The Channel waited with baited breath to get news from the Haitian Information Bureau during the Carter Accord and the subsequent landing of U.S. forces. Finally, right on schedule, we received the current edition of its bi-weekly publication, "Haiti Info." It is a remarkable story. While virtually all traditional newspapers in Haiti were shut down by the de facto government during these events, and while the members of HIB were forced into hiding (even though they were able to place telephone calls through to KPFA's Flash Points show for live broadcast), they were still able to broadcast their version of the story of what is happening to their country. If you would like a complete copy of this issue contact Channel.
Finally, Channel emailed a list of questions to a correspondent at HIB. The following response is a Channel exclusive.
----------------
POPULAR ORGANIZATIONS, PEASANT GROUPS, AS WELL AS THE MASSES
SUPPORT THE RETURN OF PRESIDENT JEAN-BERTRAND ARISTIDE WITH HIS
FULL, CONSTITUTIONAL POWERS, ALTHOUGH THOSE WITH MORE POLITICAL
UNDERSTANDING DUE TO THEIR EDUCATION LEVEL, ABILITY TO READ AND
WRITE, ETC., HAVE RESERVATIONS ABOUT SOME OF ARISTIDE'S RECENT
ACTIONS SUCH AS WRITING THE LETTER TO THE U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL
WHICH ENABLED THE INVASION AND THE APPARENT APPROVAL OF AN
ECONOMIC PLAN WHICH WILL UNDOUBTELY HURT THE POOR. [See most
recent Haiti Info]
2. Is the U.S. government trying to isolate Aristide from the
people so that U.S intentions for Haiti are not interfered
with?
THIS IS WHAT MANY OF THOSE IN THE DEMOCRATIC AND POPULAR MOVEMENT
FEEL... ALTHOUGH THEIR ACTUAL ACTIONS DO NOT BELIE THAT. (THEY
LET HIM SPEAK ON THEIR "RADIO DEMOCRACY," ETC.)
3. Since the Carter Agreement allows the military and police
to continue to function in place and since the intervening
U.S. forces might not effectively interfere, what is the
likelihood that terrorism against the people will escalate?
[THINGS ARE CONSTANTLY CHANGING, AND HAVE CHANGED SINCE THIS
QUESTION WAS POSED... LET'S WAIT AND SEE]
4. Since Cedras, et al., will be allowed to remain in Haiti
with honorable discharges from the military, what would
prevent Cedras from running in next year's election?
[AGAIN, THIS IS CHANGING. THE LEGAL PARLIAMENT WILL TRY TO MEET
ON WEDNESDAY TO DISCUSS THE WHOLE ISSUE OF AMNESTY. ALSO, A
SPOKESPERSON FROM THE ARISTIDE GOV'T LAST WEEK SAID CEDRAS CAN
STAY IN HAITI AND FACE CHARGES OR TAKE AMNESTY AND LEAVE THE
COUNTRY. LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS ON WEDNESDAY. NO MATTER WHAT,
FRAPH HAS ANNOUNCED IT IS NOW A POLITICAL PARTY AND IT WILL
SURELY FUN CANDIDATES IN WHATEVER ELECTIONS COME ALONG...]
5. Will the U.S. use this Caribbean intervention as a precursor
for an invasion of Cuba?
[? CANNOT ANSWER]
6. If the embargo is lifted again, what percentage of the goods,
capital and services that will reach Haiti would filter to
the people?
THIS DEPENDS ON THE STRUCTURE OF THE ECONOMY. IF THE ECONOMY IS
"REFORMED" ALONG NEOLIBERAL LINES, VERY LITTLE OF ANYTHING WILL
REACH THE HAITIAN PEOPLE. [See last article in Haiti Info]
7. What can you say about U.S. media coverage of the Carter
Agreement and subsequent arrival of foreign forces?
WE ARE NOT ABLE TO FULLY MONITOR IT, BUT IT APPEARS TO OMIT
ALMOST COMPLETELY MENTION OF THE U.S. ROLE IN CREATING OR HELPING TO
CREATE THE CRISIS -- WITH THE CIA'S ROLE IN THE COUP, U.S. AID'S
ROLE IN THE ECONOMY AND IN LOBBYING AGAINST ARISTIDE, THE U.S.
FAILURE TO EVER REALLY IMPOSE A FULL EMBARGO, ETC.
8. What are the prospects that the Haitian media will be able to
operate more freely as a result of the intervention?
WE EXPECT THAT THERE WILL BE MORE APPARENT FREEDOM FOR THE TIME
BEING.
9. Will the intervention create stability as a condition for
democracy or at the expense of democracy? Will it even
create stability?
THE INTERVENTION HAS NOT YET CREATED STABILITY, AND IT IS
DOUBTFUL THAT IT WILL BECAUSE THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL PLANS ARE
NOT IN THE FAVOR OF THE MAJORITY. THEREFORE, THEY WILL CONTINUE
TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO MAKE THEIR DEMANDS MET -- DEMONSTRATIONS,
STRIKES, ETC. UNTIL TRUE PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY AND AN ECONOMIC
PLAN WHICH HAS AS ITS AIM TO HELP THE MASSES IS INSTALLED HERE,
THE SITUATION WILL REMAIN VOLATILVE.
10. What role do you expect the church (especially the little
church) to play in the transition?
[? CANNOT ANSWER]
11. Will the refugees likely come back with Aristide's return and
the present regime still intact?
IT LOOKS AS THOUGH MANY WILL RETURN, BUT NOT UNTIL AFTER ARISTIDE
IS BACK.
12. What can concerned U.S. citizens do now to help the forces of
democracy in Haiti?
JOIN A LOCAL SOLIDARITY GROUP OR GET YOUR GROUP (CHURCH GROUP,
STUDENTS, ETC.) IN TOUCH WITH OTHER SOLIDARITY GROUPS AND SEE
WHAT THEY SUGGEST. SOME GROUPS WORK TO TRY TO GET MORE JUST
MEDIA COVERAGE, OTHERS DO LOBBYING, OTHERS ORGANIZE MARCHES AND
PROTESTS. SOLIDARITY IS URGENTLY NEEDED, NOW MORE THAN EVER.
HAITI IS UNDER A FULL MILITARY OCCUPATION AND THE U.S. CITIZENS
ARE PAYING FOR IT.
The Institute for Global Communications News Service (which
includes the Haitian Information Bureau) gathers and distributes
alternative news and information to clients in the United States
and abroad through a global network of distributed computers.
Its on-line regional and issue-oriented conferences serve as a
repository for news, analysis, calls for action and networking
activities about that issue or region. Here is a sampling of
these conferences:
In addition to larger news services, IGC features many
news and information sources covering specific regions and
countries. Some of these have their own conference, while
others are regularly posted to the appropriate regional or
issue-oriented conference. Here are just a couple:
Date: Mon, 26 Sep 1994 11:42:14 -0700
From: Haitian Information Bureau
To: channel@calon.com
Subject: answers from haiti
To: Roger Jacques
Sept. 26, 1994
----------------------------------------------------------------
1. What is the range of attitudes now among the populist groups
in Haiti toward Aristide?INTER PRESS SERVICE
ips.english, ips.espanol
The Inter Press Service (IPS) is the backbone of IGC's
news service. IPS is the Third World's largest news agency.
Founded in 1964, IPS is a non-profit cooperative and is
ranked by UNESCO as the world's fifth largest news agency
based on its number of clients. IPS has more than 900
media outlets around the world. With 200 journalists--
including full-time correspondents and regular stringers--
IPS distributes about 200,000 words daily in eleven
languages from its headquarters in Rome and regional centers
in Costa Rica, Philippines, Jamaica, Zimbabwe, the Netherlands
and at the United Nations. IGC features news from IPS in
English and Spanish.PACIFIC NEWS SERVICE, SAN FRANCISCO
pacnews.stories pacnews.samples
Pacific News Service (PNS) is one of the world's
premier alternative news agencies. Best known for its
features and op-eds, PNS investigates the trends behind the
headlines. PNS maintains a "samples" conference available
for all our users, and a full feed conference that requires
an additional fee to PNS. E-mail pacificnews@igc.apc.org
for more information.UNITED NATIONS INFORMATION CENTRE NEWS
unic.news
The United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) assembles
and distributes news summaries and documents direct from the
Security Council and General Assembly. The Centre promotes
the understanding of the work and purposes of the UN.
Information Centre activities are guided and coordinated by
the Department of Public Information in United Nations
headquarters in New York.THIRD WORLD NETWORK FEATURES
twn.features, twn.notas
Third World Network is an international network of groups
and individuals involved in efforts to bring about a greater
articulation of the needs and rights of peoples in the Third
World; a fair distribution of world resources and forms of
development which are ecologically sustainable and fulfil
human needs. Third World Network presents TWN Features (in
English); Revista del Sur, Tercer Mundo Econo'mico y la
conferencia (in Spanish).REPORT ON THE AMERICAS
nacla.report
Report on the Americas is the bi-monthly publication of the
North American Congress on Latin America (NACLA), an
independent non-profit research and education organization
which provides information and insight to policy makers,
activists, analysts, teachers, journalists and religious and
community groups. Since its creation in 1966, NACLA has
become the most respected source of alternative research and
analysis on Latin America and the Caribbean. Each issue
provides an in-depth look at a topic of central concern to
US - Latin America relations. Shorter articles provide
timely analysis of news-breaking issues.CENTRAL AMERICA UPDATE, ALBUQUERQUE
carnet.ladb
Central America Update is produced twice weekly by the
Latin America Data Base (LADB), at the Latin America
Institute, University of New Mexico. It is an authoritative
summary of events in Central America. Access requires LADB
membership. For more information e-mail ladb@igc.apc.org.ECONEWS
econews
ECONEWS, The newsletter of the Northcoast Environmental
Center in Arcata, California, published monthly. News and
opinion about environmental issues affecting northwestern
California. Published since 1971, highlights of the lively,
volunteer-produced tabloid are available online and cover
such issues as logging, forestry policy, government policy
and international environmental issues.