scontri marcano la festa dell'indipendenza di Haiti

["PIER LUIGI GIACOMONI" <pierluigi.giacomoni at fastwebnet.it>]

Clashes mar Haiti anniversary



Junior Desamord raises shackles during celebrations marking Haiti's 200th
anniversary of independence from France

Haiti triumphed over slavery but now faces severe problems

Haiti's president has pledged to hold parliamentary elections this year,
during a speech marking 200 years of independence from France.



Jean Bertrand Aristide gave no date for the poll, but promised a
wide-ranging programme to help the poor.



Haiti became the world's first black republic and the first country in the
western hemisphere to abolish slavery.



But anniversary celebrations have been marred by clashes between supporters
and opponents of President Aristide.



The opposition - which disputes the results of the last parliamentary
elections in 2000 - boycotted the event.



They also criticised a decision by South African President Thabo Mbeki to
attend.



 Today is a day for celebrating freedom... from slavery and from Aristide



Rodney William

In a speech to mark the anniversary, President Aristide pledged to help the
poor benefit from the country's independence.



He said Haiti could be strong if her people were united.



"The first black republic of the world is and remains the epicentre of
liberty for blacks," he told the crowd.



Mr Mbeki told the anniversary event that Haiti's independence should be
celebrated because it had dealt a deadly blow to the slave trade.



The country declared independence from France after a successful slave
rebellion.



Poverty and dictatorship



But several people were injured in clashes during the celebrations, as both
supporters and opponents of Mr Aristide gathered to hold demonstrations.



Thousands of people gathered and police fired tear gas and warning shots to
disperse the crowd, reported the Associated Press news agency.



"Today is a day for celebrating freedom," said 33-year-old business owner
Rodney William. "But for us, that means freedom from slavery and freedom
from

Aristide".



More than 20 people have been killed in various anti-government protests
since September 2003.



For decades, Haiti's pride has been dented by poverty and dictatorship which
have left it the poorest country in the Americas.



The US encouraged the leadership of President Aristide 10 years ago, but is
now concerned that he may not have enough control of the provincial cities
where

most of the recent clashes have taken place.



During its 200 years of independence, Haiti has had 53 different leaders.



Twenty-one of them were overthrown and just eight survived a full term in
power.



The present crisis in Haiti still reflects a country in turmoil.



The opposition wants President Aristide to resign as a pre-condition for any
elections.

fonte: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/americas

2 gennaio 2004





PIER LUIGI GIACOMONI