[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 24, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H541-H542]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 HAITI

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I just returned from Haiti this past 
weekend. It was the third time I have been there since January 1. And I 
am on this floor tonight because I want to share in the most 
straightforward way that I possibly can that it is clear to me that a 
bloodbath in that country is imminent in spite of the fact that 
President Jean-Bertrand Aristide has agreed to the peace plan worked 
out by the international community.
  I went down to Haiti this past Saturday to be an observer as the 
international community, made up of United States, Canada, France, the 
OAS, CARICOM, and the United Nations, presented a peace plan; and it 
was a tough peace plan. The plan called for three persons from the 
international community, these organizations, to select a council of 
wise persons, of seven wise persons, who would then choose what would 
end up being a prime minister. First in the plan they offered the 
President, they said they would give him a name and he would either 
accept it or reject it. He asked them to give him more than one name. 
They ended up agreeing to give him two names that he could choose from, 
and the President accepted the plan. I was there. He accepted the plan.
  But the opposition has rejected the peace plan. They have refused to 
negotiate. They also have sent a signal to groups of thugs and a newly 
formed army of exiled criminals that they will support the violent 
overthrow of the democratically elected government of Haiti. These 
thugs and the newly formed army, made up of exiled former military 
officers and criminals known as The Front for the Advancement and 
Progress of Haiti, commonly referred to as FRAPH, have murdered many 
people in Cap Haitian, and they now control several cities.
  For the last couple of days, these crooks, criminals, former military 
officers have been on television warning that they are on their way to 
Port-au-Prince. They are now on their way to Port-au-Prince; and if in 
fact these thugs who are armed with very sophisticated weapons, M-16s, 
go to that capital and they try to take the palace, there will be a 
bloodbath. Lavalos, the millions of people who support the President 
will be there to protect the capital, and this confrontation will end 
in the loss of many lives.
  It is time for the international community to come to the aid of 
Haiti. It is time for us to understand that we can avoid this bloodbath 
in Haiti; and it makes good sense to say to the opposition who refuses 
to come to the table that the game is up; that, in fact, if they want 
to be obstructionists, we are going to insist that they get out of the 
way so that we can move with stabilizing Haiti.
  We simply cannot stand by and watch this situation unfold and not 
recognize that a coup d'etat is in progress in Haiti. Immediate 
international assistance is essential to stop the escalation of 
violence. The United States should work with the Organization of 
American States, the nations of the Caribbean community referred to as 
CARICOM, and other countries to provide assistance to Haiti to stop the 
violence, disarm the thugs and death squads and protect the Haitian 
people.
  I have been in conversation with the State Department trying to urge 
them to take some action. I have talked with representation, the 
ambassadors from Canada, and have on call the ambassador from France. I 
have talked with the OAS representative, saying to them somebody must 
take the lead in putting together the assistance to stop this carnage. 
It is quite unfortunate; and if there is a bloodbath, this country is 
going to have to take some responsibility in it.

[[Page H542]]

                              {time}  2100

  The man that is leading the coup d'etat in Haiti was born in New York 
and holds an American passport. For the life of me, I do not understand 
what an American, born in New York, with a passport, is doing starting 
a coup d'etat in another country. Mr. Andy Arpaid, Jr., not only holds 
an American passport; he owns 15 factories in Haiti, sweatshops.
  Unfortunately, we cannot continue. We will continue this at another 
time.

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