18127: (Hermantin)Sun-Sentinel-Fault lies only with Aristide (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>

Fault lies only with Aristide

By Gregory François
Posted January 26 2004


I read Tomas Monnay's Jan. 4 column with great interest. Although I agree
with several of his points, I think he has not fairly portrayed some of the
key elements of Haiti's current political situation. He pointed out --
correctly -- that most of the same political and socio-economic conditions
that led to his departure remain the same today: injustice, rampant crime,
hunger, high level of unemployment, lack of infrastructure, persecutions
against journalists and political activists, and so on.

But who is responsible for this today?

He seems to minimize Jean-Bertrand Aristide's responsibility in bringing our
nation to its worst condition ever. On the other hand, he points the finger
at the political opposition for its refusal to participate in any political
compromise with Aristide, thereby "making it virtually impossible for
anything good to occur."

It is important to point out that the economic sanctions referred to were
not a consequence of "political infighting, coupled with lack of intolerance
among political foes." Instead, they were a direct consequence of Aristide's
refusal to address the electoral fraud accusations made by the Organization
of American States and the United States concerning the legislative
elections of 2000.

I ask: Who has been in power since the mid-'90s? Who has been accused of
egregious human rights violations and widespread corruption? Who has broken
the promises made to the Haitian people concerning improvement of their
social and economic conditions? Who has repeatedly failed to live up to
engagements made to the international community represented by the OAS? Who
has set up a network of armed gangs to crack down on anti-government
protests and kill political activists?

The answer to all these questions: Jean-Bertrand Arisitide and his Lavalas
Party.

The opposition is right to demand his resignation, because his government is
not working in the interest of the Haitian people. In normal conditions, an
impeachment process would have been initiated by the parliament. But what
can one expect from a legislative body devoted to Aristide? Parliament, the
police, city councils, even the court system have all become auxiliaries of
Lavalas.

What electoral campaigns can take place when opposition groups are not even
allowed to demonstrate peacefully and are routinely attacked by
rock-throwing, gun-shooting thugs loyal to Arisitide, or beaten up and
gassed by the police, which has been turned into a private militia?

How can one put the blame on the political opposition that is the only force
left to defend the rights of the Haitian people?

And how can we not blame the United States, which, after re-installing
Aristide in 1994 as a champion of democracy, has turned away from the
numerous blatant human rights violations, widespread corruption and the
politicization of the new U.S.-trained police force?

How can we not blame the OAS, which -- after having denounced the electoral
fraud of May 2000, and witnessing countless attacks on civil liberties -- is
still trying to impose its view that Aristide should finish his term, and
that the opposition must negotiate with him, their bully?

How many Haitians must continue to risk their lives trying to flee their
country? How many citizens must continue to be persecuted? How many crimes
by government officials must go unpunished?

It is true that many Haitian leaders need to repent because they have failed
to put into place the democratic institutions that were needed at the end of
the Duvalier era. I forgive them because many of them have recognized their
mistakes and seem to be working to fix them. But I cannot forgive Aristide,
who carried the hopes of an entire generation, but has revealed himself to
be an impostor. The challenge now is to put down the structures that will
prevent such a tragedy from happening again.



Gregory François resides in Haiti

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