14 dead as Haitian police move into rebel city

by Clarens Renois

Sunday, February 8, 2004

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP): Haitian rebels said they had killed 14 police in fighting Saturday for control of the northern city of Gonaives, which was seized by opponents of President Jean Bertrand Aristide.

Police were sent into the northern town two days after the rebels attacked the main Gonaives police station in a battle which left another 11 dead, according to the Haitian Red Cross.

The city of about 200,000 people, the fourth largest in the impoverished Caribbean republic, was virtually deserted when the police reinforcements arrived, local correspondents said.

"It is with sorrow that we announce 14 dead among the police," rebel leader Etienne Winter told Haitian radio stations in an interview broadcast as his group resisted the police operation.

He said his group had left the police station but still controlled Gonaives. Radio Independence, a private station, said seven policemen were killed and one rebel wounded during fighting. There was no official toll.

Winter said the Artibonite department around Gonaives had been declared "an independent zone" and added: "We are going to liberate other districts in the region."

Another police station in nearby Trou du Nord was taken over by armed men on Friday, local correspondents said. Homes of Aristide supporters were also attacked. But it was not clear if the same rebel group was involved.

The siege at Gonaives is the most serious challenge to Aristide in a steadily mounting camp against the president in recent months.

Opposition parties have demanded he step down since legislative elections in 2000 that opponents say Aristide's Lavalas party rigged.

There has been violence between opponents and supporters of Aristide in Gonaives since September, which has left more than 60 people dead.

The Revolutionary Artibonite Resistance Front (RARF) rebels, which carried out the assault on Gonaives, turned against Aristide in September after its previous leader was shot dead.

Aristide attended a rally of thousands of supporters in the capital, Port-au-Prince, on Saturday to mark the third anniversary of his inauguration as president for a second term. Opposition groups plan their own demonstrations in the capital and other cities on Sunday.

The president said those responsible for the Gonaives violence "will be arrested and judged according to the law."

Aristide said he was also determined to stay until the end of his mandate in 2006.

Secretary of State for Communications Mario Dupuy said police had been sent to Gonaives "to protect the civilian population" and also warned that "those who are responsible will be punished."

The US embassy in Port-au-Prince released a statement strongly condemning the violence. "The United States categorically rejects any violence used as a means to achieve political aims."

It also reaffirmed support for efforts by the Caribbean Community (Caricom) group of nations to mediate the crisis, which has seen mounting demonstrations against Aristide in recent months.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has also expressed concern at the crisis.

Aristide in theory has accepted some of the Caricom mediators' suggestions, including releasing jailed opponents, disarming pro-government irregular groups and guaranteeing the opposition the freedom to demonstrate. 

  Back...

  Most popular articles: viewed, printed and e-mailed

  Printable version