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Clinton Legacy Lives onCivil Unrest in Haiti "Democracy""This government accepts no form of dissent. That's what is called a dictatorship," said opposition politician Rene Theodore, who urged Haitians to join Wednesday's strike. Links...Haiti Unrest Could Rattle Washington -Associated PressHaiti Clashes Escalate -BBCPro-Aristide Supporters Break Up Demonstrations in HaitiDec 5, 2002 Opposition leaders to Haiti President Jean President Jean-Bertrand Aristide called for a nationwide strike Wednesday, after police and pro-government mobs broke up protests by thousands of pro-government demonstrators that had attacked them with whiips, rocks, and firing guns on Tuesday.. According to the Associated Press, police in northern Cap-Haitien and southern Petit-Goave fired tear gas to break up marches by thousands of demonstrators and in Gonaives used nightsticks to break up a large protest in northwestern Gonaives. Protesters are demanding an end to Aristide's government and better living conditions. "This government accepts no form of dissent. That's what is called a dictatorship," said opposition politician Rene Theodore, who urged Haitians to join Wednesday's strike. Aristide was returned to power with a 1994 invasion of Haiti by former president Bill Clinton, after Aristide was removed in a military coup on allegations that he had advocated violence against his political opponents.. Houses Burned in Haiti ProtestDec 4, 2002 Pro-Aristide protesters burned more than a dozen houses in the Haiti city of Gonaives and a man was shot Monday Dec 2, in a continuing three weeks of violence leaving several dead and many injured. Gonaives was once a city of strong sentiment toward Haiti president Jean-Bertrand Aristide but has turned against him in recent time. On Sunday, at least 17 houses were set ablaze by backers of Aristide and at least one person was killed. "They came into my house and they beat, shot and burned my daughter to death," said Georges Beaubrun, 86, according to the Associated Press, "She hadn't done anything wrong. Her body is in the morgue and I don't even think I will bury her because I have no money." Elected president Aristide was returned to power by Bill Clinton in 1994 after being ousted from power in a 1990 coup for allegedly advocating violence against his political opponents. The Coup leaders ousted by the US were later convicted in abstention in a Haiti court for violence by paramilitary groups that happened while they were in control of the country. Thousands Protest Haiti President AristideNov 28, 2002 More than 5,000 anti-government protesters clashed with over 1,000 supporters of Haiti President Jean-Bertrand Aristide Thursday Nov 28, 02 in the city of Gonaives and were pelted with stones and beat with metal spikes, rawhide whips and sticks. Estimable Alcimas, a spokesman for the anti-government march said "We will not back down" and said that more protests were planned. Haitians Demand Aristide's Ouster updated Tuesday 11/26"In what kind of country are we living in if children can be shot at as though it means nothing" Thousands of protesters Monday and Tuesday (11/25-11/26/02) demonstrated against President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Several demonstrators were shot. Student leader Roland Laguerre said "We're demonstrating against our unendurable living conditions. Aristide should go, to give Haitian youth a chance to have a future in their country." In Gonaives, demonstrators on Monday called for Aristide to step down. At least nine people were injured, including Ronald Jesse, a high school student shot twice in the head when 200 heavily armed Aristide partisans disrupted the Gonaives protests. "In what kind of country are we living in if children can be shot at as though it means nothing," said a declaration signed by Haiti's foremost novelist Gary Victor and 14 other writers. Aristide's government is widely blamed for deepening despair in the impoverished nation. The AP reported that more than 2,000 Aristide supporters marched through the Capital. Some demonstrated outside the National Palace and stoned an African studies center where anti-government students were meeting. Three pro-Aristide demonstrators were shot outside the center and were in critical condition, government spokesman Mario Deputy said. Aristide was returned to power in Haiti through a 1994 invasion launched by Bill Clinton while US negotiators were working out a peace proposal with Haiti officials. Boat People Fleeing Haiti and Dominican RepublicNearly 800 "boat people" fleeing the island of Hispaniola were intercepted by the US Coast Guard this month (Nov 2002) and sent back home. Every year, thousands of people risk their lives fleeing the Caribbean island in hopes of reaching America. Thousands in Haiti demand Aristide's resignationMonday Nov 18, 2002 Thousands of protesters demanded the resignation of Haiti President Jean-Betrand Aristide today in a demonstration sparked by events surrounding the brutal murder of a journalist last year. A week long of protests rocked the tiny poverty stricken all last week. Aristide had once been ousted by the Haiti military on the claim that he had advocated violence against his political opponents, and was returned to power in a 1994 invasion of Haiti by former U.S. President Bill Clinton. Since then, Haiti has remained in a state of near civil war.
How the Press Slants the NewsPrior to the 1994 US invasion of Haiti, White House policy was to portray Haiti leader General Raul Cedras as a ruthless dictator. Americans were subjected to a daily display of violence under his leadership through the printed and television media. When Bill Clinton overthrew Cedras in a US invasion of the island the violence suddenly stopped -- in the press, but not in Haiti. A US troop presence and lifted economic embargo reduced the amount of violence but not the chaos or brutality. Political opponents of Jean-Betrand Aristide were assassinated and spontaneous violence and unrest continued regularly. The functioning elected parliament that had been guarded by Cedras went out of existence under United States rule and Haitians went entirely without a government. Bill Clinton's attack on Haiti was a success everywhere except in Haiti and any nation with a truthful press, because Haiti was no longer in the news. Aristide currently is the President after recently winning an election that his opponents refused to participate in, and violence has since escalated to a greater degree, and thousands of "boat people" are fleeing the island every year, most captured by the Coast Guard en route and returned.. US wires (but not the national or printed media) now are reporting Haiti violence on nearly a daily basis. Last Week's story (Thurs Nov 21, 2002) is about student demonstrators storming a police station that left 10 injured. General Raul Cedras had just one dispute with the United States to warrant the invasion. He strongly desired new internationally supervised elections to settle Haiti's problems, but the United States insisted that Aristide must be returned to his former position of Haiti president. Cedras had balked, arguing that Aristide's return would spark more violence and political unrest because Aristide was believed to have advocated violence against his opponents when he was president. The US found Cedra's position unacceptable, invaded, and banished Cedras from the country. --States' Liberty Party |
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