13938: Simidor: A plea to President Aristide (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: karioka9@arczip.com

I called on this forum last week for President Aristide to resign, in order to spare Haiti
an unnecessary blood bath.  This past Thursday (Thanksgiving), he gave his answer
to the nation and to the world: he will not leave.  Today, I call again on the president
to resign -- the sooner, the better -- this time not only to avoid a blood bath, but also
to spare the country the evil of another US occupation.  If Mr. Aristide, or his wife, or
some "significant other," happens to be lurking on this list, I beg him, I beg them, to
please consider the following:

1.  An early resignation will allow you to retain your dignity and your possessions, and
will spare much agony to the country.  This is the lesson from Lascahobas and from
Gonaives this week.  Some of your squad leaders are no doubt pressuring you not to
abandon them.  Still, this is probably their best chance of coming out alive.  An early
and organized retreat will provide enough time to the most exposed to find their way
to the border, or to use the privilege of their "green card," for those who have one, to
return to the US or to Canada.

2.  You were once fond of saying: "I'd rather lose with the people than win without
them."  Your chance to win with the people is now past.  Too many mistakes, too little
time; too much corruption and waste!  And now the writing is on the wall.  Now is the
time to accept an honorable defeat and to beg the people for forgiveness.  For, you
cannot sanely consider winning without them -- with just a few hundred chimères and
a weak stronghold in La Saline and Cité Soleil.

3.  History will not forget, nor will the people ever forgive you, if you should cause the
United States to invade Haiti, not once, but twice, during your presidency.  If you stay
on too long, if you allow the situation to deteriorate into a bloody civil confrontation,
you will give George Bush the excuse he needs for a US/OAS/Dominican
intervention.  Bush and his war party in Washington cannot wait to declare Haiti a
"failed state," so that imperialism can have the last laugh, 200 years after Haiti's
independence.  Save Dessalines, save Capois-la-Mort, save your own children this
ultimate humiliation.

4.  And what do you think will happen to you if the US should invade again?  Do you
think they will rent Tabarre from you, like they rented Cedras' mansion eight years
ago?  Do you think that the American mercenaries who now protect you will also
keep you safe from their country's forces?  Do you think Washington will send a
courtesy plane for your last minute exit, as they did for Baby Doc in 1986?  Or is it
more likely that they will kill you, because your death will put all the chimères
instantly on the run?  And if they do not kill you, do you not fear that they will indict
you for running drugs, as they did with Noriega a decade ago?

5.  It is not true, Mr. President, that there is no alternative, or that there will be a
power vacuum if you were to leave "too" early.  A transitional and representative
government, one that includes a representation from your own party, can be formed
very easily and without trauma.  Bush and his war party don't want a bloodless
outcome to this crisis, because it would deprive them of the pretext they need for
another July 28, 1915.  The clock is ticking, but you can still take the higher road.

Sincerely,
Daniel Simidor
Brooklyn
2 December 2002