22247: erzilidanto: JBA Speech in South Africa (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Erzilidanto@aol.com

Statement by

President Jean-Bertrand Aristide
May 31, 2004, South Africa

    How grateful we are for this opportunity to thank President Mbeki, the
Government and the People of South Africa, and the Member Nations of the
Organization of African Union, for writing this new and unforgettable chapter in
African history!
    (In Zulu)
- Good evening!
- We are happy to be here in South Africa.
- Thank you so much for this warm welcome.

I once again thank the entire Caribbean family, Prime Minister Patterson and
the People of Jamaica for hosting us during this past two months.  And a
special thanks, or - sigila migi migi - to the Central African Republic, the land
of zo kwe zo, where we spent the first two weeks in exile.  We salute the
support of the U.S. Congressional Black Caucus in this historical journey.

    In the second half of the eighteenth century, the Haitian Revolution led
to the emergence of the first Black State in the New World, ending some three
hundred years of political monopoly in the Caribbean and marking the beginning
of a new era in Caribbean history.

    For the first time, Blacks had State Power to make the Caribbean life
free, human and acceptable.

    The Haitian Revolution was the only successful slave revolution in
history.

    Ladies and Gentlemen,

    Let us remember this:  A good number of the slaves who fought in the
Revolution were born here in Africa, had served in African armies prior to their
enslavement and arrival in Haiti.

    In the decade before the Revolution, French ships had transported over
224,000 slaves from Africa; 116,000 (or 51%) came from the Angolan coast and
55,000 (or 25%) from lower Guinea.

    Two hundred years after, we also remember the Father of that Revolution,
Toussaint Louverture who was arrested and sent to Europe.

    Today, instead of Europe, we are welcomed in Africa, our mother
continent, our temporary home until we are back in Haiti.  Of course, the Haitian
situation must be normalized; peace must be restored through democratic order.

    The solidarity shared by South Africa, CARICOM and the Organization of
African Union to promote peace and democracy in Haiti crystallizes the
world-wide African unity that will continue to flourish.
    (In Zulu)
- We wish development and success to Africa
- We love Africa!
- Peace to Africa!
    Thank you.
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Forwarded by the Haitian Lawyers Leadership
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"Men anpil chaj pa lou"  is Kreyol for - "Many hands make light a heavy load."

See, The Haitian Leadership Networks'  7 "men anpil chaj pa

lou" campaigns to help restore Haiti's independence, the will of the mass
electorate and the rule of law. See,
http://www.margueritelaurent.com/pressclips/haitianlawyers.html ; http://www.margueritelaurent.com/campaigns/campaigns.html

and Haitiaction.net

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