Young Activists Push for Changes but Haitian Leaders Move Cautiously

Young political activists clustered under the shade of a street corner awning and listened to radio broadcasts about official communiques and popular unrest.

They passed around well-worn and hand-copied political manifestoes that detailed the demands of anonymous authors.

They, like their counterparts elsewhere in Haiti, are waiting.

Each had organized, demonstrated in the streets and, in his own way, helped shoo President-for-Life Jean-Claude Duvalier from Haiti. Their embryonic organizations, usually formed under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Church, are still in place and need only new goals to get them moving again.

“Our first mission is complete,” said Awel Jean, referring to the departure of Duvalier. “But the voice of the people has not yet been heard.”

Making New Demands

While the five-member National Government Council that succeeded Duvalier seems to be increasingly preoccupied with maintaining public order, young street activists are making new demands. Their ideas go beyond anything the new government has yet proposed, either to rectify past abuses or establish a new political system.

And although there seems to be no single voice expressing these demands--some emerge from clandestine sources--the requests themselves have wide currency. From Cap-Haitien, a sleepy northern fishing port, to Gonaives, a center of recent political turbulence, to Port-au-Prince, the capital, pressure is building for changes that go beyond the mere flight of Duvalier.

Invariably, high on the list is a call for removal of former Duvalier associates from the new government and the Cabinet. Elections must be held. Demands for the arrest and trial of notorious policemen are widespread, as are calls for the abolition of community service organizations that critics say were a front for neighborhood spying.

“If the Duvalierists stay, it would be the same as having Duvalier again,” said Almonor Job, whose activism blossomed with membership in a Cap-Haitien Catholic youth club.

“It is a good time for the new government to convince people that things have really changed,” said Father Yvon Joseph, a priest at Notre Dame High School here.

Both the youths and their mentors in the Catholic Church express a willingness to give the council a chance to make changes on its own.

“I can understand the council’s caution,” said Father Joseph.

But no one is clear on how long to wait before once again taking to the streets. Already, signs of impatience have surfaced.

Earlier this week, a victory-over-Duvalier celebration in Gonaives turned into a forum to publicize demands for quick elections.

In Port-au-Prince, graffiti on cemetery walls protested the makeup of the council, which is dominated by former followers of Duvalier, three of them military officers.

There were no demonstrations in the capital Thursday, but it appears inevitable that government inaction will result in renewed disturbances.

Moving Slowly

For its part, the council has moved slowly. Its most important actions to date have been abolition of the feared Tontons Macoutes militia force and the national legislature. Thursday, the council announced that the colors of Haiti’s flag are officially reverting to their original blue and red from the black and red imposed by Francois (Papa Doc) Duvalier, founder of the 28-year regime.

But the council has yet to announce whether abusive officials of the old government will be prosecuted. Although some members of the Tontons Macoutes were arrested, the detentions have been characterized as protective custody. Thursday, a former mayor of Port-au-Prince who had close ties with the Tontons Macoutes was placed under such detention.

The government also announced that it was “considering” whether to confiscate property owned by Duvalier.

By comparison, the council’s pronouncements on keeping the peace have been bold and straightforward.

Calls for Discipline

On Wednesday, the council issued a communique telling citizens to stop obstructing public officials heading toward their offices. Offenders will be punished, the communique warned. The council also called for “discipline and reconciliation in view of the need to reconstruct the common fatherland.”

In Cap-Haitien, the local military command issued an order forbidding private citizens from rousting former Tontons Macoutes from their homes.

“They want to keep people from doing what they really want to do,” said student Job.

Job, like dozens of others, participated in church sessions that emphasized the need for citizens to fight for their rights.

During the last few months, he and his schoolmates demonstrated in the narrow streets of Cap-Haitien in the wake of broadcasts over a Catholic radio station, publicizing government atrocities. A series of such demonstrations all over the country finally prompted Duvalier to flee to France.

Seeks Asylum

(Duvalier on Thursday formally asked the French government for permission to remain in the country permanently as a refugee, news agencies reported. But a Foreign Ministry official said that “there is no question that Mr. Duvalier will have to leave France.”)

The possibility of new unrest breaking out in Haiti raises the question of who will lead the activity.

“Now, this is only a popular movement,” said Father Joseph. “Eventually, political parties will become involved.”

Inside Haiti, local politicians already are jockeying for position while exiled leaders have expressed interest in returning home.

Some of the politicians abroad may find it difficult to return. Lt. Gen. Henri Namphy, head of the government council, said Thursday that exiles must apply for legal immigration and will be permitted back “under the law and not to serve the interests of some petty politician.”

Under Haitian law, citizens who have been outside the country for more than 90 days must apply for a visa before re-entering. The first flights from abroad carrying Haitians arrived Thursday in Port-au-Prince.

Concern About Marxism

Meanwhile, there is growing concern about the possible emergence of a Marxist movement.

Last Sunday, Msgr. Francois Gayot, the bishop of Cap-Haitien, warned worshipers against Communist infiltration. He was apparently responding to the circulation of a political tract that local citizens took to be Marxist inspired.

The leaflet called for expulsion of former Duvalier officials from government, prompt elections, the breakup of police and army units formed by Duvalier and the abolition of pensions to retired members of his security forces.

The tract also demanded the free return of political exiles regardless of ideology, the opening of diplomatic relations with all countries and trial for “criminal functionaries” who would be identified by “neighborhood committees.”

Haiti has no relations with any Communist state. Neighborhood committees have been used as a means of control in both Cuba and Nicaragua.