Haiti's New Leader Sees a Long Transition

[eablair3]

of course, it will be a "long transition". Three months becomes two years. two years become three years. three years becomes 5 years.

yes, they have really brought freedom and libery to the people of Hiati. More like terror and death.
________________

Haiti's New Leader Sees a Long Transition
By LYDIA POLGREEN

Published: March 12, 2004


ORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, March 11 — The newly appointed prime minister, Gérard Latortue, said Thursday that it might take as long as two years to prepare for elections. That would put a new elected government beyond the 2005 timeline envisioned in the United States-backed transition plan to help Haiti recover after the departure of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

"We really want to give an equal chance to all political parties, to all candidates," said Mr. Latortue, in his first interview since returning to Haiti on Wednesday after decades of living in United States and elsewhere. "We want not to go fast, but to take time."

Jamaica's foreign minister announced Thursday that Mr. Aristide, who left Haiti under American pressure last month, would soon visit the country, Reuters reported. The news set off speculation that Jamaica might offer him asylum, thereby resolving the question of what to do with the former president. He has been staying in the Central African Republic as diplomats scramble to find a permanent home for Mr. Aristide, Haiti's first democratically elected president.

snip

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/12/international/americas/12HAIT.html?ex=1079672400&en=f85c9ef475e9c3d0&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE

[eablair3]

1. U.S. marines seek arms in house raid

Hmm, .. I wonder what would happen here in the U.S. if some foreign power invaded, took away our elected president, appointed a new presdient and PM. And, then sent the invading military around into peoples homes trying to confiscate all their weapons to disarm the population.

wonder what some right-wing types would think about that?

___________

U.S. marines seek arms in house raid

Free Press news services 2004-03-12 03:23:15

PORT-AU-PRINCE -- U.S. marines raided a house yesterday in search of weapons, trying to shore up a fragile peace in Haiti as the ousted president planned a return to the Caribbean from exile in Africa. With morgues full and government offices closed, bodies were piling up in the capital, littering the streets and serving as bitter reminders of an armed rebellion that has divided the country.

Prime Minister Gerard Latortue, who began choosing a cabinet yesterday, has said ridding the population of weapons is a top priority. Marines raided a home near the presidential palace before dawn, hours after Latortue arrived in Haiti from Florida.

U.S. army Gen. James Hill said troops would collect weapons, from "rusted M-1s to top-of-the-line Uzis."

snip

http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/LondonFreePress/News/2004/03/12/378963.html

[Judi Lynn]

2. LaTortue is a clown. What a shame.

Gérard Latortue, a former diplomat appointed prime ministerof Haiti, said yesterday that he expects to serve for two years.

Didn't even have to go through the drudgery of a campaign. How delightful. It pays to have friends in the State Department.

Here's your link to the NY Times:~~~~ link ~~~~

[izzie]

3. Another little country Bush can beat up on.

Blowback on these last 3 years will be with us for the next 25 years.

[saigon68]

4. U.S. Marines

The world's new policemen.

Training in Haiti to come back to the U.S. and become prison guards

Oh, sorry,--- that's the Marines at Gitmo.

[htuttle]

5. Just to make a historical note...

The Haitian constitution requires that elections for a new president must be held no more than 90 days after the office if vacated.

I say 'historical note', since it's quite clear that the West (meaning the US, Canada and France) could give a rat's ass about the Haitian constitution.

Aristide didn't exactly 'vacate' the office, Alexandre was NOT confirmed by the Haitian legislature, and Prime Minister Neptune did NOT resign.

So this is just one more crime on these countries, on top of many committed throughout this coup. But I thought I'd point it out anyway.

Here's the relevant text:

Should the office of the President of the Republic become vacant for any reason, the President of the Supreme Court of the Republic, or in his absence, the Vice President of that Court, or in his absence, the judge with the highest seniority and so on by order of seniority, shall be invested temporarily with the duties of the President of the Republic by the National Assembly duly convened by the Prime Minister- The election of a new President for a new five (5) year term shall be held at least forty-five (45) and no more than ninety (90) days after the vacancy occurs, pursuant to the Constitution and the Electoral Law.