Jean-Bertrand Aristide
PER
Aristide Jean-Bertrand Aristide
Mr. Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the former President and an ally of Mr. Préval's, was forced out of office two years ago by a violent uprising and pressure from the United States. He was accused by his opponents of corruption and violent repression fled Haiti and has since lived in South Africa. In a televised appearance, Mr. Aristide said he looked forward to returning to Haiti and said he would consult with Mr. Préval about an appropriate time. And even though Mr. Aristide is still loved by this country's poor, political leaders critical of the way he was removed from power acknowledge that his return could start a new round of unrest in Haiti, the hemisphere's most troubled country. In his first news conference since being declared president of Haiti last week, René Préval kept up the mystery swirling around the possible return from exile of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, saying only that the Constitution permits him to come home if Mr. Aristide so chooses. Mr. Aristide, a former ally of Mr. Préval's, was forced out of office two years ago by a violent uprising and pressure from the United States. Political opponents of Mr. Aristide's, and several foreign diplomats, have made clear to Mr. Préval that they do not want Mr. Aristide to return.