Haiti Strategy

I would like to know just how much US subversion of Haiti is going on now; who to ask; and what we should do about it.
We know (I believe) this much:
—That the US Marines took the elected Pres. Aristide from the Presidential Palace at 3 am, warned him of a bloodbath of his people by the opposition if he didn’t leave with them, flew him to a destination kept secret from him (the Central African Republic) and apparently have stopped him from returning from South Africa to Haiti.
—That the US, Canada and France have pressured the UN to have their Peacekeeper forces attack and kill Aristide supporters in Cite Soleil several times since.
—That the US blocked international loans to Aristide’s government in the years before this, weakening him (and increasing the suffering of his people).
—Thant the National Endowment for Democracy (outside the US govt. and without Congressional oversight, but paid entirely with taxpayer money)supported planners of the coup.
Questions:
—Is new Pres. Rene Preval subject to similar pressures now? And prevented from opposing neoliberal economic programs?
—Is the UN policy continuing?
—Is the US motivation neoliberal empire, with “fear of the good example”?
—Should we join others in a campaign (eg, restart an ad hoc Working Group for Haiti through the LASC (Latin America Solidarity Coalition)?
—What groups in Haiti need our help; which should be consulted about these questions?
—What should be our aims, goals?
—Which groups in the US should be included (or joined) in this?
Thanks, Peter Mott

— Peter Mott

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Comment

  1. To bring the current situation in Latin America to the media is the most important. Immigration to u.s. appears to be the neocon’s campaign priority this time. It seems a perfect opportunity to kill two birds…as the saying goes. Connect the “illegal aliens” (undocumented workers, asylum seekers,etc) with contras, death squads,u.s.multi-nat’l interventions, for instance displacing thousands of farmers in Mex. for just one example. As a refugee told me in d.c. once. “tell your gov’t to get out of my country and we’ll get out of his.” We must explain to congress, progressive radio, etc. the new kids on the political block exactly why the great majority of these people are here. If we start with the present, connect the dots back it would be a start. As for Venezuela, I think he chavez will be fine, he just over-reached. People are still with him, they just had to reel him in a little. Great blog! I’d like to see the last chapter about Chicago vs. McD in greater detail and first in the list. Keep up the great work.

    — greencastle · Jan 8, 11:19 AM · #

  2. Peter asks a lot of good questions. Some are best answered by pointing to further reading, others need collective discussion. Here is my shot:

    “Is new Pres. Rene Preval subject to similar pressures now? And prevented from opposing neoliberal economic programs?” Yes. This piece, “Preval’s Prospects: Sink or Swim?” was written in March 2006, but is unfortunately still accurate today: www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/haiti/2006/0307prospects.htm

    “Is the UN policy continuing?” Yes. See “Solidaridad: Haiti, MINUSTAH and Latin America”, http://americas.irc-online.org/am/4140

    “Is the US motivation neoliberal empire, with “fear of the good example”?” Yes. See Peter Hallward’s excellent new book about the undermining of Haiti’s progressive Lavalas movement and the 2004 coup d’etat, “Damming the Flood”.

    “Should we join others in a campaign (eg, restart an ad hoc Working Group for Haiti through the LASC (Latin America Solidarity Coalition)?”

    I think so. In the meantime, I would encourage everyone wanting to make a difference in Haiti to sign up for the Half-Hour for Haiti action alert program, http://www.ijdh.org/articles/article_halfhourforhaiti.htm

    “What groups in Haiti need our help; which should be consulted about these questions?” I would consult any group that does not receive U.S., Canadian or French funding. Right now Haiti’s grassroots movement is in a rebuilding stage, recovering from the repression of the coup. But several groups labor, political, grassroots, women’s and other groups are trying to reach allies in North America.

    “What should be our aims, goals?” A broad aim would be supporting grassroots democracy in Haiti. As for more detailed goals and priorities, I think that requires discussion among those interested in the broad goal, in consultation with groups in Haiti.

    “Which groups in the US should be included (or joined) in this?” There are lots of groups already doing good Haiti work in the US, including the Quixote Center, Haiti Action Committee, TransAfrica Forum, and the Jubilee USA Network. It would be nice to connect Haiti-specific groups with other groups that may not be prioritizing Haiti, but are working against unjust US policies elsewhere in the hemisphere.

    — Brian Concannon · Jan 18, 06:59 PM · #

  3. I would strongly second Brian Concannon’s recommendation of Peter Hallward’s “Damming the Flood: Haiti, Aristide, and the Politics of Containment,” Verso, 2007, 442 pages. Hallward’s very informed analysis cuts through the disinformation that surrounds Aristide, Lavalas, and the 2004 U.S. abduction of Haiti’s democratically elected president.

    — ed kinane · Feb 3, 08:51 PM · #

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