Home | Business News | Browse by Publication | N | NotiCen: Central American & Caribbean Affairs

GERARD JEAN-JUSTE: ANOTHER ARISTIDE COULD HEAD HAITI.

Article Excerpt
As plans for elections continue to stumble and falter in Haiti, the US faces its worst nightmare with the possibility of a return of Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the president it ousted in February (see NotiCen, 2004-03-04). If that does not happen, the specter of another Aristide also looms. Gerard Jean-Juste, like Aristide a fiery Roman Catholic priest, might seek election. Jean-Juste is called by his supporters Haiti's Martin Luther King, Jr. He is said to electrify the masses with sermons urging social equality and nonviolent protest.

The US-installed interim government of Gerard Latortue has accused Jean-Juste of inciting violence and harboring armed Aristide supporters. In October 2004, the interim government arrested him, but, in an embarrassment for the regime, the priest was on the phone with a journalist at the time, and the whole matter was caught on audiotape. Masked men who turned out to be police burst into the St. Gerard Church as the priest was feeding poor neighborhood children.

During the phone interview with the reporter, the priest asked, "If you can, call the nuncio for me, or the pope, to say that [inaudible] that they are taking one of their priests to jail. I tried to call my bishop, no answer."

Jean-Juste was arrested, allegedly for harboring armed people in his church. After seven weeks, with no evidence presented, he was released.

Church wants no more priests in...