18956: Raber: Re: 18938: (Chamberlain) U.S.-led mission seeks end to Haiti bloodshed (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: P&M Raber <raber@valkyrie.net>

This entire deal about Aristide accepting whatever international mediators
are telling him to do is Deja Vu all over again.  In the past he has always
accepted everything foreign countries/diplomatic organizations said but
somehow never implemented what he agreed to.  This time it will be even more
difficult for him to implement change as he is losing whatever control he
had by the hour.   All previous post-Duvalier governments did the same
thing: they would always agree with whatever foreign governments would say
but would not execute any changes.  Anyone who has lived in Haiti knows this
"Oui, Oui" syndrome.  Students will pretend to understand a lesson,
bystanders will give you bad directions to a place you are looking for,
people in power will pretend to agree with you to buy time or to please in
an attempt to look good.

One must wonder why Aristide wants to hold on to power.  It is obviously not
for the good of the country since more and more blood is beign shed and
people are poorer than ever.  His behavior reminds me of an unfit mother who
keeps getting custody of her repeatedly abused children from social services
just because she gave birth to them.   What is the best interest of Haiti in
this?  Sounds like foreign countries are not wanting to get in bed with
Aristide by coming in to help him retain power.  Also sounds that he is not
wanting to resign on groound that he was elected.   I am sure that if his
departure was planned in advance, foreign  countries/UN  would be more
willing to come in an prevent the rebels from gaining control unitl proper
elections could be held..

He did say last week that he is willing to die for Haiti.  There is the
scary thought that he actually WANTS to die for his country.  Under Preval,
the rumor in Haiti was that Arsistide did not wish for foreign aid to be
unblocked as HE wanted to be the messiah who would start social change and
rebuild Haiti under his second term.   He was not able to rebuild Haiti.
Maybe this will lead to the ultimate fantasy that he will redeem the country
by dying for it?   Maybe he is just selfish and only wants power and
control?  Ever heard of the disgruntled spouse in a custody battle who kills
children (and at times self ) so the other party won't get them? Of course
unless he plans to die at his own hand (very doubtful), Aristide dying in an
armed revolution will be the absolute worse thing that can happen to Haiti.
At this time he is the bargaining chip that can be used to negotiate with
all opposition groups (184, civil societey, students, armed rebels).  By the
interviews I see on the news, he appears to be satisfied that the
international spotlight is currently on him.

I hope the international community steps up to the plate on this one (but
keeps the likes of Maxine Waters out of it).

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Corbett" <corbetre@webster.edu>
To: "Haiti mailing list" <haiti@lists.webster.edu>
Sent: Saturday, February 21, 2004 2:32 PM
Subject: 18938: (Chamberlain) U.S.-led mission seeks end to Haiti bloodshed
(fwd)


>
> From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>
>
>      By Michael Christie
>
>     PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, Feb 21 (Reuters) - International mediators led
> by the United States began urgent efforts on Saturday to broker an end to
> political turmoil in Haiti that erupted two weeks ago into an armed revolt
> in the poor Caribbean country.
>      U.S., Canadian, French and regional officials flew into the tense
> capital, Port-au-Prince, to persuade President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to
> agree to set up a new government acceptable to the opposition and disarm
> government gangs.
>      There appeared to be little optimism for a quick resolution from the
> discussions.
>      "I don't think it's realistic to talk about optimism, there's  hope,
> that's all," said a western diplomat of the prospects for Saturday's
talks.
>      Aristide, a former parish priest once regarded as a champion of
> democracy in the Americas' poorest country, has been in a deadlock with
> political opponents since flawed parliamentary elections four years ago.
>      The president's critics accuse him of becoming a dictator and using
> political violence to suppress dissent. Aristide made it clear this week
he
> has no intention of leaving, saying he was "willing to die if that is what
> it takes to defend the country."
>      Months of street protests, frequently attacked by armed Aristide
> loyalists, erupted into full revolt on Feb. 5 when an armed gang that once
> supported Aristide kicked police out of the city of Gonaives.
>      The rebellion spread through the northwest and center, killing more
> than 50 people, including over 20 police.
>      On Friday, government street toughs armed with guns, rocks and
> machetes attacked an opposition student march, injuring at least 17
people,
> as foreigners heeded their governments' advice and fled the country.
>      Saturday's talks focused on brokering a deal between Aristide and the
> political opposition -- business leaders, politicians and civil activists
> whom Aristide dismisses as a wealthy mulatto elite virulently opposed to
> Haiti being run by its poor, black majority.
>      But the armed rebels, who have been joined by former soldiers from
the
> disbanded army and a leader of a death squad that terrorized the country
> during a military dictatorship in the early 1990s, said they might accept
> such a deal if it meets their demands for Aristide to resign.
>      The political opposition has also steadfastly clung to a demand that
> the president step down, a stance that has hampered past negotiations and
> placed a major obstacle in the way of Saturday's talks.
>      The U.S. delegation was led by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for
> Western Hemisphere Affairs Roger Noriega, the Canadians by the minister
> responsible for Francophonie, or French-speaking countries, and the French
> -- Haiti's colonial masters 200 years ago -- by their ambassador in
> Port-au-Prince.
>      It included delegates from the Organization of American States and
the
> 15-member Caribbean Community, or Caricom, and planned to meet first with
> Aristide and then with the opposition.
>      "We want to make sure that we bring back democracy, respect the
rights
> and freedoms of the people of Haiti," Canadian minister Denis Coderre told
> reporters at the airport, adding that the delegation was there to respect
> the constitution, not ask for Aristide's head.
>      Noriega did not speak to reporters and was whisked away from the
> airport under intense security.
>      The peace proposal is based on a plan already presented to Aristide
by
> Caricom, and involves setting up a broadly acceptable government advisory
> body, selecting a new, neutral prime minister and cabinet, disarming gangs
> and reforming the corrupt and poorly trained police.
>      Aristide had previously accepted the proposals although Washington
has
> accused him of not living up to his promises. The political opposition has
> hitherto rejected them out of hand because they do not involve Aristide
> stepping down.
>      Aristide first took office in 1991 but was ousted in a coup months
> later. He was restored to power by a U.S. invasion in 1994, and re-elected
> to a second term in 2000, but those elections were boycotted by the
> opposition.
>
>
>