Randall Robinson Book Tour is Promoting Jean-Bertrand Aristide linked to Drugs and Corruption in Haiti

Randal Robinson book tour: http://www.haitiaction.net/News/HA/9_12_7.html to protect and promote Jean-Betrand Aristide linked to drug trafficking, political assassinations and corruption in Haiti. ---------------------

Previous response to Randal Robinson: http://solutionshaiti.blogspot.com/2007/07/randall-robinson-cspan-interview-and.html
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Jean-Bertrand Aristide's Record

1. Aristide Embezzled $76 Million by Financial Inquiry Central Unit (UCREF), anti-corruption agency, on Caribbean Media Corp, During the 2001-02 period, the report found that about $10 million was spent by Aristide's office without proper justification, while more than $55 million was used, between February 2002 and February 2004, in violation of all administrative rules.




2. Vast Scheme of Corruption under Aristide by l'Unité Central de Renseignement Financier (Ucref), Haitian government investigatory committe, on Radio Metropole, The UCREF's second report traces money-laundering from central bank through three Haiti-based front companies to Aristide's offshore accounts.




3. Major Report on Corruption of Aristide Foundation by l'Unité Centrale de Renseignements (UCREF), Haitian government investigatory commission, Haitian government investigators use the check register of the central bank to trace the outflows under the Aristide regime. Came out in July 2005.




4. Depositing Haiti's Money into Aristide's Bank Account by Mary Anastasia O'Grady, Wall Street Journal, "I am the state," Duvalier used to say, and that's the way Aristide felt about it, too. How he and prominent U.S. politicians stuffed their pockets with Haiti's money.




5. CEA Inquiry into Millions Found Diverted to Aristide Offshore Accounts--Text by Commission d'Enquete Administrative de Paul Denis, Full text of report and interviews by one of the two Haitian government committees looking into the missing millions.




6. Aristide's Stolen Millions by Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, Investigators in Haiti report that former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide funneled public money into his personal charities and front companies.




7. Overview of Aristide Regime Corruption by Radio Metropole, Preliminary report on theft from government agencies during Aristide regime.




8. The Emperor Has No Clothes by Jean-Claude Jasmin, How Aristide & Co. plundered the Haitian treasury;




9. Haiti: Aristide Stole Millions by Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, Haiti's interim government filed suit against former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide in Miami federal court, accusing him of stealing millions from the Haitian people.




10. Embezzlement Found in Aristide Administration by IOL.co, Zambia, Haitian commission calling on Aristide to testify about "assets stemming from drug trafficking and other serious offences, the extraction of public funds, abuse of authority, misappropriation of funds and corruption involving government officials."




11. Bring Aristide to Justice by Mary Anastasia O'Grady, Wall Street Journal, Critical information should be unsealed in the IDT case in which the telecom firm allegedly agreed to transfer funds to an offshore account set up on behalf of President Aristide by a Turks and Caicos Islands front company.




12. U.S. Indictment of Aristide in Drug Trafficking--How Near? by Joseph Contreras, Newsweek, Aristide reportedly a target of the federal grand jury that returned indictments against his underlings, five of whom have been convicted. Will federal prosecutors now charge Aristide himself?




13. Drug Lord: Aristide Runs 85% of Drugs by Associated Press Aristide controls 85% of the cocaine flow through the impoverished nation.




14. Another Aristide Official Guilty of Drug-Running by Associated Press, Another Aristide police official pleads guilty to drug-trafficking charges in federal court. Sent police cars to pick up cocaine and pack it aboard American Airlines flights.




15. Aristide Gave Protection to Drug Runner: Security Chief by Miami Herald, The former security chief for Jean-Bertrand Aristide testified that the deposed Haitian leader enabled a reputed cocaine kingpin to travel free of police scrutiny.




16. Former Aristide Security Chief Took Huge Druglord Payoffs by Miami Herald, The ex-security chief for former president Aristide testified that a drug-trafficking defendant gave him regular payoffs to safeguard shipments.




17. Drug-Dealers Running for Office by news sources, Watch out for a number of drug traffickers, among whom are former police and Aristide officials, running for the lower house from Trou du Nord and other districts.




18. Aristide's Former Security Chief Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking Charge by Agence France-Presse, on Radio Metropole, Oriel Jean, palace security chief during 2001-2003, pleads guilty to drug-related money-laundering charge, agrees to cooperate with U.S. investigation.




19. We're Not Drug Dealers by President Aristide, Regarding the officials whose U.S. visas have been pulled for drug-dealing, the United States has no evidence of that. They're just picking on us because we're poor and weak. Reported by Reuters.




20. Former U.S. Drug Czar: Aristide Must Be Involved by Andrea Mitchell, NBC, McCaffrey was President Bill Clinton's drug czar. "It's hard to imagine that Aristide himself isn't taking part in this enormously lucrative form of criminal activity."




21. Expelled Haiti Drug-lord Implicates Aristide at Sentencing by Associated Press, Ketant says he paid off Aristide for years. He claims Aristide controls 85% of the cocaine flow through the impoverished nation.




22. Taint of Drugs Reaching Haiti's Upper Echelons by David Adams, Times Latin America Correspondent, Aristide's refusal to fire Jean in 2002, despite evidence of his ties to drug money, made U.S. officials begin to suspect the president. Jean was one of six Haitian police officers allegedly linked to drugs that the US pressed Aristide to fire.




23. U.S. Considering Indictment of Aristide for Drug Dealing by Jose De Cordoba, Wall Street Journal, Investigation has gained momentum since Aristide ousted. At least one convicted major cocaine trafficker has offered details of Aristide's purported involvement.




24. Aristide Lobbied To Get U.S. Acquiescence to His Murderous Regime by Mary Anastasia O'Grady, Wall Street Journal, America is now paying a price for the benign approach taken by the U.S. at the behest of Aristide's lobbyists. Over 1,900 U.S. troops are in Haiti trying to disarm violent militias Aristide left behind.




25. After Cocaine, Haiti's Most Successful Export Product Is Knee-jerkism by Herbert Gold, San Francisco Chronicle, Consider the Congressional Black Caucus, the well-worn New and Less New Left, and the knee-jerk street political thinkers. Aristide always seemed to have plenty of money for his propagandists, paying lawyers and lobbyists to represent him abroad.




26. Haiti Launches Corruption Probes by Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, Focus on suspected diversion of state funds in long-distance phone companies, Taiwan aid, and Miami lobbyist Ira Kurzban.




27. Closing the Circle by Ann W. O'Neill, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, The U.S. investigation into drugs, money and corruption under Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide stretched Tuesday from the ranks of the Haitian National Police into the upper echelon of the Senate and ruling political party.




28. Naming Top Aristiders in Drug Trade by Orlando Sentinel, Colombian drug runner to testify against former top palace, drugs, and police officials and senator. "Will this lead to Aristide? Who knows?"




29. U.S. Treasury in Haiti Investigating Aristide's Personal Role by Nancy San Martin, Miami Herald, U.S. Treasury Department investigators are in Haiti scouring bank and other records for evidence of corruption by ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.




30. Former Airport Police Chief Charged by Associated Press, This makes the sixth close associate of Aristide now charged in U.S. federal court with cocaine smuggling.




31. $1 Million Suspected Destined for Aristide Paramilitary by news services, A Haitian-Canadian arrested with $1 million in cash, suspected that it was intended for Aristide's "Operation Baghdad" to destabilize government.




32. Evidence of U.S. Telephone Company's Corrupt Relationship with Aristide by Mary Anastasia O'Grady, Candidate Kerry on March 4 said he would send troops to Haiti to keep Aristide in power. Another telephone company is complicit in Aristide's corruption like Fusion International with its board of Democratic Party stalwarts.




33. Aristide Corruption Probed by Successor Government by Jane Regan, Miami Herald, Justice Ministry recommends corruption investigations of Aristide and 28 confederates. Suspected of stealing government money and giving it to thugs to commit violence.




34. List of Aristide Officials Arrested for Drug-Trafficking by Haitianpolitics e-mail list contributor, List of former Aristide senators and top security officials arrested, jailed in Miami and awaiting trial for drug-trafficking.




35. Drug Plea-Bargaining May Build Case Against Aristide by Jack Dolan and Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, Former Haitian security officials are beginning to cut deals with prosecutors as a historic drug-smuggling trial nears. Five Aristide-appointed police chiefs and drug czars to go on trial




36. Haiti Sues to Collect a Phone Bill by Mary Anastasia O'Grady, Wall Street Journal, The reporter who pioneered the story in 2001 notes the latest additions found in the Haitian government's lawsuit. If verified, these additions trace a money trail that implicates top U.S. politicians of both parties and should trigger U.S. prosecution.




37. Need to Move from Fact-finding to Prosecution by Judge Claudy Gassant, former prosecutor of Jean Dominique murder case, ursuing Aristide's corruption with only an administrative inquiry, the interim regime appears to be sending up a trial balloon and depending on the American case rather than using all the prosecutorial tools at its disposal. Presented at below seminar.




38. Haiti's Missing Millions: A Seminar by Haiti Democracy Project, The project held a presentation by the Winston & Strawn partner who co-authored the landmark lawsuit against Aristide. November 10, 2 p.m., Brookings




39. U.S. Executive Fired for Questioning Kickback to Aristide Private Bank Account by William P. Perniciaro, attorney at law, Text of lawsuit reported by Mary O'Grady: Michael Jewett is fired for objecting to IDT transfer into Mount Salem, Aristide's private bank account in Turks and Caicos.




40. Lawsuit Filed Against Aristide by Associated Press, "Aristide and his accomplices stole tens of millions of dollars from the public treasury and transferred a portion of those funds to the United States."

HAITI: OPEN LETTER TO THE HAITIAN COUNCIL OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS

ENGLISH ------------- FRANCAIS -------------KREYOL

Dear Monsignor: It is with much apprehension that I write to you about an issue of growing concern regarding the Catholic Church’s reaction to a much publicized incident. The specific situation I am referring to is Father Edner Devalcin’s relationship with Ms Yolette Lagrandeur. The handling of this incident, I fear, points to a broader trend of some representatives of the church using their political relationships in inappropriate and unethical ways.-------------------------------------------------------------------------

As you are aware, earlier this year, during a hearing in the Haitian Senate Ms. Yolette Lagrandeur testified that she carried on a sexual relationship with Father Devalcin. Further, their relationship had turned violent, and on numerous occasions he beat her severely. However, it appears as if political pressure was applied and Ms. Lagrandeur has had no recourse. In the end, these serious transgressions have been left unpunished by the Catholic Church and the Haitian government.----------------------------------------------------

I am also reminded of the strong links between former President Jean Bertrand Aristide and Father Devalcin. The two had forged a strong relationship and, according to accounts, President Aristide used Father Devalcin's influence on groups of Catholic parishioners to undertake extensive violent campaigns. Father Devalcin's role in these campaigns is well documented. --------------

In addition the involvement of Father Gerard Jean Juste in political violence is worrisome. Father Jean Juste was arrested by Haiti's judicial system for sponsoring political violence and was released last year by the Haitian government to a Florida hospital on a humanitarian basis due to illness. Astoundingly, Father Jean Juste returned to Haiti last week and his associates have already announced the launching of two new violent political campaigns dubbed "Operation Bagdad III and IV." Let me remind you that the previous Operation Bagdad I and II claimed 2,000 lives of Haitian citizens. More than 400 women were raped and 500 Haitian citizens were kidnapped according to human rights reports. ---------

By all reports, Father Jean Juste is not the lone representative from the Catholic Church involved in these types of violent actions. Some estimate that there are as many as 22 priests throughout the country who have participated in one campaign or another. Whatever the final facts may be, I am certain that the Haitian Council of Bishops and the Catholic Church will share my outrage and conduct a full investigation.There are several other discreet incidents that could be outlined, but the overall concern that is brought to light by the above mentioned issues is that it appears as if the Catholic Church of Haiti has not taken a strong and resolute stand of intolerance against violence and criminal acts. I am struck by the lack of action especially in light of the Catholic Church’s extensive efforts to combat lapsed ethics in the church, especially with regards to pedophilia, another serious issue that bears monitoring and attention in Haiti. The Catholics of Haiti surely deserve more consideration and protection by their church leaders. -

The church has done much to help Haiti develop over the years. However, it is a well-established principle of democracies to respect and honor a separation of church and state, and it is inappropriate to see the political influence exercised by many of the church representatives. I hope to see the Catholic Church take a resolute stand on these specific – and tragic – cases, but more importantly, I hope to see the church outline a meaningful and credible plan to ensure that members of the church cannot abuse their political power for personal gain. This above all runs contrary to the principles of the faith.I look forward to your comments and thoughts on the issues that I have presented. In the meantime, I remain faithfully yours. Sincerely -------------------------------------

Stanley Lucas,
The Haitian Coalition
USA----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

LETTRE OUVERTE AU CONSEIL DES EVEQUES CATHOLIQUE HAITIENS CONCERNANT LA VIOLENCE EN HAITI
http://www.lematinhaiti.com/PageArticle.asp?ArticleID=8302
Monseigneur,

C'est avec beaucoup d’appréhension que je vous écris sur un sujet de préoccupation croissante qui concerne la réaction de l'Église Catholique sur un incident très publié. La situation spécifique dont je parle se réfère à la relation de Père Edner Devalcin avec Mme Yolette Lagrandeur. La tenue de cet incident, je crains, signale une tendance plus large de certains représentants de l'église utilisant leurs relations politiques de façon inappropriée et immorale.--------------------------------------------

Comme vous le savez, plus tôt cette année, pendant une audience au Sénat de la République d’Haïti Mme Yolette Lagrandeur a témoigné qu'elle avait entretenu une relation sexuelle continue avec le Père Devalcin. Plus loin, leur relation était devenue violente, et à maintes reprises il l’a battue gravement. Toutefois, il semble que des pressions politiques ont été appliquées et que Mme Lagrandeur n’a eu aucun recours. A la fin, ces graves transgressions ont été laissées impunies par l'Église catholique et le gouvernement haïtien----------------------------------------------------------------------

Je me rappelle également des liens solides existant entre l'ancien président Jean Bertrand Aristide et le Père Devalcin. Les deux avaient forgé une relation solide et, selon de comptes rendus, le président Aristide avait utilisé l'influence de Père Devalcin sur des groupes de paroissiens catholiques pour entreprendre de vastes campagnes violentes. Le rôle du Père Devalcin dans ces campagnes est bien documenté.--------------------------------------------

En outre la participation du père Gérard Jean Juste dans la violence politique est inquiétante. Père Jean Juste a été arrêté par le système judiciaire haïtien pour avoir parrainé la violence politique et a été relâché l'an dernier par le gouvernement haïtien pour aller à un hôpital en Floride sur une base humanitaire pour cause de maladie. Etonnamment, le Père Jean Juste est retourné en Haïti la semaine dernière et ses associés ont déjà annoncé le lancement de deux nouvelles campagnes politiques violentes baptisées "Opération Bagdad III et IV." Permettez moi de vous rappeler que les précédentes Opération Bagdad I et II ont causées la perte de plus de 2 000 vies de citoyens haïtiens. Plus de 400 femmes ont été violées et 500 citoyens haïtiens ont été enlevés selon les rapports des droits humains.------------------------------

Selon tous les rapports, le Père Jean Juste n'est pas le seul représentant de l'Eglise Catholique impliqué dans ces types d'actions violentes. Certains estiment qu'il y a près de 22 prêtres dans tout le pays qui ont participé à une campagne ou une autre. Je suis certain que le Conseil des Evêques Haïtiens et l'Église Catholique partagent mon indignation et mène une enquête complète.-----------------------

Il y a plusieurs autres incidents discrets qui pourraient être soulignés, mais la préoccupation générale qui est mise en lumière par les questions susmentionnées est qu'il semble que l'Eglise catholique d’Haïti n'a pas pris une position forte et résolue d'intolérance contre la violence et les actes criminels. Je suis frappé par le manque d'action surtout à la lumière des nombreux efforts de l'Église catholique pour lutter contre le manque de moralité dans l'église, surtout en ce qui concerne la pédophilie, un autre problème grave qui doit être suivi de près en Haïti. Les catholiques d’Haïti méritent certainement plus de considération et de protection de la part de leurs chefs religieux.------------------------------------------


L'église a beaucoup fait pour aider au développement d’Haïti au fil des ans. Toutefois, c’est un principe bien établi des démocraties de respecter une séparation de l'église et l’État, et il est inopportun de voir l'influence politique exercée par bon nombre des représentants de l’Église. J'espère voir l'Église catholique prendre position ferme sur ces cas spécifiques – et tragiques –, mais plus important encore, j'espère voir l'église exposer un plan véritable et crédible pour assurer que les membres de l'église ne peuvent abuser de leur pouvoir politique pour un gain personnel. Ceci surtout est contraire aux principes de la foi Chrétienne. J'ai hâte de recevoir vos commentaires et réflexions sur les questions que j'ai présentées. En attendant, je reste fidèlement vôtre. Sincèrement,-------------------------------------------------------

Stanley Lucas
La Coalition Haitienne
USA----------------------------------------------------------------------------
LET TOU LOUVRI POU KONSEY EVEK KATOLIK AYISYEN YO SOU VYOLANS NAN PEYI DAYITI----------

Monseyè,

Se avek anpil lapenn ke m ap ekri w sou yon sijè ki preokipe anpil moun lè n ap gade reyaksyon Legliz Katolik fas a yon dezòd tout moun ap pale de li. Sitiyasyon ke m ap pale a konsène relasyon ki te genyen ant Pè Ednè Devalsen ak Madanm Yolèt Lagrandè. Jan yo manipile ensidan an, mwen pè sa ta vle fè kwè ke gen yon tandans ki pi laj kote ke reprezantan legliz yo itilize relasyon politik yo nan yon fason ki pa kòrèk epi ki imoral. ----------------------

Kòm ou te konnen li, nan mwa ki sot pase la yo, Madan Yolèt Lagrandè te temwaye pandan yon chita tande nan chanm Sena a an Ayiti ke li t ap mennen yon vi seksyèl avèk Pè Devalsen. Pi lwen, relasyon yo a te vin vyolan, epi Pè a te konn bat li anpil. Men, li t a sanble ke te gen anpil presyon politik ki fè ke Madan Lagrandè pa t ka soti nan sa li te ye a. Alafen, ni Legliz Katolik ni gouvènman ayisyen an pa janm pini tout fot sa yo.--------

Mwen sonje tou ke te gen yon gwo zanmitay ant prezidan Jan Bètran Aristide ak Pè Devalsen. Tou le de te gen yon relasyon solid, epi selon sa kèk moun rapòte, prezidan Aristid te itilize enfliyans Pè Devalsen te genyen sou kèk gwoup katolik nan pawas yo pou mennen yon bann kanpay ki te vyolan anpil. Genyen anpil dokiman sou wòl Pè Devalsen te jwe nan kanpay sila yo.--------

M’ ap ajoute ke genyen anpil enkyetid sou patisipasyon Pè Jera Jan Jis nan vyolans politik yo. La jistis peyi Dayiti te arete Pè Jan Jis paske li te parene vyolans politik yo epi yo te lage li ane ki sot pase a pou li t’ale lopital nan a Florid sou yon baz imanitè akoz de maladi. Ak anpil sezisman, nou aprann ke Pè Jan Jis retounen an Ayiti semenn ki sot pase a epi asosye li yo deja anonse yon lansman de lòt kanpay politik vyolan ke yo batize « Operasyon Bagdad III ak IV. » Pèmèt mwen fè ou sonje ke Operasyon Bagdad I ak II yo te lakòz lanmò plis pase 2000 sitwayen ayisyen. Yo te vyole plis pase 400 fanm epi yo te kidnape plis pase 500 sitwayen ayisyen selon rapò sou dwa moun yo.-----------------------------------

Selon tout rapò, Pè Jan Jis pa sèl reprezantan Legliz Katolik ki gen men l’ tranpe nan zak vyolan sila yo. Gen moum ki di ke genyen plis pase 22 prèt nan tout peyi a ki patisipe nan omwen youn nan kanpay yo. Kèlkeswa jan dènye fè yo ye, mwen sèten ke Konsèy Evèk Ayisyen yo ak Legliz Katolik pataje endiyasyon mwen epi ap mennen yon bon ankèt.----------------------------------------

Genyen anpil ensidan ke yo pa pale de yo ke nou ta ka souliye, men selon sa ki soti nan kesyon nou sot pale la yo, li ta sanble ke Legliz Katolik an Ayiti pa pran yon pozisyon ki fèm kont vyolans ak zak kriminèl yo. Sa ki frape m’ plis se ke malgre efò Legliz Katolik pou kwape imoralite nan legliz la pa gen gwo aksyon ki fèt, sitou nan sa ki konsenen pedofili, yon lòt pwoblèm grav ke nou dwe swiv de prè an Ayiti. Katolik yo ki an ayiti merite ke chèf relijye yo konsidere yo plis epi pwoteje yo.-----------------------------------

Legliz fè anpil bagay pou ede nan devlopman Ayiti nan ane ki pase yo. Toutfwa, se yon prensip ke demokrasi yo etabli ki pale de respè separasyon ki gen ant legliz ak leta a; se yon move bagay pou wè jan anpil reprezantan legliz ap egzèse enfliyans politik yo.
Mwen espere wè Legliz Katolik pran yon pozision fèm ka espesyal – epi trajik – sila yo, men plis ankò pou yo prezante yon plan ki serye pou asire ke manm legliz yo pa ka itilize pouvwa politik yo pou gen byen pèsonèl. Sitou ke sa kontrè ak prensip lafwa kretyèn nan.

Mwen pa ka tann pou resevwa kòmantè ak refleksyon ou sou kesyon sa yo. Pandan m’ap tann nan, mwen toujou rete a ou menm.

Sensèman, -------------------------------------------------------------

Stanley Lucas
Koalisyon Ayisyen
USA