As Haiti approaches its first major celebration of its 1804 bicentennial, the anniversary of the May 18, 1803 creation of the Haitian flag, President Jean-Bertrand Aristide called on the Haitian opposition to join in a political "truce in the name of the flag, under the flag, to facilitate the political unblocking which will facilitate the economic unblocking" of the country.

Aristide made the call in a rally on May 1 - International Workers Day - during the inauguration of newly constructed housing units in the Port-au-Prince slum of La Saline, where he once preached liberation theology as a Salesian priest at St. Jean Bosco church.

"Before we reach May 18th, I ask all my brothers and sisters in the opposition, especially in the Democratic Convergence, to look at the misery of La Saline, of Cité Soleil, of Raboteau, of Solino," Aristide said, referring to Haiti's poorest shantytowns. "In the name of our brothers and sisters who want to fight this misery, I ask for them for a truce... Listen to the cry of Haiti's poor." The Democratic Convergence is a Washington-supported front of 14 tiny right-wing and social democratic parties.

Aristide's call came after a special meeting of the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) on Apr. 30 heaped equal measures of blame on the Haitian government and the opposition for Haiti's three-year political deadlock, which ironically was instigated by OAS meddling in Haiti's May 2000 legislative elections. The Convergence was sorely disappointed by the even-handedness of the OAS, which usually follows Washington's lead of aiming its reproach at the government and Aristide's Fanmi Lavalas party (FL).

As in the past, the Convergence spurned Aristide's appeal. "One should not bestow any importance to this new call of Jean-Bertrand Aristide," responded Paul Denis of the Struggling People's Organization (OPL), a Convergence component. "He does this every time he feels trapped. He is merely throwing powder in people's eyes to continue his dilatory political tactics."

Another Convergence leader, Evans Paul, denied Aristide's assertions that negotiations between the government and opposition have already been initiated to arrive at a political accord before May 18. "I do not speak in the name of the entire opposition," Paul said, "but, personally, I am not aware of this question." He then added: "I have not consulted my colleagues of the Convergence on an idea that seems logical to me. For there to be peace so we can celebrate the flag, there would have to be a discussion so neither the Lavalas nor the opposition would be in power ." A rumor has circulated this week that Aristide has offered the opposition to name the Prime Minister, a post now occupied by former FL senator and spokesman Yvon Neptune.

The OPL's secretary general Gérard Pierre-Charles was more hardline in his remarks, saying that no political accord was possible until the government puts an end to impunity, liberates those he called "political prisoners," and stops searches of opposition partisans (despite simultaneous calls for a crackdown on unlicensed arms). "If the government sends such signals, we will follow that lead and find a consensus to put an end to the crisis," Pierre-Charles said.

In his May 1 speech, Aristide renewed his call for France to "restitute" the indemnity of 150 million gold francs which Haiti paid the former colonial power after winning its independence in 1804. The Haitian government calculates that France owes it about $21.7 billion. The French Foreign Minister has scoffed at the request, accusing the Haitian government of "poor administration."

Aristide thanked the "peaceful mobilization with dignity by Haitians everywhere aimed at making the $21 billion return to the country." He offered his "thanks in advance" to the law firm "already hired and paid" to work on legal avenues to demand the restitution and reparations.