FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:  Merrie Archer,, 954-462-8231

Haitian Coalition Expresses Grave Concern over Violence and Growing Chaos in Haiti

NEW YORK, December 3, 2002  -- 
The National Coalition for Haitian Rights (NCHR) is deeply distressed by the events of the last two weeks in Haiti which have left dozens of people, including high school and university students, critically injured or dead, several radio stations burned and a trail of destruction in cities and provinces from the north of the country through Port-au-Prince, its capital. Beginning with a massive anti-government protest in Cap Haïtien on Sunday, November 17, a series of demonstrations, rallies and counter-rallies have pushed the country further down the path of lawlessness toward the brink of disaster. The potential for chaos has been evident for months now, highlighted by the events surrounding the August 2nd Gonaïves jailbreak of the Cannibal Army leader, Amiot “Cubain” Métayer (who, despite calls from human rights organizations and international observers, has yet to be re-arrested) and the lack of will or ability of the police and government to respond and restore order.

Particularly since the beginning of the demonstrations, a great deal of information has been flowing both within and out of Haiti, although very little of it is free of political bias added by those who would further one or another political agenda. The system of teledjol (the gossip mill) has flourished with countless rumors swirling over a range of issues from the imminent departure of international agencies and government officials, including President Aristide himself, to the nature and extent of damages on both sides as a result of the demonstrations.  Not surprisingly, much of this information has been difficult to verify, but it continues nonetheless to fuel emotions already running high and to maintain conditions at a fever pitch on both sides of the political spectrum.

“NCHR is unequivocal in its support of the Haitian people to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed right to demonstrate peacefully and voice political dissent with the current government without fear of reprisal,” said Dina Paul Parks, Executive Director.  “We condemn the actions of mobs, primarily pro-government, who have attacked demonstrators and the police who have refused to provide protection and, on certain occasions, have themselves perpetrated violence toward those protesting against the current administration. However, it is important to understand that the right to dissent does not exist in a vacuum but rather is integral to democracy.  Although extremely fragile in Haiti, a democratic process based in human rights and the rule of law must be respected and aggressively pursued.”

The failures of President Aristide’s administration to advance democracy or bring about any amount of stability to the country are unmistakable. Among them are-:

-         Zero Tolerance - the policy which has resulted in countless acts
        of violence and aggression against anyone perceived to threaten
        the status quo of the Lavalas regime

-         Impunity - the continued lack of progress on key investigations
        such as the lynching of journalist and political commentator
        Brignol Lindor one year ago today

-         Insecurity – the attacks led by so-called popular organizations on
        political party leaders, journalists and other opposition supporters
        in retribution for the December 17^th attack on the National Palace,
        which have opened the door to the sacrifice of the liberties of
        association and expression in Haiti.

As the increased tension and violence of the past few weeks painfully demonstrates, Haiti is in desperate need of a viable mechanism to restore a climate in which the rule of law and human rights can begin to take root.  While not in itself a solution to the current crisis, Resolution 822, adopted by the OAS in September in an attempt to break the political impasse of the past two and a half years, is one such tool that can assist Haiti in moving in this direction. If obliges the government to fulfill the basic requirements for stabilizing the situation such as making reparations for the December 17^th attacks and implementing a disarmament plan.  It also recognizes the important role and responsibility that all sectors have.  This framework offers Haiti a path that will propel it beyond its tradition of personalizing problems by unceremoniously – sometimes violently - removing and replacing an failing leader and toward a democratic practice of reforming the system and holding its leaders accountable through lawful means.  Resolution 822 is not a zero-sum, winner-take-all solution that provides a quick-fix, short-term remedy for some, but rather one that will require painful concessions for all before the more lasting results can be felt.

Immediately, the Aristide administration needs to take the first step by ensuring that the police take any and all necessary and lawful action to restore and maintain order and security while allowing the Haitian people to fully voice their will and desire.  NCHR is also calling on leaders of all sectors to allow calm and reason to guide their actions. “What is needed now is a careful and objective analysis of the facts so that cooler heads may prevail,” said Merrie Archer, NCHR’s Senior Policy Associate.  “Haiti’s leaders and people must begin to target the flaws in the system rather than individuals if a durable solution is to be found.  It is the system, then, in which individuals must measure up and be accountable.  One lesson that hopefully all of us have learned in the 15 months since September 11 is that however understandably tempting they may be, shortcuts to democracy, including the limiting of civil liberties and due process, take us down a dangerous path and do not, in fact, provide long-term solutions.”

Similarly, given the seemingly unending deterioration of the situation, the international community must acknowledge that it can no longer afford to pursue an isolationist, wait-and-see policy. While we are hopeful that the international community is beginning to realize Haiti’s precarious perch, it is not clear that the US has yet determined to reverse its policy of inhumane containment.  Indeed, it is unconscionable that the US is providing M-16s to the Dominican Army to militarize its border with Haiti on the one hand while stepping up patrols on the high seas to interdict refugees fleeing the crisis on the other.  Now it is the time for the US and others to put their full force and support, as well as significant resources, behind international organizations such as the OAS while stepping up bilateral engagement in urgently needed sectors such as governance, judicial reform and migration.  Haiti – and inevitably its neighbors – can ill afford for the international community to continue dragging its feet.