Former Haitian President still awaiting official word from South Africa

[Chris]

Former Haitian President Jean Bertrand Aristide is reportedly still awaiting formal notice from the South African Government that he will be granted permission to stay in that country until he can find a permanent home.

It's understood that until that formality is observed, no concrete plans for his departure can be made.

He is expected to stay in South Africa until his situation has normalised.

Word came Thursday morning that South Africa's government has given Haiti's former President permission to visit the country.

A minister in the South African presidency, Essop Pahad, said the matter had been discussed with the United States and France and they too had agreed that Mr. Aristide should be allowed in.

Opposition parties in South Africa had called on the government to refuse to grant asylum to Mr. Aristide.

South Africa's Democratic Alliance said taxpayers should not have to foot the bill to support a man with doubtful democratic credentials and that the governments responsible for removing him from power should take responsibility for him.

The former president fled from Haiti in February following a revolt against his leadership.

He initially went to the Central African Republic and then came to Jamaica where he has been staying these past eight weeks.

Mr. Aristide has repeatedly accused the Americans of forcing him into exile, but Washington says Mr. Aristide agreed to leave Haiti and voluntarily signed a letter of resignation.

source: http://www.radiojamaica.com/regional_news/?id=9726

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I wonder what the average Haitian thinks about Aristide's whole exile situation?

[Skillachi]

I mean this in no disrespectful way... but i wonder if a Hatian (that lives in haiti) will actually sign on to this forum... i hear dem have it bad and computers not exactly something them strive in over there.

Him get accepted still him gone a south africa sunday go chill. I wonder how him feel, we want to throw him away and south africa also want to keep him temporarily, is like nobody want him and dem jus tossing him about

[Arch_Angel]

Dem a toss him bout like fresh salad.

I think it might be because they don't want to have the US against them for actually giving him asylum. I mean, who wants to go against the US? Except CARICOM that is. lol

It's like the US is keeping an eye on wherever the haitian president goes and and gives a cold stare and the persons who accomodate him. Sends a chill down thier spines.

[Skillachi]

Thats y South Africa can afford to keep him right now. Dem nuh fraid a nobody (or so it seems) dem eva a tek on some persons/group/country

[Arch_Angel]

I have heard/read that the democrates are not happy with the pime minister (or is it president) of South Africa's decision to give him asylum. They don't think they should keep him either.

[Chris]

The sad thing is that the media is watching where Aristide will "settle" while the Haitian people still suffer from poverty and despair. If Jamaica had sent our money to help the poor Haitians instead of housing Aristide, I would a little better.

[dbless1]

I mean this in no disrespectful way... but i wonder if a Hatian (that lives in haiti) will actually sign on to this forum... i hear dem have it bad and computers not exactly something them strive in over there.

Him get accepted still him gone a south africa sunday go chill. I wonder how him feel, we want to throw him away and south africa also want to keep him temporarily, is like nobody want him and dem jus tossing him about

I think Aristide should be treat like Sadam Hussein, he had dictatorial intents
as a former priest of catholic church, he should me merciful instead of having hatery and revenge intentions. More wrongdoings have been commited in the past few years that Mr. Aristide has been the country first democraticly elected president. a lot of ex dictator Duvalier has been massacred by Aristide
fanatism, more gangs have been created and went asked to turned their weapons, they replied:" their government gave them weapons for security reasons. The Aristide government has commited more frauds than the 29 years spent by the Duvalier regime. Personally, I thought Aristide was the savior the Haitian people were waiting for, but he doubted a lot of peolpe including myself. I think he should be sent to the Hague and be judged by war crime tribunal as a close friend to Sadam and all the others and at least returned all the millions that he has been stoled from the Haitian people.