[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 19]
[Senate]
[Page 26378]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   ATTACK ON HAITIAN NATIONAL PALACE

  Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I want to take a moment--I see my 
colleague waiting to speak, and I ask him if he will indulge me 5 more 
minutes--to talk about something that happened very early this morning 
in this hemisphere that I think does, in fact, affect all of us in this 
country.
  Today we are faced with a very grave situation in Haiti. Early this 
morning, armed gunmen stormed the National Palace in Haiti apparently 
in an attempted coup. While the Haitian police have apparently regained 
control of the building, the violence in Port-au-Prince seems to have 
just begun.
  In apparent retaliation for the palace attack, hundreds of President 
Aristide's supporters have surrounded the palace wielding machetes and 
sticks. Recent reports also indicate that supporters have torched the 
headquarters of the Convergence opposition alliance, as well as other 
headquarter buildings of the 15-party alliance.
  It is also my understanding homes of opposition leaders have now come 
under attack.
  Now, more than ever, it is essential that President Aristide call for 
peace and push for domestic order. Continued violence and retribution 
will do nothing but cause further instability and upheaval. Candidly, I 
fear that Haiti may be ready to implode. President Aristide has an 
obligation to take his immense popularity and use that popularity to 
talk directly to the people of his country and make it clear to them 
and his supporters that taking revenge on people who they think may 
have been involved in the coup or taking revenge on the parties that 
oppose President Aristide is not in the best interests of Haiti. He has 
an obligation to do that, and I call upon him to do that and to help 
stop the violence.
  As my colleagues well know, Haiti's political system has been in 
turmoil for quite some time. The most recent crisis stems from last 
year's contested elections. After 17 visits to the country by the 
mediator appointed by the Organization of American States, there has 
been no agreement yet reached.
  Both the Haitian Government and the opposition coalition continue to 
avoid a compromise. Both the opposition parties and the President of 
Haiti have an obligation to go further than they have gone to try to 
work out their differences. They need to do that for the benefit of the 
impoverished people of Haiti. Ultimately, it is the Haitian people who 
suffer from this continued dispute.
  Today we are faced with a country of about 8 million people who grow 
more and more impoverished, if that is possible, with each passing day. 
Haiti is already by far the poorest country in the hemisphere. We are 
faced with a country whose poverty and instability continue to deepen.
  This despair has erupted into violence, violence that threatens the 
very stability of the Aristide government. That is why it is especially 
important Mr. Aristide and the Haitian Government show leadership and 
push for order in Port-au-Prince.
  I urge Mr. Aristide not to condone further violence or retribution. I 
also urge anyone who is trying to stage a coup to respect the popularly 
elected Government of Haiti.
  I also urge Mr. Aristide to move forward with OAS efforts to bring an 
end to Haiti's continued political crisis and bring about positive 
change. Similarly, I encourage the opposition coalition and its 
followers to show restraint and work toward a peaceful solution.
  I conclude by saying the United States continues to be a friend to 
the Haitian people. At present, there are no holds on bilateral and 
U.S. humanitarian assistance to the Haitian people and we are, in fact, 
providing over $55 million this year alone. There is, however, other 
money that is being withheld. The American Development Bank, for 
example, this money will continue to be withheld until there is a 
political settlement in Haiti, a settlement that must take place. Until 
the Haitian Government calls for an end to violence, including today's 
retribution, and distances itself from the kidnappings, political 
killings, and corruption, then innocent Haitian people will continue to 
suffer.
  I thank my colleague for allowing me to proceed. I have spoken many 
times about the situation in Haiti. I will continue to do so. I am 
planning to actually travel to Haiti next month. This is a situation 
that ultimately is of grave concern to the United States, but 
ultimately we must realize, as the people


of Haiti and this Government must realize, the future of Haiti is in 
their hands, not in ours. Settling the political disputes, restoring 
the peace, is in the hands of the Haitians. We call upon them to do 
that.
  I yield the floor.

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