wondering when any of my sources will be accepted...so far I've posted reports by the Carter Center, Amnesty International, Reporters without Borders, HRW, NCHR, which detail corruption, intimidation, rigged elections, and many failures by Aristide to promote true democratic reforms and freedom of the press....plus and a quote by Senator Harkin disputing Aristides claim he was kidnapped and forced to resign.
These are respected international organizations...I have no idea of the ownership or agenda of haiti-progres but I am pretty confident in the integrity of the above named organizations.
Joint Statement by International Human Rights Organizations on Haiti
February 5, 2001
Haiti held elections on November 26, 2000, that ushered in a second Jean-Bertrand Aristide presidency. Unlike the 1990 vote, however, Mr. Aristide's election came amidst widespread doubts about his own and the Préval government's commitment to democracy, political disputes over earlier parliamentary elections, low voter turnout, virtually no competing candidacy, and an international community disinclined to support the new Haitian leaders. During the period preceding the presidential vote, a spate of pipe bomb explosions, government attempts to suppress dissent or otherwise intimidate its oppo-nents, the assassination of Jean L. Dominique, Haiti's most prominent journalist, and manipulation of the May 2000 vote for parliament, dealt a severe blow to the observance of civil and political rights in Haiti.
http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/haiti/joint_statement.htmlRights Groups Call on Aristide to Act On Reform Agenda
(Washington, D.C., February 5, 2001) -- Six international human rights organizations called upon incoming Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to adopt a series of important reforms, outlined in a joint statement released today.
"President-elect Aristide's stated commitment to remedy Haiti's current problems will only be meaningful if it is borne out by genuine reform efforts."
The series of measures, framed as an "agenda for democratic and human rights reform," include investigating and prosecuting acts of political violence, finding a fair solution to the contested elections of 2000, establishing a credible electoral commission, and developing a judicial system that protects fundamental human rights and stays independent of political influence.
"President-elect Aristide's stated commitment to remedy Haiti's current problems will only be meaningful if it is borne out by genuine reform efforts," says the joint statement.
In 2000, the statement points out, civil and political rights in Haiti were dealt serious blows. Notable among them were government attempts to suppress dissent or otherwise intimidate its opponents, the assassination of Jean L. Dominique, Haiti's most prominent journalist, and the manipulation of the May 2000 parliamentary vote.
The joint statement includes recommendations to the international community, urging countries to press the government of Haiti to demonstrate a clear commitment to upholding and strengthening democracy and the rule of law.
The groups signing the joint statement are: the Center for International Policy, Human Rights Watch, the International Human Rights Law Group, the National Coalition for Haitian Rights, Rights and Democracy, and the Washington Office on Latin America.
http://www.hrw.org/press/2001/02/haiti0205.htm