Sentmierstonia
01-03-2006, 02:44
With the war in Iraq, the rebuilding of the gulf coast, Iran’s nuclear program, and the UAE port dispute, I have heard nothing about Haiti in the news. As usual problems do not disappear when new unrelated ones pop up. I was just wondering if anyone could tell me what is going on in Haiti, and even more explain the struggle in that country.
Neu Leonstein
03-03-2006, 00:54
Sorry it took me three days to answer - but you know the whole jolt-stuff up...
It's a long story (always is).
But I'll try and make it short.
1) Haiti is populated by rich French people owning slaves.
2) French revolution goes into unexpected directions when the slaves say they are too humans as mentioned in the declaration of human rights in France, and they revolt. They end up an independent republic, in which everyone is considered of the same race.
3) Some good times, some bad times follow. Until American banks visit President Wilson in 1911 and want their money back, which Haiti had borrowed from them. So Mr. Wilson invades and occupies the place.
4) America sets up a country more in line with its own racial policies. White or sorta-White people at the top, lots of poor Africans at the bottom. The US leaves in 1934, but keeps control of Haiti's finances for a little longer.
5) One coup follows another, lots of oppression every time. People get poorer. 'Papa Doc' Duvelier rules for many years in a nasty way, and when he dies in '71, his son takes over. US gets involved again, trying to get some democracy happening, but fails. Another revolution in '86.
6) The first real election takes place in '90, and a Catholic Priest with the name Aristide wins. He implemented populist policies to help the masses, and was therefore rather unpopular with the established elite. He is thrown out of government in a coup in '91, and Cedras (a military leader) kills plenty of people. Many flee to the US as well.
7) The UN steps up, and the US enforces. Cedras wisely steps down with paratroopers already in their planes. Aristide's good mate gets the presidency in '96, but he and Aristide fall out and the country ends up in deadlock. In the 2000 elections, there is lots of fraud, and Preval gets re-elected. The opposition boycotted the vote.
8) So there were new elections in November of 2000 (thanks to international pressure), and this time Aristide wins, with the opposition boycotting. The UN Peacekeepers who had been there since Cedras left leave as well.
9) There is still deadlock there, and Aristide promises new elections. The opposition doesn't think that's quite enough though, and calls for his head. Eventually, they start a revolt, and capture a number of cities. International mediators suggest a plan to take some of Aristide's power away, but to leave him in office until his term ends. The opposition is not impressed.
10) Aristide disappears to Africa when the rebels march on the capital. He says the Americans kidnapped him, the Americans say he resigned. So the democratically elected leader was thrown out of office - many are angry because they suspect a foreign-sponsored coup, but the Americans say that Aristide wasn't acting in the best interest of the country.
11) New elections were scheduled this month, and peacekeepers remain. And it looks like Preval is back...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4685312.stm
http://212.58.226.50/2/hi/americas/4699470.stm
To be continued...