23682: (pub) Esser: It's not All about That!: Wyclef Jean is fronting in Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. Esser <torx@joimail.com>

It's not All about That!:
Wyclef Jean is fronting in Haiti

Commentary by the Haiti Information Project (HIP)

source:
http://www.haitiaction.net/index.html

November 2, 2004

Wyclef Jean has entered the dismal political reality of Haiti, a
direct result of Bush administration policy in overthrowing a
democratically elected government, by echoing the U.S.-installed
government's position recently that ousted president
Jean-Bertrand-Aristide is responsible for the latest round of
violence. Wyclef is quoted in Reuters, "Those guys really believe in
Jean-Bertrand Aristide. They are not going to stop unless Aristide
says the word".

TRANSLATED: Aristide is behind the violence and all he has to do is
give the word and the violence would end tomorrow.


• This is the line of Bush's State Department.
• Do we hear an echo or does Wyclef really believe in peace?

Peacemaker?

With all the aura of a superstar aside, Wyclef's assertions that he
can now play the role of "peacemaker" in Haiti might conjure
illusions of a Nobel Peace prize in his mind but it does little to
match the current reality on the ground. If he really wanted to bring
to peace to Haiti he would start by checking the unlicensed hatred
his own family bears towards the majority political party of the
ousted president Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Actually, he was quite lucky
that Lavalas militants did not remember his own statements before he
recently entered the pro-Aristide slum for a photo opportunity. Many
in Lavalas promise this won't happen again.

The History/ UN-Cool MTV

Replete with a photo of Wyclef in a cool and relaxed pose on a plush
sofa, MTV reported on Wyclef's real political leanings on February
25, 2004 — four days before the coup.

In an article entitled, "Wyclef Jean Voices Support For Haitian
Rebels", MTV's Gideon Yago wrote, "Wyclef Jean voiced his support for
Haitian rebels on Wednesday, calling on embattled Haitian President
Jean-Bertrand Aristide to step down and telling his fans in Haiti to
'keep their head up' as the country braces itself for possible civil
war."

Referring to the gangsters in Gonaives, the killers of the former
military and the former death squads trained by the CIA, MTV quotes
Wyclef as stating, "I don't consider those people rebels. It's people
standing up for their rights. It's not like these people just
appeared out of nowhere and said, 'Let's cause some trouble.' I think
it's just built up frustration, anger, hunger, depression."

Family Ties

Wyclef's uncle is Raymond Joseph, the highest-ranking official abroad
representing the U.S.-installed government in Haiti. He is the
un-elected government's representative in Washington. Wyclef's uncle,
who he has often praised, is responsible for fomenting outrageous
lies about Aristide and members the Lavalas political party that has
contributed to the current climate of witch-hunts, arbitrary arrests
and murders in Haiti today. Wyclef's uncle is also the co-publisher
of Haiti Observateur, a right-wing rag that has been an apologist for
the killers in the Haitian military going back as far as the brutal
coup against Aristide in 1991.

On October 26th Haitan police entered the pro-Aristide slum of Fort
Nationale and summarily executed 13 young men. Wyclef said nothing.
On October 28th the Haitian police executed five young men, babies
really, in the pro-Aristide slum of Bel Air. Wyclef said nothing. If
Wyclef really wants to be part of Haiti's political dialogue he would
acknowledge these facts. Unfortunately, Wyclef is fronting. There is
nothing substantial in his offer until he proves otherwise. HIP
wishes Wyclef the best for his next concert in Haiti. We all want
peace in Haiti. Most of us want peace with justice.

The Haiti Information Project (HIP) is a non-profit alternative news
service providing coverage and analysis of breaking developments in
Haiti.

Contact: haitiinformationproject@yahoo.com
.