Aristide requests refuge in South Africa | Globe and Mail

Aristide requests refuge in South Africa

Associated Press

Cape Town — Ousted Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide has officially asked South Africa for asylum until his personal situation “normalizes,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry said Monday.

The ministry said in a statement that the request was made through the Caribbean Economic Community (CARICOM) and Mozambique President Joaquin Chissano, who is the chairman of the African union.

Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, said in a statement, that she will take the request to the newly appointed cabinet, which will conduct its first meeting later this week.

More at the Globe and Mail

Looks like a few people are not too happy with that


Monday, April 26, 2004



JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AFP) - South Africa's main opposition party said yesterday that Jean-Bertrand Aristide was not welcome following reports that the former Haitian president would soon take up asylum here.

Aristide, who is currently in Jamaica, left Haiti in late February for the Central African Republic following a two-week armed revolt against his rule in the poor Caribbean country.

The United States and France applied heavy pressure on Aristide to step down to avoid a bloodbath but he later contended that he was forced out of office.
In a statement, the Democratic Alliance (DA) party said it would be "morally reprehensible to provide a home to such a man".

"Whether or not it has received an official application, the Government should simply state that, in accordance with our national laws on asylum-seekers, Mr Aristide would not be welcome here," said DA spokesman James Selfe in a statement carried by the SAPA news agency.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20040426T070000-0500_59019_OBS_ARISTIDE_NOT_WELCOME__SAYS_SOUTH_AFRICAN_OPPOSITION_PARTY.asp

but the ANC still has enormous support and moral authority.

just that trouble follows

Aristide says he was forced out of power
Ex-Haiti president Jean-Bertrand Aristide's request for permission to stay in South Africa will be considered this week, says the government.
Mr Aristide fled Haiti in February, as armed rebels were marching on the capital, Port-au-Prince.

He initially went to the Central African Republic and then to Jamaica.

Foreign affairs spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa denied speculation that this was a first step towards granting the ousted leader asylum.


"We are talking about a temporary arrangement in which he will be visiting South Africa until he finds a permanent place," he told Reuters news agency.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3700651.stm


10 May 2004 2037 UTC

Former Haitian President Aristide Asks for Extended Visit to South Africa
Challiss McDonough
Johannesburg
10 May 2004, 15:15 UTC

Listen to Challiss McDonough's report (RealAudio)
McDonough report - Download 255k (RealAudio)

The South African department of foreign affairs says former Haitian President Jean Bertrand Aristide has made a formal request to "visit South Africa until his personal situation normalizes." The cabinet will consider the request later this week and is expected to approve.
Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma issued a statement in Cape Town, announcing Mr. Aristide's request for an extended visit to South Africa. The former Haitian leader has been expected to make his way here ever since he fled Haiti in late February, following an armed revolt.

But the foreign affairs department is emphasizing that the cabinet still has to decide whether to grant the request. Foreign Affairs spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa denied that the open-ended visit actually amounts to asylum. "No, there is no reference whatsoever, in the communiqué of the minister of foreign affairs, Dr. Dlamini-Zuma, for asylum. We have spoken about a request for a visit until his personal situation normalizes," he said.

http://www.voanews.com/EnglishtoAfrica/article.cfm?objectID=FE547B33-04B1-4E1E-928C220F46D0E11C

'This is not asylum'
10/05/2004 13:08 - (SA)

"Obviously, we will consult with others about the implications of granting him asylum," he said.

While the government insisted that Aristide had not made any formal request for asylum, sources had privately let it be known that Mbeki's government did not want to deal with the issue until after the April 14 elections.
http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_1524711,00.html

AS I know NOTHING about them, and needed a starting point. Found this out from a BBC article:

Democratic Alliance


The Democratic Alliance is the old opposition party from the pre-1994 white parliament.

Once shunned by most white South Africans because of its opposition to racist government, it has now, after a few realignments and name changes, become the biggest opposition party to the ANC, and the favourite choice of whites.

The DA avoids talking in racial terms, but these days, its biggest public relations headache is shaking off the accusations by the ANC and NNP that it is the guardian of white privilege.

It has by far the highest media profile of any opposition party, due in large measure to its tough-talking leader Tony Leon.
(snip)

The DA has the white vote in the bag - taking the party beyond its current support levels means winning black votes, and this election will be a test of how effectively it can do that.
(snip/)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3514044.stm#1



Not a lot of help, but it really puts things in perspective for someone like me. I don't think I'm confused by why they don't like Jean-Bertrand Aristide in the DA Party.

Scums.

that the DA was the nice ineffective liberal opposition to apartheid, that the remaining (critical but unresolved) land reform issues in SA really threaten them, and that Aristide symbolizes for them just such reform issues.

By Jean-Jacques Cornish

South Africa said on Thursday that it was ready to give former Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide a temporary home, nearly three months after an armed revolt forced him to flee his poor Caribbean country.

Aristide is currently in Jamaica, where he arrived on March 15 from the Central African Republic, his first destination following his resignation in late February under pressure from the United States and France.

"This is a temporary arrangement until the Haitian situation stabilises and Aristide and his family can return," government spokesperson Joel Netshithenzhe said.

http://iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=13&art_id=qw1084449061844S162&set_id=1