Because of Neptune, Gousse's resignation demanded. Gousse resigns.

[Jens Iverson]

Hello,

The article below is more evidence that international pressure has an
effecton the interim government.

Regards,

Jens

Haiti's interim justice minister submits resignation
<http://www.haiti-info.com/article.php3?id_article=3764>








Haiti¹s interim justice minister submits resignation

15 June 2005




PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti_Haiti¹s interim justice minister has submitted his
resignation, amid mounting international criticism over the prolonged
detention a former prime minister under ousted President Jean-Bertrand
Aristide.

Bernard Gousse, Haiti¹s top law enforcement official, did not provide a
reason in a resignation letter sent Tuesday to interim Prime Minister Gerard
Latortue. A copy of the letter was obtained by The Associated Press.

If accepted, Gousse¹s resignation would mark the first major departure
within Haiti¹s U.S.-backed interim government, appointed last year after
Aristide fled the country amid a February 2004 uprising.

It was unclear whether Latortue had seen the letter. Calls to both Latortue
and Gousse seeking comment went unanswered late Tuesday.

In the letter, Gousse thanked Latortue for "allowing me to serve my country"
and expressed pride in "doing my civic duty after a dictatorship."

"However, I am submitting my resignation as minister of justice and public
security," Gousse wrote.

Gousse has come under fire for the ongoing detention of former Prime
Minister Yvon Neptune, who was arrested 11 months ago but charged only in
May with orchestrating killings of Aristide opponents before the revolt.
Neptune denies the charge and is reportedly refusing meals to protest his
detention.

Gousse has also been accused of ignoring alleged atrocities by police
against pro-Aristide slum dwellers.

His possible exit comes as Haitian police and a 7,400-strong U.N.
peacekeeping force struggle to curb a rise in killings, kidnappings and
other violence that authorities fear could undermine fall elections.

More than 700 people _ including at least 40 police _ have been slain in the
capital since September, when Aristide supporters stepped up calls for his
return from exile in South Africa.

In a letter sent this month to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, 10
U.S. lawmakers, all Democrats, called Haiti a "failed state" and urged Rice
to press for Gousse¹s removal for failing to release Neptune.

"His attitude and his actions have actually increased Haiti¹s instability
and have guaranteed that Haiti will remain volatile even after elections,"
wrote the lawmakers, led by Rep. William Delahunt of Massachusetts.

U.S. Ambassador James Foley insisted Tuesday the lawmakers¹ call doesn¹t
reflect the views of the U.S. government. He said Gousse¹s resignation could
become "a distraction" as authorities prepare for elections scheduled for
October and November.

"This is not the way the U.S. government acts in Haiti," Foley told Radio
Vision 2000. "We are not trying to dictate" to the interim government.



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