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2004-03-15 Africa: Subsaharan
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Haiti arms row rocks South Africa
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A row has broken out in South Africa over an attempt to send weapons to deposed Haiti president Jean-Bertrand Aristide as rebels closed in on him. President Thabo Mbeki has been accused by the leader of the opposition, Tony Leon, of violating the constitution by failing to tell parliament. Mr Leon said an air force plane had been authorised to carry the supplies. A spokesman for President Mbeki said it would investigate but denied breaking the constitution.
"Break the law? Us? Never!"
Mr Leon said that the constitution required President Mbeki to report any deployment of the South African Defence Force to parliament within seven days, but he had failed to do so. The South African constitution contains clauses designed to prevent the government using covert forces across its borders -- a practice used extensively by the previous apartheid government, which left office 10 years ago.
Why let a little thing like the law get in the way of helping a fellow black dictator leader.
Mr Leon told reporters in Johannesburg the plane had a shipment of 150 R-1 rifles, 5,000 bullets, 200 smoke grenades and 200 bullet-proof vests. "It would now appear that President Mbeki approved the employment of a South African Air Force (SAAF) Boeing 707 to carry arms and equipment for the use of the Haitian Police Force in support of then-President Jean-Bertrand Aristide," said Mr Leon. He claimed Mr Mbeki authorised the aircraftâs mission after making a personal commitment to support Mr Aristide to the Chairman of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), Jamaican Prime Minister P J Patterson.
Mbeki was one of the only world leaders to attend Aristides big party last year. He brought a SA navy ship and helicopters for protection, if I remember correctly.
Mr Leon said President Mbeki had contravened the constitution which required him to inform parliament before authorising the alleged mission. He said Mr Patterson had confirmed that the SAAF Boeing 707 that left South Africa on 29 February 2004 had landed in Jamaica the same day. The South African military plane however never reached Haiti because of the resignation and departure of Mr Aristide.
Too little, too late.
Mr Aristide has now flown out of exile in Central African Republic (CAR) to Jamaica. South Africa faces general elections next month.
This might help Mbeki in the polls, Aristide seems like a popular fellow, except in his own country. 
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Posted by Steve 2004-03-15 10:04:01 AM||
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Posted by Shipman 2004-3-15 7:57:37 PM||
2004-3-15 7:57:37 PM||
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Posted by Pappy 2004-3-15 8:52:34 PM||
2004-3-15 8:52:34 PM||
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