U.S. Fails to Act as Death Squads Vow to Overthrow Government of Haitian President Aristide

Interview with Larry Birns, executive director of Council on Hemispheric Affairs, conducted by Scott Harris

As armed rebels seized Haiti's second largest city, Cap Haitien, consolidating their control over the northern half of the country, food supplies were looted and paramilitary gangs hunted down loyalists of embattled President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Meanwhile American, French and Organization of American States diplomats attempted to convince opposition groups to accept a peace plan, already agreed to by President Aristide, that would institute a power-sharing arrangement and plan for new legislative elections.

In the capital of Port-au-Prince, supporters of President Aristide built barricades and patrolled city streets to repel an expected rebel attack there. Haiti's small and ill-equipped police force is no match for the heavily armed rebels, many of whom are former members of Haiti's disbanded army. Rebel leaders Louis-Jodel Chamblain and Guy Phillipe are both associated with FRAPH, a death squad accused of murdering, raping and torturing thousands of Haitians after the military overthrew Aristide's first government in 1991. Critics charge that opposition groups who are calling for Aristide's ouster have been funded by the Bush administration through the National Endowment for Democracy, long used by Washington to funnel support to allies.

Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Larry Birns, executive director with the Council on Hemispheric Affairs. Birns discusses U.S. policy in this crisis and the need for international intervention to prevent the establishment of another military dictatorship in Haiti, a nation which has suffered through dozens of coups and revolts over the past 200 years.

Contact the Council on Hemispheric Affairs by calling (202) 216-9261 or visit their web site at www.coha.org

Related links

www.haitiprogres.com

"Worsening Scenes in Haiti Will Test U.S. Tolerance for Chaos," by Paul Richter, Los Angeles Times, Feb. 25, 2004. The White House is reluctant to make a long-term commitment to the troubled nation but remains anxious about a wave of refugees.

"Background on Haiti: Some Questions and Answers," by Mary Turck, by Americas.org, Feb. 24, 2004

"Throttled by History," by Gary Younge, The Guardian/UK, Feb. 23, 2004

"Armed Rebellion Attempts to Oust Haitian President," Between The Lines interview with Kim Ives, Haiti Progres editor, conducted by Scott Harris, week ending Feb. 20, 2004

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