Congresswoman Waters Denounces the Illegally Apointed Prime Minister Gerard Latortue And His Visit To Capitol Hill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 5, 2004
Contact: Betty Edwards
(202) 225-2201

CONGRESSWOMAN WATERS DENOUNCES THE ILLEGALLY APPOINTED PRIME MINISTER GERARD LATORTUE AND HIS VISIT TO CAPITOL HILL

Washington, D.C.-Today, at a press conference on Capitol Hill, Rep. Maxine Waters (D CA), several other members of the Congressional Black Caucus and representatives of Haitian organizations met to denounce the illegally appointed Prime Minister Gerard Latortue and his visit to Capitol Hill. The Congresswoman made the following statement:

"Gerard Latortue is a mere puppet installed by the supporters of the coup d'etat that ousted the democratically-elected President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. He is totally controlled by Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Roger Noriega, the former chief of staff for Senator Jesse Helms and the Haiti-hater who has used his power hold at the OAS and the State Department to carry out the policy of right-wing conservative American and Haitian business elites. The opposition in Haiti, led by the Group of 184 and the so-called rebels who were thugs and criminals in exile, were organized by these rich Haitian business elites to play their role in the ouster of President Aristide.

"Gerard Latortue demonstrated his ignorance and his allegiance to the coup plotters by first announcing he was severing diplomatic relations with Jamaica and then trying to force his acceptance at the intercessional Caribbean Community (Caricom) meeting held in St. Kitts. Caricom voted to not recognize Latortue and is discussing a formal request for an investigation at the United Nations."

"Gerard Latortue further demonstrated his complete lack of respect and concern for the Haitian people by holding a public meeting in the Haitian city of Gonaives and declaring Guy Philippe, Louis-Jodel Chamblain, and Jean Tatoune to be Afreedom fighters." Guy Philippe is a known drug dealer who returned from exile, occupied Gonaives, spearheaded burnings and killings and threatened to kill President Aristide. Louis-Jodel Chamblain and Jean Tatoune are both former death squad leaders who were convicted in abstentia for the killing of thousands of Haitians in the 1994 Raboteau massacre.

"Gerard Latortue has not denounced the on-going killings of members of Lavalas, President Aristide's political party.

"Gerard Latortue is presiding over widespread human rights violations since the removal of the elected government of President Aristide on February 29, 2004. His so-called "freedom fighters" released over 2000 prisoners and recruited armed gangs, former paramilitary leaders and former Duvalier army soldiers. They are now in control of many areas of Haiti.

"There have been over 1,000 killings in Haiti since Gerard Latortue took office. Lavalas members have been found shot in the head with their hands tied behind their backs. There are reports of Lavalas members being placed in a container and drowned at sea. Many Aristide-supporters are in hiding. Delegations from Amnesty International, the National Lawyers Guild and Let Haiti Live have documented the repression and killing of Lavalas party members.

"Gerard Latortue is a shameful Boca Raton buffoon-incapable of independent leadership. He is but a misguided tool being used to prop up an illegitimate government until the Haitian business elite with the support of Roger Noriega, France and Canada can install their own leaders with a controlled election and a pretense of democracy.

"We are not fooled by Latortue. He is not worthy of being called prime minister. At least 22 members of the Congressional Black Caucus refused to attend a meeting with him they had been invited to attend today. Others could not be reached."