[Marxism] Latortue Hails Haitian contras as "Freedom Fighters"

[Chris Brady <cdbrady@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The "New & Improved" Prez de Haïti actually saluted the gangsters that
overthrew  Haitian democracy  - - - as "Freedom Fighters!"  We may next
expect him to declare, like Ronald Reagan about Efraín Ríos Montt, that
Louis-Jodel Chamblain got "a bum rap."

Note Well: Monsieur le President Latortue, with his cabinet, was
transported to the northern city of Gonaïves (where the rebellion
started) --by means of a helicopter generously provided by the United
States.  And, Nota Bene further, he was accompanied by an official
representative of the Organization of American States (OAS).  Such
doings ought to make Hugo Chavez rest assured of the objectivity and
nonpartisanship of that international organization in the affairs of his
country.

One can only imagine the pressure one international organization,
CARICOM, is under from the United States these days, as their big
meeting about Aristide approaches.  We may recall US policy to date,
i.e., "with US or against US" -with ample examples of countries
capitulating, or suffering the consequences.

Here are some bits and clips, with URLs if you want to read the full
articles:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Human Rights Groups Critical Of Haiti's Leader

Haïti-Info, 22 mars 2004
http://www.haiti-info.com/article.php3?id_article=1804

CAP-HAITIEN, Haiti (AP)--Haiti's new leader is in an "unholy alliance"
with rebels including convicted assassins, one human rights group
charged, while another warned that peacekeepers aren't doing enough to
control rebels.

Several human rights groups questioned interim Prime Minister Gerard
Latortue's actions at a weekend rally where he celebrated the gangsters
who began Haiti's uprising as "freedom fighters."

Meanwhile ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's Lavalas Family
party, in disarray since many officials fled or are in hiding, appeared
to be regrouping and warned Monday that there can be no peace without
the participation of Haiti's largest political movement.
[clip]
Under a U.S.-sponsored plan, Latortue last week formed a transitional
government that he said is neutral but includes no Lavalas member and is
loaded with Cabinet members critical of Aristide.
[clip]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

3 leaders say 'no' to Latortue

Rickey Singh, Jamaica Observer, Tuesday, March 23, 2004
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20040323T000000-0500_57575_OBS___LEADERS_SAY__NO__TO_LATORTUE.asp

AT least three Caribbean Community (Caricom) leaders yesterday signalled
their unwillingness to sit with Haiti's interim leader, Gerard Latortue,
unless he repudiates his recent attacks on the Community and distances
himself from the gunmen who helped overthrow Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
[clip]
At the same time, Ralph Gonsalves, the St Vincent prime minister,
criticised the Organisation of American States (OAS) representative in
Haiti, David Lee, for sharing a platform with rebel leaders in the town
of Gonaives on Saturday where Latortue heaped praise on the
anti-Aristide partisans.

"(I have) a serious problem with an official of the Organisation of
American States sharing a platform with Latortue at what was a political
rally in Gonaives," Gonsalves told the Observer.
[clip]
Just over a week ago, Latortue announced a freeze on Haiti's relations
with Caricom and publicly rebuked the 15-member Community, to protest
the posture of Caribbean leaders over the controversial departure of
Aristide from Haiti.

Latortue was also angered by Jamaica's decision to give temporary asylum
to Aristide - who, initially, was exiled to the Central African Republic
- and failed to show for a meeting he had requested with Prime Minister
P J Patterson to discuss the Haiti situation. Patterson is the out-going
chairman of Caricom.
 [clip]
"Mr Latortue has shown tremendous insensitivity in first announcing the
freezing of Haiti's membership in Caricom, then to travel to Gonaives on
Saturday to hail known murderers and political thugs as liberators and
now want to meet with Community Heads of Government to discuss the
Haitian situation," Gonsalves said. "I am totally opposed to any such
meeting with him at this time."
[clip]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Opposition to Haiti's PM attending Caricom meeting

Haïti-Info, 23 mars 2004
http://www.haiti-info.com/article.php3?id_article=1811

BRIDGETOWN (Barbados) - Some Caribbean Community Prime Ministers have
reacted sharply against the possibility of a meeting with Haiti's
interim Prime Minister, Gerard Latortue, when they hold their 15th
Inter-Sessional Meeting later this week in St Kitts.
[clip]
? the OAS representative, David Lee, who along with members of
Latortue's recently appointed cabinet were flown with the interim Prime
Minister on a United States military helicopter to Gonaives for the
rally where he welcomed as "liberators" armed rebels who had fought for
the overthrow of the Aristide presidency.
[clip]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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