Thousands of Aristide supporters pour into Haiti's streets (Aussie Rpt)

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s1060249.htm

Thousands of outraged supporters of exiled President Jean-Bertrand Aristide have poured out of Haiti's slums and into the streets, marching on the US embassy to denounce the "occupation" of their homeland and demand his return.

Hurling slurs at US Marines and calling President George W Bush a "terrorist", a crowd estimated at more than 10,000 materialised in the capital, seething with anger at Mr Aristide's flight to Africa five days ago after a bloody rebellion and US pressure.

"Bush terrorist! Bush terrorist!" the crowd chanted, many of them waving Haitian flags and wearing t-shirts bearing photos of Mr Aristide, as they passed a contingent of battle-equipped US Marines guarding the embassy.

Hundreds held up their hands with five fingers extended, shouting "Aristide five years," the rallying cry of his supporters who wanted him to finish his five-year term in office.

US troops watched impassively from the rooftop.

<snip>

[drthais]

1. did you watch the CBC on C-Span today?

(and I posted this elsewhere)
but they took the govt DOWN

one thing that TRULY bothers me
is that Aristide's phone has apparently been cut off
or his phone 'privileges'

also, that he (I believe) first asked to go to SOuth Africa
and was told that they would not accept him
and then I heard reported that South Africa was NOT EVEN CONTACTED
before they left Aristide in the middle of NOWHERESVILLE

[Say_What]

2. Aristide's Address To Haitian People From Exile

From Pacific News Service yesterday.

<clips>

Dear compatriots, it is with these first words that I am saluting our brothers and sisters from Africa, while I am standing on the soil of the Central African Republic. Allow me to salute you by repeating that same declaration that is, “In overthrowing me, they have uprooted the trunk of the tree of peace.” During the night of the 28th of February 2004, there was a coup d’etat. One could say that it was a geo-political kidnapping. I can clearly say that it was terrorism disguised as diplomacy. To conclude, this coup d’etat and this kidnapping are like two quarters and 50 cents side by side.

I have always denounced the coming of this coup d’etat, but until the 27th of February, the day before, I didn't see that the crime was going to be accompanied by kidnapping as well. The 28th of February, at night, suddenly, American military personnel who were already all over Port-au-Prince descended on my house in Tabarre to tell me first that all the American security agents who have contracts with the Haitian government only have two options. Either they leave immediately to go to the United States, or they fight to die. Secondly, they told me the remaining 25 of the American security agents hired by the Haitian government who were to come in on the 29th of February as reinforcements were under interdiction, prevented from coming. Thirdly, they told me the foreigners and Haitian terrorists alike, loaded with heavy weapons, were already in position to open fire on Port-au-Prince. And right then, the Americans precisely stated that they will kill thousands of people and it will be a bloodbath. That the attack is ready to start, and when the first bullet is fired nothing will stop them and nothing will make them wait until they take over, therefore the mission is to take me dead or alive.

At that time I told the Americans that my first preoccupation was to save the lives of those thousands of people tonight. As far as my own life is concerned, whether I am alive or whether I am dead, that is not what’s important. As much as I was trying to use diplomacy, the more the pressure was being intensified for the Americans to start the attack. In spite of that, I took the risk of slowing down the death machine to verify the degree of danger, the degree of bluff or the degree of intimidation.

It was more serious than a bluff. The National Palace was surrounded by white men armed up to their teeth. The Tabarre area -- the residence -- was surrounded by foreigners armed to their teeth. The airport of Port-au-Prince was already under the control of these men. After a last evaluation I made during a meeting with the person in charge of Haitian security in Port-au-Prince, and the person in charge of American security, the truth was clear. There was going to be a bloodbath because we were already under an illegal foreign occupation which was ready to drop bodies on the ground, to spill blood, and then kidnap me dead or alive.

<http://news.pacificnews.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=68ea078d4f916517e92ee1c336d32285>

[Gloria]

3. Here's another version of the slogan in your sig, saw it as a bumper

sticker the other day....

IF YOU AREN'T OUTRAGED, THEN YOU HAVEN"T BEEN PAYING ATTENTION....

I want the OUTRAGED version....

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

4. Missed that. Now they are saying there are 1000's marching with Guy

& the Americans.

[Just Me]

5. It seems kinda' obvious that the "troops" have been orders,...

,...about WHO to protect, huh.

Sad,...very, very sad state of affairs.