19865: Esser: Poor Haiti...poor Aristide...poor all of us (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. Esser torx@joimail.com

The Jamaica Observer
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com
Columns

Poor Haiti...poor Aristide...poor all of us [excerpt]

Barbara Gloudon
Friday, March 05, 2004

Barbara Gloudon

IF THERE IS ANYBODY LEFT on the face of this planet who has not got
the message that when America dumps you, you're truly dumped, then
speak up now or forever sink into the silence of naiveté and deepest
ignorance. To listen to some of the duplicitous denials about how
Aristide suddenly left home, you'd think he got up and decided to go
on vacation, opting to flying for 20 hours to one of the least-known,
least-respected countries of the world. Maybe he is right. It is only
a "kidnapping" which could have got anybody there.

Already, according to media reports, his hosts are jumpy about the
implications of his stay among them, especially as he has been
telling whoever will listen that the US did a number on him. (So,
what's new, bro?) Even his definition of "kidnap" as against the US
dictionary understanding ("against one's will, held for ransom")
shows how much has been lost in translation. Maybe it's the creole.

Our Caricom leaders have been quite rightly outraged but they, and we
know, they can't do a damn thing about it. The Marines are in place
(yet again). When the US repelled the Haitian refugees from reaching
their shores, in direct contravention of the international treaties
on refugees, who dared to say "Feh" 'bout it? That's how the cookie
crumbles, guys.

Now that Aristide has been dumped in some African backwater, who is
going to point finger in Washington's face and tell dem dat, dem
outta order? The obvious lesson to other upstarts who rely on aid to
survive, is that they'd better get with the programme. (And while
you're at it, watch the space marked "Venezuela". It might not be
labelled "aid", but check the box for "oil".)

Back home, while it is good political sport to mock the Caricom
leaders and dare them to go to war, some of the very people
snickering for Caricom to launch an army and go tramp on Washington's
toes, know when and where to say it.
(Man don't mess wid visa just so.) We in Jamaica should be aware more
than anybody else. For those who don't know or may have forgotten, go
read the Battle of the Seventies and ponder on what happens when you
forget that han' inna lion mout. Might I remind you that if you have
use for your fingers, the prudent thing is to tek time draw it out.
It is, however, a sad day for one and all, not just us, as the whole
world stands paralysed in the face of an ugly new reality.Right
doesn't always go with Might.

The US presidential campaign is now fully under way. The Haiti story
is quickly being pushed out of the headlines. So, all that's left to
ask now is, where exactly is the Central Republic of Africa?

GET OUT YOUR MAPS, children. Locate Africa. The Central African
Republic is bordered by Cameroon, Chad, the Democratic Republic of
the Congo and the Sudan. It is the former French colony of
Ubangi-Shari (once ruled by the Emperor Bokassa) which gained
independence in 1960 and was under military rule for three decades.
In 1993, civilian rule was established but by last March 2003, the
military returned after a coup. (Somebody might have found it amusing
that the size of the country has been defined as "slightly smaller
than Texas"). Its 3.6 million people are ravaged by HIV/AIDS. Its
economy is limping.

The legal system is based on French law. It has an ambassador to
Washington and in return there is US diplomatic representation in the
capital, Bangui. A review of its economy states: "Distribution of
income is extraordinarily unequal. Grants from France and the
international community only partially meet humanitarian needs."

Someone obviously thought that Aristide would feel right at home
there. French is still spoken there along with a patois called
Sangho. I wonder what words they have for the tangled web of
geopolitical sleight of hand which is being played out?

By the way, weren't the French and the Americans at odds over Iraq? I
guess Haiti has provided cause for them to patch up their differences
and even persuade normally non-interfering Canada to go along for the
ride. What is dis!
.