TIME: Almanac 1993/TIME Almanac 1993.iso/time/032690/0326008.000

Text File | 1992-08-28 | 4KB | 82 lines

                                                                                WORLD, Page 29

HAITI

A New Start, a Ray of Hope


With the dictatorial Avril now in exile and a civilian President
at the helm, Haitians hope to begin building a democracy


    The end for Haiti's most recent strongman was reminiscent
of Jean-Claude ("Baby Doc") Duvalier's ignominious departure
in 1986. On the morning of his 53rd birthday, after seven days
of protests and a general strike, Lieut. General Prosper Avril
and his family were driven to the airport on the outskirts of
Port-au-Prince last week, placed aboard a U.S. Air Force C-141
StarLifter and flown into refuge in the U.S. Thus ended the
turbulent 18-month rule of Haiti's fourth leader in four years.

    The difference between the exits of Duvalier and Avril was
that civilians, not military men, engineered the latest
transfer of power to a provisional government -- and that gave
Haitians cause for hope. Last Tuesday, Supreme Court Justice
Ertha Pascal Trouillot was sworn in as President. "My essential
task is electoral preparations at a national level," she
declared, "and to pass power to a democratically elected
government."

    That is a tall order for a country whose institutions are
riddled with corruption and whose government is financially
bankrupt. An ever present threat is the military, which has
virtually ruled Haiti since Duvalier fled. At last week's
inauguration, Major General Herard Abraham, the army Chief of
Staff, saluted smartly and informed Trouillot, "Madame
President, the armed forces are at your command." Although
Abraham promised that his troops would stay in the barracks,
Haitians were worried about the resumption of confrontations
two weeks ago between citizens and soldiers, which have left
at least 24 people dead.

    Trouillot must also navigate her way through the demands and
desires of some 20 political parties. In a rare demonstration
of unity, opposition leaders banded together in the so-called
Group of 12 to press for Avril's ouster and select the new
President. But that unity is expected to crumble as soon as
campaigning begins. Until the election, Trouillot must govern
in tandem with a 19-member Council of State, composed of
representatives from social groups and geographic regions. The
panel has veto power over presidential decisions -- and that
alone could stymie prog ress toward elections.

    Not that anyone doubts Troui llot's sincerity. "We believe
this government is truly dedicated to conducting elections,"
said U.S. Ambassador Alvin Adams, who played a crucial role in
hastening Avril's departure. As a lawyer and judge, Trouillot,
46, earned a reputation for integrity and political
independence. The tenth child of a working-class family, she
is the author of several books on law and rose through the
judicial system to a seat on the high court. In her inaugural
speech, Trouillot "accepted this heavy task in the name of the
Haitian woman."

    The President is eager to meet the Group of 12's demand for
elections within six months. Speed is essential, for only after
a democratically elected government is installed will
substantial international aid resume. As an encouraging first
step toward normalization, the army's 1,200-man Presidential
Guard, notorious for its abuses of human rights, has been moved
off the palace grounds and is being disbanded -- even though
Haitians are worried that there may be a backlash from the
Tontons Macoutes, the ruthless thugs who linger from the
Duvalier days. Still, for the first time since Duvalier's
departure, the prospects for democracy seem real.


By Jill Smolowe. Reported by Bernard Diederich/Port-au-Prince.