Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, September 23, 1994 TAG: 9409240059
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI LENGTH: Medium
In a methodical effort to unravel the 1991 coup that overthrew elected President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, American forces also planned to move into the countryside and take over the training of rural police forces notorious for their harsh repression of civilians.
``The progress in the last 72 hours has been, I think, quite remarkable. And our view is that Haiti today is better off than it was yesterday,'' U.S. Embassy spokesman Stanley Schrager told reporters Thursday.
The Haitian soldiers, who have seemed overwhelmed with the swiftness of U.S. troops' arrival and increasing influence in their country, watched the convoy's entrance to the weapons depot with astonishment.
``We're still alive so I can't complain. I am very happy to collaborate,'' said a Haitian soldier who would not give his name. ``If there was any sense in fighting, we would have. There is no reason to fight our American brothers.''
On other fronts, however, the operation was moving much less swiftly and smoothly. Ruling Lt. Gen. Raoul Cedras was balking at leaving the country and Parliament remained divided over proposed amnesty for the military, a measure seen as a crucial step toward putting the country back together.
Cedras, a key leader of the 1991 coup, and the other military leaders have to surrender control under the U.S.-Haiti accord, but he isn't required to leave the country, as has been long demanded by Aristide. ``The military problem is on the way to being resolved. Now the problem is political, which is full of uncertainties,'' Herard Jadotte, a sociologist who served as an aide to two military-backed governments, told the Associated Press.
In an effort to avoid a repeat of the bloody clashes early this week between Haitian police and pro-democracy demonstrators, American soldiers have been given more room to intervene in street melees. U.S. Army Col. Barry Willey, a spokesman for the joint military task force overseeing the operation to restore democracy to Haiti, said Thursday that American soldiers should use their discretion in using force.
Since tear-gassing and beating people bloody on Tuesday, Haitian police have shown more restraint in dispersing crowds that come to the port to watch the arrival of more and more American troops.
Excitement in the streets about Aristide's planned return has increased since U.S. troops arrived Sunday, with more pro-Aristide slogans and his image painted on walls around the capital.
An informal pro-Aristide rally emerged spontaneously in the afternoon at the port with thousands of people jumping up and down, many of them flashing voter cards picturing the ousted president. ``Lock up Cedras, We demand you lock up Cedras!'' they sang.
There were no reports of violence and no uniformed police in sight.
In the capital Thursday, U.S. troops occupied the capital's military airfield just north of La Saline, the slum where Aristide, a former Roman Catholic priest, once worked at a parish church. The 100 Haitian soldiers on duty didn't resist.
Meanwhile, a convoy of nine tank-like Bradley fighting vehicles and six Humvee jeeps arrived at Haiti's only weapons depot, in the suburb of Petionville, Thursday morning to begin taking apart the army's heavy weapons.
In another attempt to ease Aristide's scheduled return to power next month, the United States will help return exiled lawmakers to Haiti to approve an amnesty for the leaders and supporters of the 1991 coup, Schrager said.
Haitian radio on Thursday broadcast a statement by de facto President Emile Jonassaint's government saying he intends to convoke lawmakers as soon as possible.
Human Rights Watch and the National Coalition for Haitian Refuges, however, on Thursday deplored the amnesty, saying that it ``tells the abusers there is no penalty to pay, and does nothing to dispel the temptation to disregard the law in the future.''
by CNB