US embassy cable - 04TEGUCIGALPA653

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000653 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR WHA/PDA, IIP/G/WHA, IIP/T/ES, WHA/CAR, WHA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP, PREL, KPAO, PGOV, HO 
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON HAITI, MARCH 17, 2004 
 
1. Editorial in Tegucigalpa-based liberal daily "La Tribuna" 
on 3/17 entitled "Maneuvers."  "In a similar situation to 
what has happened in Iraq, where a provisional government 
backed by Washington tries to handle a transitional period 
until they come up with a new government to take over after 
a harsh dictatorship, in Haiti the temporary government of 
Gerard Latortue, who until a few days ago was a radio 
announcer in Miami, tries to do whatever he can, with the 
support of 2,200 American marines, to stabilize Haiti." 
 
"Although it is evident that the Americans overthrew the 
dictatorship in Iraq, there are doubts about how and why 
former Haitian President Jean Bertrand Aristide left his 
country.  The Americans argue that he resigned and left on 
his own and that they only provided a safe means of 
transportation for Aristide to leave." 
 
"It's evident that, whoever finally becomes the President of 
Haiti would have a similar fate to Aristide if he doesn't do 
something to relieve Haiti from the extreme poverty it's 
going through.  Severe poverty and economic crises are a 
fertile territory for non-governance.  That's what needs to 
be addressed, to avoid undertaking maneuvers that only delay 
the inevitable crises." 
 
Palmer