AP Archive
Violence on the eve of Haiti's bicentennial celebrations
(1 Jan 2004) VOICED BY RICHARD VAUGHAN
December 31, 2003 - Port-au-Prince, Haiti
0000 Workers put finishing touches on stands
0003 Empty stands in front of the National Palace
0007 Banner hanging near National Palace which says "1804-2004 - Haiti is the Mother of Liberty
0009 Man walks near National Palace hiding his face with a Haitian flag
0014 Two burned corpses in front of a garage
December 30, 2003 - Port-au-Prince, Haiti
0017Anti-government protest with banner with the colors of Haiti's national flag and singing "Teargas or no teargas, Aristide must go no matter what!"
0025 Protestors running away from teargas thrown by anti-riot police
December 21, 2003 - National Palace yard, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
0033 Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, right in the striped shirt, and his wife Mildred, in the yellow shirt, handing out gifts to poor children, Aristide bends down to talk to a little boy
December 31, 2003 - Port-au-Prince, Haiti
0044 Journalists talk to Charles Baker, factory owner, Vice President of the Association of Haitian Industries, and one of the coordinators of the Group of 184 Organizations, a platform of business, civic, union and other groups
0050 SOUNDBITE: (English) Charles Baker, Vice President of the Association of Haitian Industries
"They're always willing to do the right thing with words but in actual facts they gas us, they shoot us and they intimidate us and they terrorize us. Not only us, but the Haitian people."
December 21, 2003 - National Palace yard, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
0 Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, right in the striped shirt, and his wife Mildred, in the yellow shirt, handing out gifts to poor children, Aristide bends down to talk to a little boy
0104 Wide shot of children standing in line for presents
0108 Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide picks up a boy
0117 ENDS
SUGGESTED LEAD-IN:
Haiti this week marks 200 years of independence from France.
But the event has been marred with violence.
Islanders are questioning whether President Jean-Bertrand Aristide could guide Haiti out of its latest crisis of poverty, political turmoil and social unrest.
VOICE-OVER:
0002
Haiti getting ready to celebrate.
It's 200 years since this small Caribbean nation gained its independence from France.
0010
But many here feel there's little to get excited about.
0014
These charred bodies were found sprawled on the side of a road a few days ago.
The deaths, and 39 others, have been linked to the almost daily protests which often descend into violent clashes.
Anti-government protestors like these are countered by supporters of the still popular President Aristide.
0033
The former slum priest has been in and out of power since 1990.
His opponents accuse him of repression and of rigging the year 2000 elections.
American born factory owner Charles Baker has spent time in prison for his pro-democracy activities.
0050
SOUNDBITE: (English) Charles Baker, Vice President of the Association of Haitian Industries
(answering question: "What exactly is the government saying to you when you approach them with proposals to reconcile your different positions?")
"They're always willing to do the right thing with words but in actual facts they gas us, they shoot us and they intimidate us and they terrorize us. Not only us, but the Haitian people."
0104
The two political sides have reached an impasse.
The opposition refuses to participate in new elections unless Aristide steps down, which he says he won't do.
0117 ENDS
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