BANGUI, Central African Republic (AP) - Insisting he's still Haiti's president, a defiant Jean-Bertrand Aristide appeared in public for the first time in exile Monday, calling on supporters to wage a peaceful resistance against rebels he derided as "drug dealers" and "terrorists."
| "Peaceful resistance" against terrorists? Not even Kerry is this clueless. |
Looking relieved composed, Aristide also spoke out against the United States, reiterating allegations denied by Washington that America helped remove him from power by force. "I am the democratically elected president and I remain so. I plead for the restoration of democracy" in Haiti, Aristide told reporters in Bangui.
| There's a first time for everything! |
"We appeal for a peaceful resistance," he added, as several dozen journalists and one Central African Republic soldier toting an assault rifle looked on. Aristide spoke despite a pointed, public request by Foreign Minister Charles Wenezoui that he avoid talking about Haitian politics or unidentified "friendly countries."
| "Shut yer piehole or yer askin' fer trouble!" |
Until Monday's press conference, the government had refused lawyers and journalists access to Aristide and his wife, saying that comments made directly and indirectly by Aristide to foreign media had created diplomatic problems. Most problematic were silly allegations - denied by Washington - that the United States forced Aristide from power.
"It was in fact a political kidnapping. This political kidnapping unfortunately opened the road to an occupation," Aristide said. He said he was removed from Haiti "not only by force, but they used lies also."
| "Force! Lies and force! Deep laid plans, lies and force!" |
Aristide said he had been told by the U.S. ambassador to Haiti that he would be taken to a press conference in Port-au-Prince on Feb. 29, but was instead driven to the airport. "They put me in a car and I found myself at the airport. The airport was under the control of the Americans," he said.
A new Sprint commercial:
JB: "They said they'd take me to the press."
US: "We said we'd take him out of this mess."
Just another case of bad cellular. |
Aristide described those who precipitated his fall as "terrorists, drug dealers." He cited rebel leader Guy Philippe, who last week declared himself the new chief of Haiti's military, which was disbanded by Aristide.
Asked about his plans, Aristide was French-like ambiguous. "Where I'm going will depend on the circumstances. For the moment, I am here, and I am very well, and the croissants are delicious" he said.
Aristide said he had been "well looked after" by his Central African hosts, smartly backtracking on his lawyers' statements that he was "a prisoner" in Bangui. "I have never been a prisoner here," he said. "On the other hand, I was a prisoner ... in the plane where we spent 20 hours without knowing where we were going."
| I have the same feeling driving to the beach with the kids. |
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