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Aristide supporters in Montreal decry 'international coup d'etat' in Haiti
MONTREAL (CP) - Emotional supporters of the deposed Haitian president accused Canada on Sunday of participating in an international coup d'etat to oust Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
About 40 backers marched to the American consulate to protest the removal of Aristide from the office to which he was elected four years ago - the poverty-stricken country's first democratically chosen leader in its 200 years of independence. "This is a coup," said Ferere Coffy, 52, one of the organizers of the march.
About 40 backers marched to the American consulate to protest the removal of Aristide from the office to which he was elected four years ago - the poverty-stricken country's first democratically chosen leader in its 200 years of independence. "This is a coup," said Ferere Coffy, 52, one of the organizers of the march.
"President Aristide has not decided personally to leave the power. It's a coup by the international community."
Participants blamed United States, France and Canada for cuts in foreign aid that led to economic problems that in turn fomented rebellion against the 50-year-old former slum priest.
Many feared for the future of a country - the poorest in the Western Hemisphere - that has experienced 32 internal coups in its troubled history.
"Mr. Aristide is not the problem in Haiti," said Max Noelizaire, an electrician who has lived in Canada for 25 years.
"The problem is the Haitian people. They never want to talk. They only want to fight."
But opponents of the former president said Aristide only has himself to blame for the population turning their backs on him.
"The population is very depressed because they were hoping so much from that guy," said Marjorie Villefranche, 52.
She attributed Aristide's problems to his willingness to allow loyal militants called chimeres to terrorize the people with impunity for so many years.
Even those who were happy to see Aristide resign were fearful about what would happen next.
"For the nation it's best that he left, but I wonder what's going to happen after Aristide," said Fritz Lawson, 60. "For me it doesn't give peace to Haiti."
The small crowd of loyalists, meanwhile, waved placards denouncing the American and French presidents and chanted their support for Aristide.
"Long live Aristide," Rosemarie Joseph yelled as the protesters began to gather in front of a downtown federal building.
"The Americans and the Haitian bourgeoisie didn't want him because he wanted the country to leave its misery and feed the hungry."
She argued that Aristide's opponents felt threatened by efforts he was taking to lift the country out of poverty.
Aristide's nationalist approach soured the international community's opinion of him, said Andre Bastiany, a chemist who left Haiti 24 years ago.
"Unfortunately, I'm sad to be a Canadian citizen because Canada is supporting what is happening now. I don't know why they are doing that because it used to be a kind of neutral country."
Bastiany said he doubted foreign powers will allow the country to descend into the sort of bloodbath that seemed inevitable in the days before Aristide fled into exile.
But he questioned whether democracy can again take root in the country.
"If Mr. Aristide cannot stay in power, there won't be any democratic president in Haiti," Bastiany lamented.
The march came a day after hundreds of people, including some Aristide opponents, rallied in solidarity with Haitians as the rebellion-racked nation descended into chaos.
Montreal is home to the third-largest Haitian community outside the Caribbean island country after New York and Boston.
http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=5d263f68-9895-4865-89cf-d172c845c43c
Participants blamed United States, France and Canada for cuts in foreign aid that led to economic problems that in turn fomented rebellion against the 50-year-old former slum priest.
Many feared for the future of a country - the poorest in the Western Hemisphere - that has experienced 32 internal coups in its troubled history.
"Mr. Aristide is not the problem in Haiti," said Max Noelizaire, an electrician who has lived in Canada for 25 years.
"The problem is the Haitian people. They never want to talk. They only want to fight."
But opponents of the former president said Aristide only has himself to blame for the population turning their backs on him.
"The population is very depressed because they were hoping so much from that guy," said Marjorie Villefranche, 52.
She attributed Aristide's problems to his willingness to allow loyal militants called chimeres to terrorize the people with impunity for so many years.
Even those who were happy to see Aristide resign were fearful about what would happen next.
"For the nation it's best that he left, but I wonder what's going to happen after Aristide," said Fritz Lawson, 60. "For me it doesn't give peace to Haiti."
The small crowd of loyalists, meanwhile, waved placards denouncing the American and French presidents and chanted their support for Aristide.
"Long live Aristide," Rosemarie Joseph yelled as the protesters began to gather in front of a downtown federal building.
"The Americans and the Haitian bourgeoisie didn't want him because he wanted the country to leave its misery and feed the hungry."
She argued that Aristide's opponents felt threatened by efforts he was taking to lift the country out of poverty.
Aristide's nationalist approach soured the international community's opinion of him, said Andre Bastiany, a chemist who left Haiti 24 years ago.
"Unfortunately, I'm sad to be a Canadian citizen because Canada is supporting what is happening now. I don't know why they are doing that because it used to be a kind of neutral country."
Bastiany said he doubted foreign powers will allow the country to descend into the sort of bloodbath that seemed inevitable in the days before Aristide fled into exile.
But he questioned whether democracy can again take root in the country.
"If Mr. Aristide cannot stay in power, there won't be any democratic president in Haiti," Bastiany lamented.
The march came a day after hundreds of people, including some Aristide opponents, rallied in solidarity with Haitians as the rebellion-racked nation descended into chaos.
Montreal is home to the third-largest Haitian community outside the Caribbean island country after New York and Boston.
http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=5d263f68-9895-4865-89cf-d172c845c43c
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