U.S., France Block UN Probe of Aristide Ouster

by Thalif Deen

UNITED NATIONS - The United States and France have intimidated Caribbean countries into delaying an official request for a probe into the murky circumstances under which Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide was ousted from power in February, according to diplomatic sources here.

The two veto-wielding permanent members of the 15-nation Security Council have signaled to Caribbean nations that they do not want a U.N. probe of Aristide's ouster. Any attempts to bring the issue or even introduce a resolution before the Security Council will either be blocked or vetoed by both countries, council sources told IPS.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who has been caught in the middle of the dispute, says he is unable to act unless he has a formal request to do so either by the Security Council or the 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM), of which Haiti is a member. ''We have read news reports that CARICOM wants a U.N. investigation. But unless we receive an official request either from CARICOM or from the Security Council, we cannot act on it,'' U.N. spokesman Farhan Haq told IPS.

<snip>

At its summit meeting Mar. 27, CARICOM heads of government ''reiterated their call for an investigation under the auspices of the United Nations.'' But despite that announcement, the group has been dragging its feet over a formal request for a probe. ''The reasons are obvious,'' says a Caribbean diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity. ''We are under tremendous pressure not to follow up on our request.''

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0413-08.htm

If we were to back off, France would follow suit.

I forget the details, but ever since they said they wanted the money back Haiti has been on France's shit list.

Bush & Chiraq were recently celebrating the success of their flawless cooperation. Don't mistake France for being any better than the US.

The ONLY reasons France was against us over Iraq II (vs Iraq I) is because Bush wouldn't share enough of the loot. They're already been burned by Bush I when all the post-war contracts went to US (1) and then UK (2) companies. The other "allies" were left out in the cold. Once burned, twice shy and they weren't going to fall for it again.

The other reason is that Saddaam was toppled by the US because he was going to switch to the Euro which would have strengthened France's economy at the expense of US economy. Over its dead body was the US going to let the Euro become the dominating currency of OPEC. This is one reason Chavez has to go- he doesn't want the basically worthless dollar either. Take oil out of the currency equation and the US can no longer dictate the value of the dollar- it will have to be based on hard sweayt, labor and tangible production for a FAIR price. Do that and America, as we know it, is finished.

That's what this war is about and that's why people like Bush, Kerry, and anyone else who supports this war are fighting for- the American way of life at the expense of the rest of the world, and especially of the Third and Second World.

France did not let Haiti go willingly. The Haitian slaves led a brutal revolution and whooped the asses of Napolean's seasoned troops. France never forgave that. Even blockaded the island after the revolution and made the new nation pay it, in gold, for each slave they had lost. Both France and the US worked systematically to destroy those "uppity niggers" for 200 years.

Fance? No hero. No beacon of light. Ask the Algerians what they think of the French.

The veto power of certain nations holding seats in the security council must be abolished. There should be absolutely NO VETO power of any nation or nations. Such is how a true democratic institution should be run.

Does that mean we can start eating French Fries again?

US Marines kidnapped the democratically elected leader of Haiti and our Fallow Murkins think Dumbya is Superman Jesus, spreadin' freedom and feedin' the poor...

FUCK.

Conclusive Evidence of U.S. Role in Kidnapping and Coup


PRESS ADVISORY
Monday, April 4, 2004
Media Contact: Dustin Langley 212-633-6646

As Bush Administration Scrambles to Shore Up Appointed Haitian Regime Commission to Present Conclusive Evidence of U.S. Role in Kidnapping and Coup

Date: Wednesday, April 7
Time: 6:30- 9:30 pm
Location: The Whitman Theatre at Brooklyn College

Panel to include: Rep. Maxine Waters, Rep. Major Owens, Former Attorney General Ramsey Clark, Ossie Davis, Gil Noble, Amy Goodman, Ron Daniels, and other prominent activists and journalists

The Bush Administration is facing a growing crisis over its role in the coup in Haiti and the kidnapping of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who continues to speak out about his abduction by the U.S. The 15-member organization of Caribbean nations, CARICOM, has refused to recognize the U.S.-installed regime and has called for an investigation, despite intense pressure and threats from the U.S. The 53-member African Union has raised the same demand.

On Wednesday, April 7, the Haiti Commission of Inquiry will initiate a public inquiry of the role of the Bush Administration in the crisis in Haiti. Delegations that visited both the Central African Republic and the Dominican Republic will present conclusive evidence that U.S. Special Forces armed, trained, and directed the "rebels" and engineered the abduction of President Aristide.

The preliminary report from the Commission states, "two hundred U.S. Special Forces soldiers came to the Dominican Republic as part of 'Operation Jaded Task,' with special authorization from President Hipólito Mejia. We have received many reports that this operation was used to train Haitian rebels. We have received many consistent reports of Haitian rebel training centers at or near Dominican military facilities. We have received many consistent reports of guns transported from the Dominican Republic to Haiti, some across the land border, and others shipped by sea."

Johnnie Stevens of the International Action Center, a member of the delegation to the Central African Republic, said, "The U.S.-installed Prime Minister, Gerard Latortue, has hailed the paid mercenaries as freedom fighters, and had thus discredited himself among the Caribbean nations."

Secretary of State Colin Powell, in a desperate bid to lend some credibility to the Latortue government, is now visiting Haiti for the first time. This attempt to put U. S. weight behind the isolated colonial-style regime is a response to its growing isolation. Sara Flounders, of the International Action Center, said, "This visit by Powell is a sign of the Bush Administration’s growing isolation and disarray. The U.S. is desperately trying to shore up a discredited regime in the face of international opposition to the appointed government of Haiti after the stinging rebuke directed at the U.S. by the recent CARICOM meeting." Flounders is a member of the Haiti Commission of Inquiry and was part of the delegation to the Central African Republic, where she visited with President Aristide shortly after his kidnapping.

Kim Ives from Haiti Progres, who was part of the delegation to the Dominican Republic, told the media, "In the course of our investigation here, we met with many Haitians who were forced to flee Haiti following the coup d'etat of Feb. 29. Their testimony gave very concrete names and faces to the stories of violence which we have heard that the so-called rebels, trained and assembled in the Dominican Republic, have carried out in Haiti over the past month. We were also touched by the tears of refugees who told us of how they are apprehensive over the fate of their loved ones left behind in Haiti."

For more information, or to schedule an interview with a member of the Commission, call Dustin Langley at 212-633-6646.

Share this page with a friend



International Action Center
39 West 14th Street, Room 206
New York, NY 10011
email: iacenter@action-mail.org
En Espanol: iac-cai@action-mail.org
web: http://www.iacenter.org
CHECK OUT SITE http://www.mumia2000.org
phone: 212 633-6646
fax: 212 633-2889
To make a tax-deductible donation,
go to http://www.peoplesrightsfund.org

http://www.iacenter.org/haiti_0407press.htm