Congresswoman Maxine Waters Decries U.S.-Installed Haitian Government's Embrace of Death Squad Leaders Who Overthrew President Aristide

Interview with Congresswoman Maxine Waters, conducted by Scott Harris

After rebels led attacks overthrowing his government, deposed Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide charged that he was the victim of a political kidnapping carried out by members of the United States military. After being forced to leave Haiti, American soldiers and State Department officials flew the democratically-elected president to the Central African Republic, where he remained until U.S. Congresswoman Maxine Waters, a Jamaican parliamentarian and the former head of Trans Africa, Randall Robinson, chartered a plane to bring him back to Jamaica.

President Aristide's call for an investigation and prosecution of those responsible for his overthrow has been supported by member nations of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), who thus far have refused to recognize Haiti's new U.S.-installed government. While U.S., French, Canadian and Chilean troops patrol the streets of Haiti's cities, rebels have continued to attack and murder members of President Aristide's Lavalas party. Haiti's new Washington-installed Prime Minister Gerard Latortue, raised fears of renewed violence when he praised the rebels that overthrew President Aristide as "freedom fighters." Many of these men are convicted murderers and accused drug traffickers.

Before Secretary of State Colin Powell traveled to Haiti on April 5, 13 members of Congress addressed a letter to Powell asking him to extend the protection of the U.S. military to Lavalas Party officials, including the former prime minister, who have been attacked or threatened. Powell failed to respond, but said the U.S. was looking into prosecuting President Aristide on corruption charges.

Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Congresswoman Maxine Waters, a signer of the letter, who discusses her call for a congressional investigation into the U.S. role in the overthrow of President Aristide, and her effort to prevent more bloodshed in Haiti.

For more information, call California Congresswoman Maxine Water's office at (202) 225-2201, or visit her website at www.house.gov/waters.

Related links:

Center for Constitutional Rights at www.ccr-ny.org

The Council on Hemispheric Affairs at www.coha.org

www.haitiaction.org

Haiti Progres, Haitian newspaper founded in 1983, with articles in English, French and Creole. www.haitiprogres.com in English.

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