State of Siege in Haiti to End Tuesday: Avril

Gen. Prosper Avril, Haiti’s provisional president, said Friday night that a state of siege imposed a week ago will be lifted Tuesday.

In a televised address, Avril said emergency measures were made necessary by a wave of crimes, including action by “anarchists” and sabotage of the economy. He said the slaying of an army colonel by unidentified gunmen Jan. 19 had infuriated troops.

“There was no other choice” but to take emergency measures “to safeguard the young democracy,” he said. The government has promised presidential elections for October.

Under the state of siege decreed last Saturday, security forces arrested scores of politicians and civic activists, beating and deporting some of them. The government also imposed strict news censorship and suspended a constitutional provision that permitted any Haitian to return from overseas without a visa.

Foreign and Haitian analysts said the measures cast doubt on the possibility that elections could be free and fair.

Avril, who seized power in September, 1988, said Friday that the electoral process will go forward.

The state of siege was decreed for a period of 30 days, but Avril said that “considering the positive results obtained so far, we have decided to set Jan. 30 for lifting the state of siege. Also, we remain convinced that we can count on the patriotism of everyone so that the laws of the country may finally be respected.”