The African Christian Democratic Party has called on President Thabo Mbeki to respond to claims he is breaking international law by allowing deposed Haitian leader Jean-Bertrand Aristide to incite violence, from South Africa, among his followers in his homeland.
”These are serious charges that warrant an immediate response, and we call on the South African president to clear his name,” ACDP leader Kenneth Meshoe said in a statement on Monday.
Aristide has been in exile in South Africa since May 31 this year. He and his family are living, at taxpayers’ expense, in Pretoria.
According to media reports earlier on Monday, Haitian Prime Minister Gerard Latortue has accused Mbeki of allowing Aristide to incite violence from South Africa.
At least 50 people have died in Haiti in recent weeks in violence blamed on Aristide supporters.
The BBC quoted Latortue as saying ”no respectable president would allow a person in his territory to organise violence in another … Mr Mbeki is not respecting international law.”
Meshoe said the ACDP is shocked at the South African government’s silence over the matter.
”Our government has always said that it will not allow South Africa to be used as a springboard for destabilising other countries.
”Why is … [it] so quiet when there are such serious allegations emerging against a former head of state?” he said.
The president’s office declined to comment and referred the South African Press Association to the Department of Foreign Affairs, which was expected to issue a statement later on Monday.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance has added its voice to the call for Mbeki to respond to Latortue’s allegations.
DA leader Tony Leon said in a statement on Monday that the charge of not respecting international law is serious and needs immediate investigation.
”The president must provide a full account of Mr Aristide’s activities since his arrival in South Africa. If he can show that there is no substance to Mr Latortue’s allegations, then our government should respond to what would amount to a slur against the president.
”If, however, there is evidence that Mr Aristide … is indeed inciting violence in Haiti, then the government must revoke Mr Aristide’s guest status, and President Mbeki should apologise to the United Nations and to its peacekeeping forces,” Leon said. — Sapa