haitian business professionals.

The records say McCandless' firm is receiving US$165,000 plus
expenses for services rendered during a 12 month period.  They
say, as of May, $85,000 of that fee had been paid by the
provisional government and $30,000 by a Haitian businessman who
raises chickens.

The papers indicate the two U.S. firms plan to use radio or TV
broadcasts, advertising campaigns, magazine or newspaper articles
and press releases to disseminate their message.

The intend to target their message to public officials,
legislators, government agencies, newspapers, editors and "any
groups who can ethically and legally help us in Haiti".

The law firms plans, as described in the papers filed with the
Justice Department, are:

-- "Press and media dissemination of the true facts on what
happened in Haiti, why former President Aristide was thrown out,
and why he must not be returned to power."

-- Then, "contacting and informing and lobbying U.S. officials
and U.N. officials" with the goal of getting the international
economic embargo against Haiti lifted.

In order to achieve its goals, the law firm said it would:

-- "Plan to fist use Craig Shirley to direct favourable public
relations to provisional government (of Haiti) and unfavourable
public relations against former President Aristide."

-- When the United States and Organization of American States
"tire of embargo and (Father) Aristide (is) not returned, try to
urge formulation of a new, more humane policy toward Haiti."

-- "Eventually, after embargo lifting, try to get aid in money
and in kind to this underprivileged nation."
** End of text from cdp:reg.carib **

Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive