2004-2-20
This is Steve Ember with In the News, in VOA Special English.
The Organization of American
States, the O-A-S, met Thursday in Washington to discuss the
violence in Haiti. Rebels are threatening to seize the capital, Port
au Prince, unless President Jean-Bertrand Aristide resigns.
The O-A-S Permanent Council passed a resolution. It calls on
Mister Aristide to honor human rights and to talk with the political
opposition. It also urges armed groups to disarm. The American
ambassador to the O-A-S said the government in Haiti acted in
undemocratic and irresponsible ways in recent years.
The rebels call themselves the Front for the Liberation and
National Reconstruction of Haiti. They include former Aristide
supporters. At least fifty-five people have been killed in two weeks
of violence.
The United States, Canada, France, the United Nations and others
are working on a plan for a political solution. American Secretary
of State Colin Powell said the proposal does not include calls for
President Aristide to resign. His term ends in February of
two-thousand-six.
American officials say the proposal clears the way for a peace
plan by the CARICOM group of Caribbean nations. Under the plan,
Mister Aristide would have to share power with a new prime minister
and an advisory council. This group would organize new elections.
Members of the opposition refuse to take part in new elections
unless the president resigns. Mister Aristide says he is ready to
die to defend his country. The United States is urging Americans to
leave Haiti.
Armed groups once supported by the
government began a rebellion in northern Haiti on February fifth.
They control several cities and towns, including the fourth largest
city. They have cut off the second largest city from most of the
country.
Mister Aristide became the first freely elected leader of Haiti
in nineteen-ninety. The military overthrew him the next year. The
United States sent twenty-thousand troops to Haiti in
nineteen-ninety-four to return him to power. Mister Aristide later
dismissed the army.
The president has faced accusations of dishonesty and political
violence. Tensions have risen since his party won legislative
elections in two-thousand. Observers said the elections were unfair.
During the campaign, Mister Aristide promised to improve conditions
for the eight-million people in Haiti. But other countries suspended
millions of dollars in aid after the elections.
Now, there are fears of a food crisis. Many Haitians may try to
flee the country in unsafe boats. That happened after the overthrow
in nineteen-ninety-one.
President Aristide has asked for international help. The United
States said a small military team would be in Haiti on Saturday to
examine the security situation. Canada and France have offered to
send peacekeepers to Haiti, but only after the violence has stopped.
In the News, in VOA Special English, was written by Cynthia Kirk.
This is Steve Ember.