Those institutions so important to a true democracy: A functioning judiciary. a civilian police. and a military under civilian control. simply did not exist. Without these institutions to support its democraticallyelected government. the hope of a democratic Haiti flickered out with the military coup on September 30.1991. As a result of the coup. followed by the OAS embargo. many Haitians gave up hope of a better future. and more than 16.000 set sail for Florida. Those with a credible claim to refugee statusover 6.000 to datehave been brought to the United States to pursue that claim. The majority. those who left for economic reasons. have been returned. I fully support the administrations repatriation policy.