20214: Lewis: CARICOM Perspective on Haiti Crisis - Rickey Singh (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: David E. Lewis <DavidLewis@manchestertrade.com>

The intrigues in Haiti's crisis
by Rickey Singh
http://www.trinidadexpress.net - Wednesday, March 10th 2004

AS HAITIANS continue to die in armed conflicts in post-Aristide Haiti,Â
that was still without a legitimate government up to yesterday,
following the removal from power of the Haitian President on February
29, the George Bush administration is trying hard to clothe itself in
questionable legal garb over its military involvement, along with
France, while flattering Caricom in order to deceive international
opinion.

It says, controversially, for instance, that "principles" of Caricom's
'Action Plan' on the governance crisis "continue to guide efforts for
form a new government" in Port-au-Prince.

This intriguing claim has already been challenged by Caricom which had
as a fundamental aspect of its 'Action Plan' that Aristide complete his
presidential term that expires in February 2006, with reduced powers.Â
But Aristide was forced out of office. So whose 'Action Plan' is really
being implemented?

It would be some time yet before we get through the fog of political
somersaults and the deceit spun by the USA and France in relation to
Caricom's Action Plan and Aristide's "resignation" that was quickly
followed, within 24 hours, by American, French and Canadian troops on
Haitian soil.

Already, however, comparisons are being made between what happened in
Haiti on February 29, 2004---when a hastily-installed Chief Justice asÂ
interim President hurriedly "requested" a foreign military presence,
and what had occurred in little Grenada on October 25, 1983Â when a
United States military invasion was reportedly "invited" by the then
Governor General---after a "revolution" devoured itself.

Let it be said at the outset, that what follows is neither a
rationalisation for the crimes of the Aristide presidency, including
political assassinations throttling of media freedom and poor
governance; nor the crimes, including mind-boggling executions,
carried out in a short-lived coup by a so-called "Revolutionary Military
Council" in Grenada

But there would have been a convergence of interests by both the USA and
France that have nothing to do with the endless official chatter about
"democracy and the rule of law".

Those now cynically dismissing as "too late" Caricom's collective
decision to request UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to carry out an
independent investigation into the circumstances of Aristide's dramatic
loss of power on February 29, Â should know that such an initiative
simply could not have been exercised before his claim of having been the
victim of a coup involving France and America.

They also need to refresh their memories about the Caricom intensive
efforts over a two-month period, following earlier initiatives, inÂ
co-operation with the Organisation of American States, to promote a
compromise plan of action involving Aristide and his Lavalas Party,
opposition parties and civil society representatives.

When that plan was eventually hammered out, and with representatives of
the USA, France, Canada, European Union and the Organisation of
American States in attendance at strategic meetings, it was officially
endorsed at a meeting in Washington on February 13, presided over by
Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Principles of the Caricom-initiated "action plan" were predicated on
Aristide remaining in office until the expiry of his presidential term
in 2006, but with reduced powers; appointment of a new Prime Minister
acceptable to the opposition; help from the international community for
new electoral arrangements and the reorganisation of the Police ForceÂ
and with a UN-sanctioned multi-national force helping to keep the peace.

It was no less a voice than that of the US Secretary of State that made
it clear following the February 13 Washington meeting involving
representatives from Caricom, France, Canada and the OAS, that there
would be no question of "regime change" in Port-au-Prince since
Aristide, for all his faults, was the elected President of Haiti.

However, political subterfuge resulted in things quickly falling apart.
The anti-opposition forces in Haiti, by then unofficially embracing
criminals and armed rebels on the anti-Aristide warpath, rejected the
Caricom Action Plan.

They became more vociferous for Aristide's resignation when France,
through its Foreign Minister, openly suggested that the Haitian
President should seriously reconsider remaining in office.

Not a word of rubuke from France or the USA for the intransigent
opposition whose only common goal was ousting Aristide from power that
they have never been able to achieve from the electorate.

By then the USA was no longer singing either from the same hymn sheetÂ
on the Caricom Action Plan, and Canada was to fall in line while
avoiding any public rhetoric.

Up to Thursday, February 26, when Caricom anxiously waited for the
expected UN Security Council decision on a multi-national peace
keeping-force, a key component of its Action Plan, the foot-dragging
process continued, while the USA and France vacillated in the face of
spiralling political violence, killings and mayhem in Haiti.

Then, on the afternoon of Sunday, February 29, and hours after Aristide
was flown into exile, the UN Security Council hurriedly approved, at an
emergency session, a resolution authorising military intervention in
Haiti. Guess who were ready and waiting? USA, France and Canada.

The Haitian Chief Justice, Boniface Alexandre, who reportedly signed the
letter as interim President to request the multi-national military
force, was still not lawfully functioning in that capacity.His
endorsement as interim Head of State must come from the Haitian
parliament. But no such parliament is in place. Â

Incidentally, amid all the talk, in and out of the Caribbean region,
about help for crisis-ridden Haiti, it is Castro's Cuba that has had in
Haiti, for the past three years, more than 500 (five hundred) doctors
and nurses spread across the country, providing desperately needed
medical attention.

Also in Haiti are Cuban technical experts in various fields, including
agriculture, engineering and education, with the latter focused on
promoting literacy.

A question of immediate relevance is whether America under Bush, would
want in Haiti what America under Reagan had forced in Grenada-getting
rid of all Cubans-doctors, nurses, construction workers, or else. In the
meanwhile, we await on the emergence of Caricom's case for UN probe into
the circumstances of Aristide being out of power.



--
Dr. David E. Lewis
Vice President
Manchester Trade Ltd.
International Business Advisors
1710 Rhode Island Avenue, NW - Suite 300
Washington, DC 20036
Tel 202-331-9464
Fax 202-785-0376
Email: DavidLewis@ManchesterTrade.com
http://www.ManchesterTrade.com