Aristide resigns, goes into exile
 

Aristide resigns, goes into exile
Last Updated Sun, 29 Feb 2004 13:20:45
PORT-AU-PRINCE - Jean-Bertrand Aristide has resigned as president of Haiti, bowing to pressure from rebels at home and governments abroad. He flew out of Port-au-Prince Sunday morning to an unknown location.

Early reports said his corporate jet was headed to the Dominican Republic. Later, local radio stations reported his plane landed in Antigua for refuelling.

There was a flurry of conflicting reports suggesting Aristide might seek asylum in Morocco, Taiwan, Panama or South Africa.


Boniface Alexandre, the chief justice of Haiti's Supreme Court, said he is Haiti's new leader.

The Caribbean country's prime minister, Yvon Neptune, told a news conference Aristide resigned to "prevent bloodshed."

But Paul Arcelin, a rebel and former Haitian diplomat, told CBC Newsworld that Alexandre and Neptune are not acceptable leaders. "We are fighting to get rid of all those people," he said.

Aristide fled as rebels surrounded the capital and threatened to attack within days if he refused to give up power. Rebel leader Guy Philippe said he forces will go to Port-au-Prince to "give security to the people," but he didn't give any timetable.

Aristide's departure follows a three-week uprising by rebels who had advanced to within 40 kilometres of Port-au-Prince.


"Our troops are ready to advance," Arcelin said.

Aristide became the Caribbean country's first democratically elected president in 1990. He was overthrown in a 1991 coup, then restored to power by U.S. forces in 1994 and won a new term in 2000 elections that opponents claim were rigged.

Many neighbourhoods of Port-au-Prince appeared deserted on Sunday. But there were reports of gunfire in front of the National Palace. Some Aristide supporters were roaming the strees, armed with rifles, machetes and sticks.

"Well, it's a pretty crazy place – I'd say, a kind of extreme calm next to sheer terror," Philip Maher of World Vision told CBC News. "As you get closer to downtown, there has been some rioting going on, a lot of shooting into the air."

International force to be deployed

The U.S. ambassador to Haiti, James Foley, said an international force that would include Americans "will rapidly be in Haiti."

France will contribute to such a force, French ambassador Thierry Burkard told he Agence France-Presse news agency. He said he expected the force would be deployed this week.

A small group of Canadian Forces personnel is in Haiti to help fly out any Canadians who want to escape from the Haitian capital.

On Saturday, a Canadian Hercules transport flew 20 people from Port-au-Prince to safety in Dominican Republic.

Canada to send more troops to Haiti
 

Canada to send more troops to Haiti


Canadian Press


Sunday, February 29, 2004

Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham confirmed that Canada will send more troops to Haiti.
CREDIT: CP Archive



OTTAWA

Canada will send troops to Haiti in the wake of the resignation of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, confirmed Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham on Sunday.

Appearing on CTV's "Question Period", Graham said Canada will send soldiers as part of an international stabilization force.

That force was called for by the U.S. and Graham says he spoke to U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell Sunday morning.

But Graham was not specific about how many Canadian troops will go.

He would only say it would be enough to make what he called a real contribution.

Right now there are 50 Canadian troops on the island nation as part of a humanitarian force.

Graham also gave assurances Canada will not see a flood of refugees from Haiti.

He said Canada would rather be working with Haiti to make sure that the transition to a new government is smooth.

He said Canada will work with Caribbean nations to make sure people won't have to flee the island.

Incredible. I never knew the rebels had as much power as they do. Im also glad to see peace keeping soldiers are being sent. Maybe Haiti will get back on track after this mess.

2,000 Marines are suppose to be heading for the coast soon.

[quote="Short Hand":7e8d6]Incredible. I never knew the rebels had as much power as they do. Im also glad to see peace keeping soldiers are being sent. Maybe Haiti will get back on track after this mess.[/quote:7e8d6]

Know kidding eh? I suppose that could really happen in any country to any government if the people wanted it enough.

What if Quebec started a revolution?

They already did.

Except they wern't as willing to die for their cause.

A national referendum was held back in 95 where 94% of voters turned out to vote (which is incredible since only 40% turn out to vote in a federal election) and the result was as close as you could get. 50.6% voted "no" on seperation and 49.4% voted yes. Doesn't get much closer than that.

http://newsworld.cbc.ca/flashback/1995/

Since then the seperation thing has died down. The sepratists aren't organized anymore. I don't see how it could turn violent. But if it did, we'd have a major problem. There is a lot of military equipment in Quebec. Quebec is home to an entire regiment of french speaking Canadians. So if the entire province of Quebec wanted to seperate, and they controlled the army in quebec, we'd have a problem.

The 22nd who are known as the vandoos are nuts. And I'd thought i'd include this because its pretty interesting to see the vandoos at work.
http://archives.cbc.ca/400d.asp?id=1-71-99-581&wm6=1