Ex-Haitian leader seeks help

He stressed that his aim is to avoid violence, and he said he believes the OAS can bring the junta down if "all available, non-violent means" are used to impress on Haiti's military how isolated it is. He did not specify what these means should be, but the OAS is considering such meas...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inLas Vegas review-journal
Main Author John M. Goshko. Washington Post
Format Newspaper Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Las Vegas, Nev Las Vegas Review - Journal 03.10.1991
Subjects
Aristide, Jean-Bertrand
Baker, James A III
Cedras, Raoul
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:He stressed that his aim is to avoid violence, and he said he believes the OAS can bring the junta down if "all available, non-violent means" are used to impress on Haiti's military how isolated it is. He did not specify what these means should be, but the OAS is considering such measures as an embargo on trade and financial aid to Haiti, the Western Hemisphere's poorest nation, and diplomatic and political isolation of the junta. He went to Venezuela after the U.S., French and Venezuelan ambassadors negotiated his freedom with the leaders of the junta. In a rambling but emotional account of the events leading to the coup, [JEAN-BERTRAND ARISTIDE] placed the blame on dissident elements of the Haitian army led by Brig. Gen. [RAOUL CEDRAS], whom he had chosen personally to be the new army commander. Cedras is head of the three-member junta that has claimed power in Port-au-Prince. Aristide said Cedras initially had told him he had tried to prevent the coup. The general, Aristide added, then claimed he and his wife were being held hostage by mutinous rank-and-file soldiers. But, Aristide asserted, when a showdown came, "Cedras told me, `Now I am the president.' "
ISSN:1097-1645