'Govt must answer on Aristide'

2004-03-17 18:26

Cape Town - The Democratic Alliance has called on the government to give a "categorical answer" to the question of whether it intends granting asylum to deposed Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

DA federal council chair James Selfe said on Wednesday: "It can no longer hide behind the weak excuse that it has not officially been asked yet."

There had been a number of reports in the international press suggesting Aristide would be seeking asylum in South Africa after the April 14 elections.

"A Jamaican official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Aristide would probably seek asylum in South Africa after the elections, while the Central African Republic's deputy foreign minister suggested to the New York Times that South Africa would consider offering Aristide a home only after the elections," said Selfe.

Aristide is in the Central African Republic (CAR), where he has been granted asylum on "humanitarian grounds".

'It would also be morally reprehensible'

Last week, a South African delegation, including deputy foreign affairs minister Aziz Pahad, flew to the CAR to help arrange asylum plans for the former Haitian leader, who arrived there on March 1.

The South African government has said it is not opposed in principle to taking Aristide in, but it has received no formal asylum request from him or the Haitian government.

Selfe said the government would "be acting outside of its powers if it granted President Aristide asylum".

"It would also be morally reprehensible to provide a home to such a man," he said.

This was based on reports of Aristide's links to senior Haitian officials allegedly involved in drug trafficking and other crimes.

"The (South African) government should not need to receive a formal request for asylum from Aristide before making a decision.

"It should simply state that, in accordance with our national laws on asylum-seekers, Mr Aristide would not be welcome here," said Selfe.

- SAPA