Wednesday, March 03, 2004
Au Revoir Jean Bertrand
So what to make of the recent activities in Haiti? One thing is clear--The big boys like France and the US (ol' pals again, it would seem) once again put a slap down on some misguided foreigner.
Whether or not the US kidnapped Aristide, or at least misinformed him about his destination, is now a matter for good reporting and history. Far less muddy is the fact that Aristide had been bucking for a slap down ever since the US re-installed him in 1994 following a bloody three-year interregnum during which the military prevented him from taking his rightful position as elected President. Aristide's true sin in the eyes of Washington was being such an ingrate that he refused to buckle to complete 'free-market' privatization for Haiti's water, power, and school systems. He also insisted on raising the minimum wage for Haiti's impoverished workers. Quite simply, there was money to be made and this pinko ex-priest was whining about democracy and social justice.
A few good recent articles about Aristide's struggles in Haiti have surfaced, one by Jeffrey Sachs and another in the UK Guardian.
The most thought-provoking comments came from people trying to reconcile this 'arrogant dictator holding on to power' with the gentle, peace activist they had known.
As a personal note, reading some of his written works, I was quite moved by his genuine human decency and positive nature. He wrote very much like a priest giving a good homily, with lots of scripture quotes and exhortations to walk with poor. It's hard to see how a guy who wrote like the Dalai Lama or Thich Nhat Hanh could end up a brutal petty dictator like Papa Doc Duvailier or Manuel Noriega, as he has recently been portrayed.
A quick postscript pointing to the 'Shape of Things to Come:'
The frontman for the rebellion was the former Police Chief of Cap Haitien, Guy Phillipe. He must have been pretty surprised when his comments to the effect that he was now in charge of the Haitian army and government were met by US and French officials with a big 'Whoa there, Fella!"
In fact, the US, who was powerless to stop the coup (against a government which had abolished its standing army, by the way) now seems quite happy throwing its weight around in the island nation. When asked for comment by the BBC this morning about Mr. Phillipe's claims, a US military representative in Haiti said that he expected Mr. Phillipe to be increasingly irrelevant in coming days.
Really?!
I, and no doubt Louis the Casablanca Police Chief, were "Shocked! Shocked!" to find that the big boys were quick to shunt aside this lackey now that his dirty work was all done.
When you're haulin' water for 'The Man' you've only got so long of a life span. Just ask Ahmad Chalabi. Or Saddam Hussein.
The fact that Aristide refused to pick up a bucket in the first place practically doomed him years ago to an all too quick exit.
So what to make of the recent activities in Haiti? One thing is clear--The big boys like France and the US (ol' pals again, it would seem) once again put a slap down on some misguided foreigner.
Whether or not the US kidnapped Aristide, or at least misinformed him about his destination, is now a matter for good reporting and history. Far less muddy is the fact that Aristide had been bucking for a slap down ever since the US re-installed him in 1994 following a bloody three-year interregnum during which the military prevented him from taking his rightful position as elected President. Aristide's true sin in the eyes of Washington was being such an ingrate that he refused to buckle to complete 'free-market' privatization for Haiti's water, power, and school systems. He also insisted on raising the minimum wage for Haiti's impoverished workers. Quite simply, there was money to be made and this pinko ex-priest was whining about democracy and social justice.
A few good recent articles about Aristide's struggles in Haiti have surfaced, one by Jeffrey Sachs and another in the UK Guardian.
The most thought-provoking comments came from people trying to reconcile this 'arrogant dictator holding on to power' with the gentle, peace activist they had known.
As a personal note, reading some of his written works, I was quite moved by his genuine human decency and positive nature. He wrote very much like a priest giving a good homily, with lots of scripture quotes and exhortations to walk with poor. It's hard to see how a guy who wrote like the Dalai Lama or Thich Nhat Hanh could end up a brutal petty dictator like Papa Doc Duvailier or Manuel Noriega, as he has recently been portrayed.
A quick postscript pointing to the 'Shape of Things to Come:'
The frontman for the rebellion was the former Police Chief of Cap Haitien, Guy Phillipe. He must have been pretty surprised when his comments to the effect that he was now in charge of the Haitian army and government were met by US and French officials with a big 'Whoa there, Fella!"
In fact, the US, who was powerless to stop the coup (against a government which had abolished its standing army, by the way) now seems quite happy throwing its weight around in the island nation. When asked for comment by the BBC this morning about Mr. Phillipe's claims, a US military representative in Haiti said that he expected Mr. Phillipe to be increasingly irrelevant in coming days.
Really?!
I, and no doubt Louis the Casablanca Police Chief, were "Shocked! Shocked!" to find that the big boys were quick to shunt aside this lackey now that his dirty work was all done.
When you're haulin' water for 'The Man' you've only got so long of a life span. Just ask Ahmad Chalabi. Or Saddam Hussein.
The fact that Aristide refused to pick up a bucket in the first place practically doomed him years ago to an all too quick exit.
Comments:
Post a Comment
