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DECLARATION OF THE DEMOCRATIC CONVERGENCE
Aware of its responsibilities in the context of the
persistent crisis, the executive board of the Democratic
Convergence reiterates its commitment to the holding
of true negotiations aimed at reaching a framework agreement.
This would help avoid a repeat of the electoral crime
of May 21, 2000 or the electoral coup d’état
of November 26, 2000. It will also help reinforce democracy,
improve the respect for human rights, free the international
financial aid, and stop the drug traffic transiting
Haiti towards the United States of America. In order
to achieve this, concrete actions must be taken, instead
of promising speeches, by the de facto power of Lavalas.
For that reason, the Democratic Convergence has supported
Resolution CP/RES.806(1303/02) of January 15, 2002,
adopted by the Permanent Council of the Organization
of American States. The resolution aims at reestablishing
democracy through the adoption of a range of decisive
measures that the Haitian government must take in order
to “create necessary conditions for the resumption
of negotiations sponsored by the OAS.” Within that
framework, the main objective of the memorandum presented
on May 9, 2002 by the Convergence was to determine concretely
the points to be carried out by the de facto government
of Lavalas, to stop political violence, and to create
a favorable environment for the negotiations. Those
points included disarmament, an end to the persecutions
of journalist and political activists of the opposition,
and struggling against the impunity for political crimes,
particularly those of December 17, 2001.
Clearly stated, the de facto Lavalas government must
be forced to abide by an agenda including the minimal
conditions required by Resolution 806 of the Permanent
Council of the OAS:
a) the investigation of political crimes and prosecution
of those responsible for these crimes;
b) the arrest of the murderers of Ramy Darn of Gonaives,
and the assassins of journalists Jean L. Dominique and
Brignol Lindor;
c) legal action against individuals implicated in the
arson of the headquarters of political parties and homes
of opposition leaders;
d) disarming contested elected officials and gang members
throughout the country, with an international technical
supervision of the National Police;
e) reparations to the victims of the December 17, 2001
events.
Consequently, the executiveboard of the Democratic
Convergence wants to reiterate its position as follows:
1. The Democratic Convergence shall abstain from any
negotiation with Lavalas as long as the Haitian de facto
government does not take decisive measures to “create
necessary conditions for the resumption of negotiations
sponsored by the OAS,” according to Resolution
806 of the hemispheric Organization.
2. The disappointment experienced by the Friends of
Haiti countries over the Lavalas de-facto government's
record of compliance with its previous agreements; the
latter’s refusal to abide by Resolution 806 of
the OAS, supported by all parties inside and outside
the country; and the incapacity of the hemispheric organization
to bring about implementation of the resolution raised
serious questions about whether Lavalas would honor
an eventual accord.
3. The Democratic Convergence recalls that it never
asked the international community to freeze funds intended
for Haiti, as Lavalas would falsely have us believe.
The international community would have to take the sole
responsibility for giving any financial aid to a regime
marred by corruption and embezzlement.
Port-au-Prince, June 10, 2002
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Haiti@inxil.com
· James
R. Morrell, executive director