Aristide Supporters Rally Before Haiti Vote

[cal04]

Hundreds of poor Haitians danced in the streets on Saturday and demanded the return of exiled leader Jean-Bertrand Aristide three days before a presidential vote that some fear will lead to chaos. Loudspeakers mounted on trucks blared music as Aristide supporters waved banners, sang and danced in a campaign rally that wound from the streets of downtown Port-au-Prince into the sprawling Bel-Air slum.

They were marching in support of front-runner Rene Preval, an ex-president seen as an Aristide ally even though he has tried to distance himself from the firebrand former priest who was ousted in a rebellion two years ago.
``Preval, we can't wait any longer, bring back Aristide,'' the crowd chanted. One man lay in the street, a poster of Preval on one side and a poster of Aristide on the other.

``Preval and Aristide are twins!'' others shouted.

Aristide, who has spent the last two years in exile in South Africa, remains the dominant and most divisive figure in Haitian politics and in Tuesday's election. While Aristide is adored by many in Haiti's slums, business leaders despise him and others say he was a corrupt despot when he came to power. The election is aimed at restoring democracy in Haiti after Aristide was toppled in February 2004. But it could plunge the poorest country in the Americas into yet another round of fighting between his supporters and enemies.

``There are many people who really fear maybe on election day there could be chaos, and that chaos could provoke violence,'' said Johan Van Hecke, head of a European Union parliamentary delegation in Haiti this week. U.N. troops stepped up patrols in Haiti on Saturday to ensure security ahead of voting. Armored personnel carriers loaded with U.N. peacekeepers crawled along streets on the edge of the capital's biggest and most dangerous slums, stopping passenger buses and private cars to search for weapons.

http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-02-05T012044Z_01_N04357300_RTRUKOC_0_UK-HAITI.xml&archived=False

[LynnTheDem]

1. "EXILED" leader??! Try "democratically elected, KIDNAPPED BY US

FORCES on bush's orders" leader.

[seafan]

2. You are so right. Our media are a cruel joke. n/t

[Judi Lynn]

3. Haiti's "socialist" front organizations funded by Republican groups in USA

February 05, 2006

Haiti's "socialist" front organizations funded by Republican groups in USA
FOIAs Reveal IRI working with OPL to facilitate the creation of an anti-Lavalas socialist coalition. FOIAs also reveal USAID $3m program with UNOPS to "even the playing field".

by Jeb Sprague

Recent FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) requests to USAID show that the International Republican Insitute (IRI) facilitated the creation of a socialist coalition between OPL, PANPRA, KONAKOM, and Ayiti Kapab. Research also shows that Marc Bazin's "moderate lavalas" candidacy has also been facilitated and supported by the IRI.

As recently admitted by their officials, the IRI had a large hand in constructing Marc Bazin's candidacy for presidency. His campaign bringing together "moderate members of Lavalas" has been cited, often as an example in press reports, as showing that Fanmi Lavalas has splintered following the Feb. 2004 ousting of the democratically elected government. IRI has worked continously, to undermine the political process in Haiti.

FOIA research also now shows that the IRI facilitated the creation of a socialist coalition, which includes Paul Denis' OPL. These two factors combined show that the IRI is working to destabilize Lavalas (and I would argue the candidacy of Rene Preval) by strengthening and constructing rival factions. Is this democracy, when neo-conservative political operatives funded by the world's foremost super power, work to undermine the political process of the poorest country in the western hemisphere?

With elections not even underway yet, OPL's Paul Denis has already begun his work to discredit the election (which Rene Preval will most likely win). AHP reports, Paul Denis, "candidate of OPL (Organization of the People in Struggle) on Wednesday again denounced what he termed the lack of determination by the Provisional Electoral Council to make corrections to the electoral process before February 7,006, the date of the first round of the presidential and legislative elections.
(snip/...)

http://www.haitiaction.net/News/JS/2_5_6.html