The Freedom, Identity and Socialism Collective:

“Aristide must go, but we don’t want the return of the Army”

 

Port-au-Prince, 4 December 2002 [AlterPresse] — The

Freedom, Identity and Socialism Collective (Le Collectif

Socialisme Identité et Liberté – SIL) is taking a position in

favour of the resignation of President Jean-Bertrand

Aristide, but against any possible leader who has

contributed to the establishment of “the structure of

violence” in Haiti.


In its press release sent to AlterPresse, the Collective

states that Aristide has destoyed the country and must

leave. It also condemns “all the violence in the country

created or encouraged by Aristide.”


However, the press release states, “we don’t want

any leader who has contributed to the establishment

of the current structure of violence. We want nothing

to do with the return of the Army.”


The SIL Collective opts for “a government based on

a political accord in order to launch a process to

build the nation.” According to the Collective, this

government should promote partnerships leading to

unity, peace, justice, and progress in regard to the

identity of the Haitian people.


This government should apply a “national emergency

plan to save the national heritage and promote

participatory democracy,” states the Collective, which

hopes for the “solidarity” of the international community.


During a visit to the south of the country on 4 December,

in Aux Cayes President Aristide reconfirmed that he

would not leave power before the end of his mandate.

“Not one day more, not one day less”, he said.


The day after government supporters violently dispersed

anti-government demonstrators in Port-au-Prince, the

Organisation of American States referred to the OAS

Resolution 822 which sees a solution in elections throughout the

country.


The violence on 3 December, during

which a dozen people were injured, was also

condemned by the Haitian human rights organisations

which encouraged the continuation of a mobilisation in

support of justice and respect for human rights..


A strike call launched by the opposition parties and the

private sector to protest against the events of 3 December

was partially respected. Big businesses, banks and schools

stayed closed, but traffic flows were more or less the

same as usual, and small shops and street traders didn’t

stop work.

[gp apr 04/12/02 20:02]


(translated from French by Charles Arthur for the Haiti Support Group)

 

(Web note: A sentence with an incorrect quote of a statement by the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees has been deleted from this translation to avoid confusion.)