Haiti: The party is over
2004-01-05 21:11
Port-au-Prince - Government opponents announced a week of strikes and protests aimed at toppling President Jean-Bertrand Aristide as a delegation from the Caribbean Community arrived on Monday to help mediate in Haiti's political crisis.
The delegation's visit came after bloody clashes between police and demonstrators marred celebrations last week marking Haiti's 200th anniversary of independence.
A coalition of civil groups and opposition parties announced plans for a demonstration on Wednesday and a two-day general strike on Thursday and Friday as they pressed for Aristide's ousting.
"Our principle is everyone together to save the nation," said Charles Henry Baker, a businessman and prominent Aristide opponent.
The team from the 15-member Caribbean Community was headed by Colin Granderson, an assistant secretary general of the regional bloc known as Caricom.
"We've come on a fact-finding mission to see what Caricom can do to help Haiti out as a mediator or a facilitator," said Granderson.
Also along on the three-day trip were St Lucian Ambassador Sonia Johnny, Bahamian Ambassador Joshua Sears and Jamaican Ambassador Peter Black.
The group is to hold talks with Aristide, anti-government opponents and others, including clergy and business leaders.
The opposition has criticised the Caribbean Community for being partial to Aristide, although at last week's bicentennial the group sent only two high-ranking delegates. Haiti became the regional bloc's 15th member in 2002.
Tensions have been rising in Haiti since Aristide's Lavalas Family party swept legislative elections that some observers said were flawed.
President won't step down
The opposition, which refuses to take part in new elections unless Aristide resigns, last week called for the formation of a transitional government headed by a supreme court judge and a nine-member council.
Aristide refuses to step down, and government leaders say they won't buckle under opposition pressure to push a democratically elected leader from power.
"The aim of our peaceful struggle is to implement the proposal for an alternative government," said Mischa Gaillard, an opposition leader.
Since mid-September, at least 42 people have been killed in demonstrations and more than 100 have been wounded.
- SAPA