Aristide 'here this weekend'
2004-05-21 22:24
Erika Gibson
Pretoria - Diplomatic sources said on Friday that, despite the government keeping mum about details of the arrival of ousted Haitian president Jean Bertrand Aristide, indications are that he could fly in at the weekend.
According to Hermann Hanekom of the Africa Institute, all indications were that he would arrive within the next 12 days at the most.
Numerous government departments have been working frantically to put arrangements in place after the announcement two weeks ago that Aristide would be provided with temporary refuge in South Africa.
His final destination - or place of residence - is however, a well-guarded secret.
Hanekom said, however, that the most logical accommodation would be in one of the houses at the presidential guesthouse in Church Street, Pretoria.
Likely to stay until next year
He said there was already high-level security and only a few extra measures would have to be put into place to protect Aristide and his family.
The only other logical place would be the diplomatic guesthouse in Matroosberg Road, Waterkloof.
Dr Ayanda Ntsaluba, director-general of foreign affairs - and the man given the task of organising Aristide's accommodation - said this week the ousted president would remain in South Africa until Haiti's general elections next year.
Hanekom felt, however, that the South African government had been deceived by the United States and France - the two countries that helped oust Aristide.
Although Aristide is widely accused of human-rights abuses in his country, he was forced out of his position as the "democratically chosen" leader, which made him a political refugee, said Hanekom.
'His countrymen are angry with him'
"The US or France is responsible for providing him with accommodation, but they are now using South Africa as a dumping ground for the First World's unwanted.
"It is naïve to think Aristide will return to Haiti next year - he can't even consider it, because his countrymen are angry with him and they will probably stay this way for the next 10 years.
"This could mean that South Africa would have to pay the costs for Aristide, his wife, his children and probably a bunch of bodyguards and administration personnel."
- Beeld