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Aristide Sifts Through the Mess in Haiti

Kathie Klarreich writes from Port-au-Prince
*** The new administration in Haiti is popular with the people, but it hasn't received much economic support in trying to establish a democracy in Haiti after years of corruption and mis-rule. It's the old question: which comes first, justice or food?
HAITI'S democratically-elected president Is confronting the hardships left from 35 years of dictatorial rule.
Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the 37-year-old priest who won an overwhelming victory last December. Is now trying to fill empty coffers, replace a well-Implanted system of corruption, rebuild a shattered economy and win over the reticent private sector.
"We're still trying to clean up the mess left by decades of disorder," says Herold Jean-Francois. director of the national television station. "You can't wave a magic wand after 35 years and make things work."
The attitude of this new government is to clean up corruption. from the military to the public administrations, to the rural sheriffs in the countryside. so that when new money starts to come tn It will not. as has routinely happened in the past, be laundered out.
"We have had to spend over a month Identifying what needs to be done Just here at the station." Herold continued. "We need time to Implement guidelines, have an observation period. It's not even been three months and we re hearing all kinds of criticisms. If after a year you're hearing the same thing, okay — but not yet.'
There have been some remarkable changes in the short time that the new government — which consists of prime minister. 27 senators and 83 deputies — has held office. One of the most significant has been reform of the 7,000-man military, which doesn't differentiate between police and soldier.
The military had the reputation of condoning, if not directly participating in. much of the crime and repression of the last three decades. They were allegedly Involved In the 1987 election-day massacre which left 34 people dead. But in the December 1990 election they provided tight sccu-rity. and have been doing so ever since
Head of the military. General Herard Abraham, has retired over a dozen high ranking officers, transferred twice as many, and even ar rested several who are Indicted of crimes, some of which date back five years
Street crime, which had the capital paralysed after dark, has all but disappeared. There has been a crack-down on drug trafficking and a programme is underway to eliminate contraband.
In the countryside, rural sheriffs, who had strict control of daily life, have been disarmed and removed from the Jurisdiction of the military. They are now under the wing of the Minister of Justice
Aristide's consistent cry for Justice is also being carried out. More than 15 people await trail for the January 1991 coup attempt, and one
man has already been sentenced to life imprisonment for his involvement in the attack on Aristide's church where more than a dozen people were hacked to death before the church was set on fire.
Another prisoner, however has been unable to find someone to defend him. Of more than 150 defence lawyers, no one is willing to take the case, so fearful are they of popular revenge.
Following the January coup attempt, thousands of Haitians took Justice In their own hands, burning buildings and killing people associated with the old regime.
Aristide was then criticised for not controlling the crowds, Just as he was last month when groups took to the streets protesting the high cost of food. In the northern city of Cap Haitian, they looted buildings where they thought merchants were hoarding goods One person died and at least eight were injured.
The demonstrators chanted In favour of Aristide but condemned the legislature and merchants and the United States, which is often a scapegoat for events in Haiti.
There Is some question as to who is really behind these kinds of demonstrations.' said • member of the president's private cabinet. "What they were protesting is not what Aristide advocates. We are most definitely Interested in collaborating with the private sector and the US.''
The US has embraced this new government, though they were quick to criticise the 24-hour arrest of the former president who was brought in for questioning about the coup attempt in January. The US has pledged $84 million in as •istance for this fiscal year.
though to date no money has been received.
Critics say money is slow to arrive because the government has no real economic programme. The private sector, which has a wait-and-see attitude, want something concrete before they invest their dollars.
Gerald Bially, president of the Chamber of Commerce, says it is too early to make a decision about the government, but they are not impressed with the accomplishments so far.
"Justice can't resolve things." he said. "As a business person, you make the smartest Investment. We want to see an overall plan before we Invest. Aristide has the advantage of popularity but that doesn't feed the hungry."
The government, with the country's dire economic circumstances in mind, has appealed for economic and technical help from the estimated one million Haitians living abroad. On April 28. "Voye Haiti Monte" (VOAM) — which means Send Haiti To The Top — a government-sponsored organisation, held an all-day marathon both nationally and Internationally, and collected over $1 milllofi.
There previous request for help from the private sector was a flop. They received only $8 million. The private sector blamed the government for poor terms (offering five Cr cent Interest when the nks offer 14 per cent) and lack of a concrete plan of how the money would be spent. Others felt pressured to give.
’Thia government isn't perfect." says Venel Remarais. director of the Haitian Press Agency, "but you have to acknowledge that they are work-
ing under extremely difficult conditions.
"No one. particularly
Aristide, has had the advantage of having a strong party to back them up because of the history of politics in this country. But he does have the support of the people, and that s a real first." — GEMINI NEWS
KATH IE KLARREICH Is a US Journalist living In Port-au Prince who contributes widely to the North American media