South Africa Rejects Washington's Claim Aristide Was Denied Asylum

[Chicago Democrat]

In a Democracy Now! exclusive, South African ambassador to the United Nations, Dumisani Kumalo, says President Aristide did not request asylum or exile in South Africa, nor did the South African government deny him asylum or exile as alleged by the US State Department and The New York Times.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The US government/corporate media psychological operations campaign against Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide has been in full swing for weeks. Aristide has been portrayed as "fleeing Haiti" "abandoning his country" and "resigning" his post. Over the past 24 hours, a very different picture has emerged. As we have reported extensively on Democracy Now!, it is becoming very clear that Aristide was forced out of Haiti in what can only be called another U.S. coup; that he was threatened by US officials and that he was taken to Africa against his will.
Over the weekend, as Aristide's whereabouts were still unknown, the psy-ops campaign intensified. The New York Times and other corporate media outlets quoted unnamed "senior State Department officials" as saying that Aristide was denied exile in South Africa. In a front page article yesterday, the Times said President Thabo Mbeki did not want to provoke a political controversy in South Africa.

Democracy Now! has learned from the South African ambassador to the United Nations, Dumisani Kumalo, that President Aristide did not request asylum or exile in South Africa, nor did the South African government deny him amnesty or exile as alleged by the US State Department and The New York Times.


Dumisani Kumalo, is the South African ambassador to the United Nations.

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=04/03/02/1616214

[Jack The Tab]

1. Does anyone else get SO sick of our fascist media?

Goddamn, I can hardly stand it anymore. If this is true, it should be trumpeted on every newscast.

But of course, our fascist media does not, because they can't upset the current squatters in the White House.

[Chicago Democrat]

2. I saw the interview the the South Africa Ambassador

on video. Here's the link:

http://www.democracynow.org/index.pl

Real Player

In his interview, the South African UN ambassador clearly stated that President Aristide DID NOT request asylum! Colin Powell and the NYT lied as part of a coodinated campaign of disinformation.

[orwell]

3. Wow

Colin Powell LIED! :wow:

Hard to believe /sarcasm

O

[Chicago Democrat]

4. We have to document and publicize Every Lie!

All the time. Everyday. We can do our part!

Liberte, Egalite et Fraternite

[htuttle]

5. Additional source

http://www.africaonline.com/site/Articles/1,3,55222.jsp

South Africa: Pretoria has "no problem" granting Aristide asylum

Staff Reporter
PRETORIA, 2 March 2004

South Africa could be the final destination of ousted Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide, but the government has yet to receive a formal request, Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad said on Monday.

PRETORIA: "I am not aware of any formal request and, therefore, we have made no formal decision," the South African news agency SAPA quoted Pahad as saying in Pretoria. "If we can help, we will help," he added. "In principle, we have no problem."

Aristide arrived in the Central African Republic (CAR) on Monday and was granted temporary asylum, state radio reported.

"It is a possibility that the former Haitian president might be headed for South Africa," Johann Erikson, CAR's honorary consul-general in South Africa told IRIN. He suggested "negotiations" might be underway with the government in Pretoria.

Pahad said any final decision would be made by cabinet after consultations with, among others, the Caribbean regional organisation, Caricom, and Aristide himself.

(more)

[TankLV]

6. OK - update critique:

Powell and bushco are caught in yet ANOTHER LIE.

Whom, oh whom do we believe?

The criminals currently occupying OUR government AGAINST the will of its own people, who are proven yet again that they have shamelessly lied?

or

The overwhelming popular (by over 90% and 70%) LEGITIMATELY ELECTED leader of a democratic country?

Who to believe. Who to believe.

BTW - with bunkerboy at just barely above 40% approval, can he still be called "popular"? - especially combined with the fact that he LOST the popular vote by the 2nd largest margin in history?

Who to believe. Who to believe.

[wjittermoss]

7. Is there nothing this administration and media won't lie about?

How shameful!!!