AMERICA/HAITI - Haiti’s Catholic Bishops plead: “take necessary measures to prevent a blood bath of civilians”

Thursday, 19 February 2004

Port au Prince (Fides Service)- “We appeal to the consciences of our governors to take the necessary measures to put an end to this situation and avoid a blood bath of civilians”. The Bishops of Haiti launched this appeal to the parties in conflict in the Caribbean Island torn by civil war between supporters of President Jean-Baptiste Aristide and opposition.
“It is not the Church’s task to decide on what action must be taken but violence must be stopped ” said Archbishop Hubert Constant, OMI, Archbishop of Cap-Haïtien and President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Haiti..
The Bishops call on the people “to respect the life and moral integrity of every person, every individual’s right to freedom, truth and the constitutional right to peaceful freedom of expression ”.
The local Church is concerned about the threat of a humanitarian disaster: “The suffering caused to the people is intolerable, insecurity is widespread”, the Bishops say.
In the face of a humanitarian disaster the Bishops call on the conflicting parties to “keep roads open to enable humanitarian organisations to help the wounded and other people in difficulty”.
The revolt against President Aristide has so far caused the death of at least one hundred people. Haiti has a population of about 8 million and 75% live below the poverty line. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 19/2/2004, righe 23 parole 237)


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