------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the Dec. 19, 2002 issue of Workers World newspaper -------------------------
IS U.S. PREPARING FOR "REGIME CHANGE" IN HAITI? By G. Dunkel Tensions are still high in Haiti after protests and strife in early December called by the opposition Convergence movement. In many cities, particularly Gonaives, clashes went on for days. People were killed and houses burned on both sides. The police seem to have generally sided with the Lavalas movement of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. The Convergence is a conglomeration of supporters of the Duvalier family and their paramilitaries, the Tonton Macoutes, former Army officers, landlords and Haiti's bourgeoisie. It had to pull back when its supporters stayed away from the demonstrations after many of them turned violent. A widespread rumor in the Haitian press is that the Convergence is financed by the International Republican Institute and some right-wing organizations. The Associated Press and the Miami Herald have confirmed that the U.S. is giving 20,000 M-16 rifles to the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti. It is also sending troops to the DR on a "humanitarian" training mission early in 2003. The leader of the National Popular Party (PPN), Benjamin Dupuy, called on the people to stay away from the demonstrations called by the Macoute- bourgeois coalition. The PPN leader denounced a plot to create chaos in the country, hatched by opposition politicians and former soldiers, which would provide an opening for the U.S., operating with the support of the Dominican army, to intervene and perform a quick "regime change" in Haiti. - END - (Copyright Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but changing it is not allowed. For more information contact Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe wwnews- [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe [EMAIL PROTECTED] Support the voice of resistance http://www.workers.org/orders/donate.php) ------------------ This message is sent to you by Workers World News Service. To subscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Send administrative queries to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
