18754: JSenechal: THE U.S WAR AGAINST HAITI

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: JSenechal@aol.com
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  The year 2004 marks 200 years of Haitian independence.  In 1791, 400,000
Africans enlaved in  Haiti rose up against French colonial rule.
Jean-Jacques
Dessalines declared Haiti a free nation in 1804, culminating the world's
only
successful revolution of enslaved people.  From the beginning, Haiti found
itself isolated and besieged.  The United States led a worldwide boycott
against Haiti and refused to recognize the new nation  until 1864, fearing
that
its freedom would pose a danger to the U.S. system of slavery.  In 1825,
the
Haitian people were forced to assume a debt to France of 90 million gold
francs
(equivalent to $21.7 billion today) as "reparations " to their former
"owners
," in return for diplomatic recognition and trade.  To make the first
payment,
Haiti closed all its publics schools in what has been called the
hemisphere's
first case of structural adjustment.

Not much has changed.  Today, as Haitians attempt to create an alternative
to
debt, dependence and indignity of foreign domination, the attacks
continue.
Since the election of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in 2000, the United
States has moved to sabotage Haiti's fledgling democracy through an
economic
aid embargo, massive funding of elite opposition groups, support for
paramilitary coup attempts, and a propaganda offensive against the
Aristide
government.  While the Bush Administration imposes its rule over Iraq,
attempts
to topple the elected government of Venezuela, ignites yet another
anti-Castro
campaign against Cuba, and undermines civil liberties here at home, the
U.S.
led assault on Haiti has gone largely unnoticed.  Hidden from the
headlines for
years, this campaign has now become an open effort to destroy a
progressive,
popularly elected government.

Economic Embargo: Targeting the Haitian People. Since 2000, the Bush
Administration has effectively blocked more than $500 million in
international
loans and aid to Haiti....  The current  U.S. destabilization campaign
continues a centuries-long assault on the world's first Black Republic.
As the
people of Haiti prepare to commemorate the bicentennial of their
independence,
they deserve solidarity and support, not harassment.

Let Haiti Live.