Article

2003-09-20 Latin America

Astonishing Revelation: Haiti Still Sucks - And Itâs Americaâs Fault

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Posted by Super Hose 2003-09-20 10:20:40 AM|| E-Mail|| Front Page|| [11127 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Wasn't this another of the Clinton/Carter fiascos?

Posted by Douglas De Bono 2003-9-20 2:10:22 PM|| [http://www.douglasdebono.com] 2003-9-20 2:10:22 PM|| Front Page Top

#2 Let's see, 1991 and add three years, so 1994. Yeah, it was another of theirs Bono.

Posted by Charles 2003-9-20 2:28:41 PM|| 2003-9-20 2:28:41 PM|| Front Page Top

#3 On July 3, 1983 Aristide returned home for his ordination by Haitian Bishop Willy RomÃ©lus. He was appointed curate of St. Joseph's church, a poor parish on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince. As a parish priest, Aristide shared in the lives and struggles of his parishioners and quickly became their spokesperson.

[snip...]

In the fall of 1990 Haiti prepared for presidential elections that many feared would end in violence as they did in 1987 when voters were massacred at the voting poles. On the final day of registration Aristide announced his candidacy for the presidency. The announcement electrified the country and after a six week campaign that Aristide dubbed "Lavalas" or a cleansing flood, he was elected president in Haiti's first free and fair election with an overwhelming 67% of the vote. On the eve of his inauguration violence struck again as arsonists set fire to La Fanmi Selavi, killing four children.

During Aristide's seven months in office his government pursued a program of change based of the principles of participation, transparence and justice.

[snip...]

All of this ended on September 30, 1991, when the Haitian military violently overthrew the democratic government. Aristide was forced into exile, and the military unleashed an unprecedented campaign of terror and violence taking the lives of more than 5000 Haitian over the next three years, hundreds of thousands were forced into hiding, and tens of thousands more fled their homeland by boat. The coup targeted peasant organizations, members of the ti legliz, journalists, students, political activists, and neighborhoods that were strongholds of support for Aristide. Despite this repression the majority of Haitians continued to support Aristide and to nonviolently resist the military regime.

President Aristide first went to Venezuela and then spent two and half years of exile in Washington DC. Throughout his 1,111 days in exile he was recognized internationally as the legitimate President of Haiti. President Aristide worked nonstop, pursuing numerous diplomatic initiatives aimed at resolving the crisis and challenging the international community to work with the Haitian people to restore democracy to Haiti. Traveling throughout Europe, Latin America, Africa, and the United States speaking against the violence and repression that reigned in Haiti he urged international support for Haiti's cause and maintained close contact with the large Haitian diaspora.

On October 15, 1994, President Aristide triumphantly returned to Haiti where he completed the last sixteen months of his presidential term. He returned to a country traumatized by the violence of the coup period and economically devastated. His commitment to justice, and his calls for peaceful rebuilding of the nation enabled the country to regain political stability and take the first steps towards economic recovery. His most significant act as President was to dismantle the Haitian military. His government created Haiti's first civilian police force. With the support of the United Nations legislative elections were held and in February 1996 Haiti witnessed its first peaceful transition from one democratically elected president to the next.

After completing his five year term as President, Aristide founded the Aristide Foundation for Democracy. Under Aristide's leadership the Foundation is dedicated to deepening the roots of Haiti's democracy by opening avenues of participation to all Haitians. The foundation has three major program areas: sponsoring forums and public dialogues on issues such as justice, land reform, and the economic future of the nation; supporting literacy programs in Haiti; and fostering community-based economic initiatives.

President Aristide has been honored and recognized worldwide for his commitment to nonviolence, peace and justice. A partial list of awards he has received includes the Oscar Romero Award, the Martin Luther King International Statesman and Ecumenical Award, and the Aix-la-Chappelle Peace Prize.

[snip...]
-from his official biography (http://www.haiti.org/aristide-bio.htm)

Funny, no mention of the US (other than as a place where he spent some time in exile) -- not one -- it's the UN that gets all of the credit for the good times they knew under the magnificent Aristide.

Lessee, it seems that when the US does the heavy lifting and foots the bill, the UN is due the credit. When the tap runs dry (perpetual aid is not aid, it's addiction) the blame is placed on the US. Yep. Sounds like the usual song.

Re: Aristide, it seems he has fallen from grace.

Posted by .com 2003-9-20 2:38:35 PM|| 2003-9-20 2:38:35 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 Mad that the Democratic "free lunch" is over?

Sad face guy, there's always Jim Jones Juice(TM).

Posted by Paul 2003-9-20 5:26:14 PM|| 2003-9-20 5:26:14 PM|| Front Page Top

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