Aristide calls for Lovinsky's release

Aristide Speech Targets Supporters

By JONATHAN M. KATZ

21 December 2007

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Ousted Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide denounced Haiti's most recent elections as "treason" and called for the release of a missing political ally in a radio speech broadcast Friday.

It is the fourth straight year that Aristide — exiled in South Africa — has recorded a New Year's address to mark Haiti's Independence Day on Jan. 1. The exiled leader, who was toppled in a 2004 uprising, did not say directly if he will attempt a return to Haiti.

 Aristide previously has said he wants to return to Haiti but that the timing depends on President Rene Preval, his former prime minister and political protege.

 "We are waiting to meet again, face to face on Haitian soil," Aristide said Friday in Haitian Creole.

 He described his removal from power as a kidnapping, and he condemned the 2006 presidential elections won by Preval.

"The last blow against the people, when the knife of treason was planted in their back, was the 'selection' of 2006," Aristide said.

Aristide opened his speech with a mention of Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine, a Lavalas activist last seen leaving his Port-au-Prince home before midnight on Aug. 12.

Few details about the suspected kidnapping have emerged, prompting U.N. peacekeepers and human rights group Amnesty International to call for a more aggressive investigation.

Associated Press writer Evens Sanon contributed to this report.

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