12851: stanley honorat re:12833 more on aristide's person (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: stanley honorat honorat <shonorat@hotmail.com>

it is interesting sometimes to read responses.  as i read #12833, several
questions and comments came to mind.  when the writer states "don't forget,
also, that aristide married into a 'good' family.  don't forget the us
government 'funded' his 'exile'..."  i have both a question and a comment
about that.  first, the funds he used were not gifts from the us government.
  they originated from frozen haitian accounts, namely that of TELECO.
also, i am trying to figure out the use of the word "good" in this context.
does it mean wealthy, intelligent, high social class, or something else?
assuming that it means wealthy, if you add their wealth to his salary and
any gifts he has received, you still would not come close to his current
fortune.
as for him not "doing anything different today [than] any other haitian
head-of-state has ever done (maybe to a lesser degree)", i would like to
mention dumarsais estime, who was president from 1946-1950, and who was, to
my knowledge, never accused of theft while in office (not to mention
accusations of drug trafficking, but that is an issue unto itself).  a
careful search of haitian history should show some other examples.
secondly, the fact that others may have done the same or worse does not
absolve him.
as for the blocking of foreign aide in recent years, note that aide has been
frozen since the elections of 2000 and that aristide has been in power
(directly or indirectly) for most of the past decade.  he has nothing to
show for that time except a sizable fortune.  also, if we agree that he
misused funds for his personal needs (even if it is to a lesser degree),
then is it not proper to withhold any more funds until a more trustworthy
leader comes along.
now for the comment of "duly-elected haitian government".  this is where the
whole crisis stems from, the fact that the elections of 200 were fraudulant
and that therefore the current government is not acceptable.
"whatever aristide has done to 'stay alive' and 'keep his country during the
21st century...".  if the country is "his" then this whole discussion is
moot and he can do as he pleases.
the reference to the duvaliers brings to light one glaring difference.  it
took them 29 years to amass their fortune but it took aristide less than
half that time to amass his.
lastly, i agree that haiti does not deserve any of this and that, hopefully,
one day, we will be able to have hope for the future.


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