Haitian bishop says U.S. must pressure Aristide to restore democracy

Published: 2004-02-18

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The U.S. military returned Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to power in 1994 in an operation called "Restore Democracy," and it is time for the United States to remind Aristide what democracy means, a Haitian bishop said. Auxiliary Bishop Pierre-Andre Dumas of Port-au-Prince also told Vatican Radio Feb. 17 that international humanitarian aid is needed immediately to avert disaster. "We are on the verge of civil war and anarchy reigns over the island," he said. While condemning rebel violence and calling on all Haitians to make "courageous and patriotic decisions" to restore peace to the country, Bishop Dumas also called for international assistance. "America, which brought Aristide back to the country" after the 1994 coup, "must now demonstrate that Aristide was brought back in order to promote respect for democratic rules and for human rights," the bishop said.

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