Haiti’s Avril May Lift State of Siege Today

Gen. Prosper Avril, Haiti’s military president, said Thursday that a state of siege decreed in a crackdown last weekend may be lifted today and that the country will continue to move toward elections.

Avril has come under increasing pressure from foreign governments and the Haitian business community to lift the state of siege and reverse the tough measures the government has said were needed to maintain order and safeguard the democratic process.

Authorities have acted under the state of siege to suspend civil liberties, censor the news, arrest dozens of people and deport half a dozen political and civic figures. Some were beaten in captivity.

After receiving a new ambassador from Brazil in a public ceremony Thursday morning, Avril was asked by a reporter when the state of siege would be lifted. “I believe tomorrow,” he answered.

Asked if presidential elections will be held in October as scheduled, he said: “Yes, certainly. We are moving toward elections.”

The short exchange ended as Avril, 52, walked out of the ceremonial hall of the government palace.

Meanwhile, the Haitian Chamber of Commerce made public a statement criticizing the crackdown and calling the state of siege unconstitutional. The Industrial Assn. of Haiti issued a similar statement earlier in the week.

Ludovic Louisdhon, president of the Chamber of Commerce, said the business sector can create strong pressure on the government, but he did not specify how. There have been rumors of plans for a general strike.

“We are a powerful sector,” Louisdhon told reporters. “We have let the government know that we are not happy with the steps taken.”

He said the Chamber of Commerce statement was delivered to Avril on Wednesday evening. He added, “We have to wait and see what will be the reaction of the government.”

A spokeswoman for the U.S. Embassy told The Times that Washington wants an end to the state of siege and hopes that Avril will address other questions as well--”the question of the people who were exiled, the question of press freedom and the very important question of how to restore faith and confidence in the electoral process and the government’s commitment to that process.”