Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, November 27, 1995 TAG: 9511270101
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUGLAS FARAH THE WASHINGTON POST
DATELINE: PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI LENGTH: Long
Many of the country's elite, who have distrusted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide since he rose to prominence as a Roman Catholic priest preaching class warfare and liberation theology, are slipping out of the country. International aid, promised in exchange for unpopular economic reforms and privatization, is being withheld as the reforms falter; and foreign investors are backing off in the face of growing uncertainty.
And on Friday, Aristide said publicly he would consider staying past his constitutional mandate of Feb. 7, as supporters urged him to cancel presidential elections scheduled for Dec. 17.
``The whole atmosphere here has changed so quickly and dramatically,'' said one conservative Haitian businessman who supported Aristide's return. ``I left at the end of October, and things were moving along and elections were scheduled. I came back 10 days later, and I found tension, real fear and unease. No one knows what is going to happen anymore.''
Since President Clinton sent 20,000 U.S. troops to occupy Haiti and restore Aristide to power 14 months ago, things had gone well. No U.S. troops were killed in action, and Aristide preached peace and reconciliation in the deeply polarized and impoverished nation.
But there were stark divisions between the fiery Aristide, supported by the impoverished Haitian majority, and the nation's tiny political and economic elite, who had supported decades of dictatorship under the Duvalier family and their successors. In recent weeks, old misgivings and distrust have surfaced on both sides - along with new tensions between Aristide's administration and the United States.
``To say the relationship is ruptured is too strong,'' said a senior U.S. official in Washington. ``I think edgy is a good word.''
U.S. Embassy spokesman Stan Schrager said the U.S. position was that ``we are still on track. The train may be a little wobbly, but we're still on track.''
Relations took a sharp dip last month, when Prime Minister Smarck Michel, widely respected in the United States and internationally for carrying out a broad program of privatization, resigned when Aristide refused to back the program publicly.
With no progress being made on privatization of nine state companies, the United States announced it was withholding $4.6 million in aid, and another $110 million is jeopardized. This accounts for about 35 percent of the nation's budget.
``We are disappointed Haiti has not moved more assertively on economic reforms,'' Schrager said. ``There has been some progress and the economy has improved marginally, but not enough to attract the private sector interest or foreign investment that is needed.''
The strained political climate worsened dramatically with the assassination Nov. 7 of newly elected legislator Jean-Hubert Feuille, a cousin of Aristide's who was also the president's close friend and bodyguard. Another legislator was badly wounded.
The shootings, by a well-armed team of gunmen, sparked street protests around the country.
On Nov. 11, Aristide, in a speech at Feuille's funeral that reminded many of the firebrand language he had used as a priest, lashed out at the international community for not taking a more aggressive role in disarming the remnants of the Haitian military and its paramilitary allies.
In the emotional speech, which left the diplomatic corps badly shaken but many Haitians cheering wildly, Aristide called on the people to help the police carry out a ``legal, total and complete disarmament operation. ... If those who have weapons, those who have the big armored tanks, those who have much power, wanted to help us disarm the thugs, disarmament would have been done.''
In a swipe at U.S. and United Nations officials, Aristide told the crowd that ``until further notice, there are not two or three heads of state, but just one. The head of state has spoken.''
``I ask the Haitian people for the following: Do not sit idly by, do not wait; accompany the policemen when they are going to enter the homes of the people who have heavy weapons,'' Aristide said in the speech, which was broadcast nationally many times. ``When you do that, tell the policemen not to go only to the poor neighborhoods, but to go to the neighborhoods where there are big houses and heavy weapons.''
``This is the first time I have spoken to you like this since my return to Haiti,'' Aristide said to the crowd, in what opponents claimed was an incitement to mob violence. ``I need you, you need me.''
Aristide also acknowledged he needed international aid, while the Clinton administration needed a diplomatic success in Haiti.
In a secret State Department cable dated Oct. 26, Secretary of State Warren Christopher warned U.S. Ambassador William Swing there were intelligence reports that the Red Star Organization, under the guidance of former military dictator Prosper Avril, ``is planning harassment and assassination campaign'' directed at the Lavalas Party [Aristide's political force] and Aristide supporters. The campaign is scheduled to begin in early December. ... There is information available which suggests Avril has continued to meet with right-wing supporters to expand his political base.''
Police raided Avril's house, arrested some of his relatives and confiscated a cache of arms right after the speech. Avril was not home; he had fled to the Colombian Embassy, where he was granted political asylum.
``You can criticize the president's speech, but it was a wake-up call to people, saying he was not going to take any more,'' an Aristide adviser said.
by CNB