I have not seen this covered here, though it was covered by Democracy Now.
His statement:
We thank all the true friends of Haiti, in particular the government and the people of South Africa for their solidarity with the victims of Haiti.
The concrete action undertaken by Rescue South Africa and Gift of the Givers is a clear expression of ubuntu. Ubuntu ngumuntu ngabantu.
As we all know, many people remain buried under tons of rubble and debris waiting to be rescued. When we think of their suffering, we feel deeply and profoundly that we should be there, in Haiti, with them, trying our best to prevent death.
To symbolize this readiness, we have decided to meet not just anywhere, but here, in the shadow of the Oliver Tambo International Airport. As far as we are concerned, we are ready to leave today, tomorrow, at any time to join the people of Haiti, to share in their suffering, help rebuild the country, moving from misery to poverty with dignity. Friends from around the world have confirmed their willingness to organize an airplane carrying medical supplies, emergency needs and ourselves.
While we cannot wait to be with our sisters and brothers in Haiti, we share the anguish of all Haitians in the Diaspora who are desperate to reach family and loved ones.
Soufrans youn nan nou se soufrans nou tout.
L’Union fait la force. Kouraj! Kenbe! Kenbe!
Youn soutni lòt nan lespri Mèm Amou an.
Our love to the nation now labeled the poorest of the western hemisphere. However, the spirit of ubuntu that once led Haiti to emerge as the first independent Black nation in 1804; helped Venezuela, Columbia and Ecuador attain liberty; and inspired our forefathers to shed their blood for the United States’ independence, cannot die. Today this spirit of solidarity must and will empower all of us to rebuild Haiti.
Ukwanda kwaliwa umthakathi.
Thank you.
There was a diary on the recommended list here, discussing the details of Buchco's kidnapping of Aristide: What Bush Did to Haiti but most of the comments were more centered around GWB, and there was not much on Aristide himself.
I have read the opinions we've been sold about Aristide, from the AP, The NYTimes, the Haitian elite controlled media on the island, and our own government.
I am more inclined to believe the Haitian people themselves, who have repeatedly called for the return of their Democratically elected leader.
From Haiti Progres:
The noble "international community" which is currently scrambling to send its "humanitarian aid" to Haiti is largely responsible for the extent of the suffering it now aims to reduce. Ever since the US invaded and occupied the country in 1915, every serious political attempt to allow Haiti's people to move (in former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide's phrase) "from absolute misery to a dignified poverty" has been violently and deliberately blocked by the US government and some of its allies.
Aristide's own government (elected by some 75% of the electorate) was the latest victim of such interference, when it was overthrown by an internationally sponsored coup in 2004 that killed several thousand people and left much of the population smouldering in resentment. The UN has subsequently maintained a large and enormously expensive stabilisation and pacification force in the country.
The hit-jobs, and smears against Aristide are so numerous, I will not bother to list them here. I'd rather speak to other sources, who speak outside of the TM meme.
What concerns me at this point, as I watch the coverage of Haiti, is that the United States, and our government should not be placing itself in the position (yet again, with our Marines) to run Haiti. The UN should not be running Haiti. It is clear that the current "Haitian Government" is almost invisible. Why is that?
Peter Hallward has explored the politics of Haiti for years. He is well worth reading. Suggest: Aristide and the Violence of Democracy, as perhaps a starting point. For more background read Democracy’s Death
Noam Chomsky has spoken out forcefully about Haiti and our government's involvement.
Haiti Action Net Editor, Kevin Pina has issued this statement (excerpt):
Haiti is facing one of its most severe challenges after a large earthquake rocked the capital yesterday destroying most government buildings and killing possibly thousands. Now more than ever the people of Haiti need hope for the future and as Haiti’s ambassador to Washington Raymond Joseph said yesterday on CNN, "we need unity to meet the challenge of this crisis."
That unity must reach beyond the nasty and vindictive politics that have divided this tiny nation since Aristide’s ouster in Feb. 2004. Haiti needs all the help she can get to provide the population with hope so that they might rally to mobilize against endemic despair in this darkest hour. The US and the international community must stand aside and end their role in keeping Mr. Aristide out of Haiti where he is needed now more than ever. Most analysts agree that Aristide and his Fanmi Lavalas remain wildly popular among the majority of the poor in Haiti who are in all likelihood among the hardest hit in this crisis.
Haitian President Preval can no longer afford to continue his policies of exclusion and political patronage that have sought to dismember the Fanmi Lavalas party and keep Aristide away from Haiti. All Haitians are needed in this time of great need and there could be no greater symbol of hope and unity in Haiti right now than allowing Mr. Aristide to return from exile in South Africa to participate fully in relief and recovery efforts.
Our very own right wing is frothing about this right now - if you can stand it, go take a look at what the Freeper's are saying.
Daily Kos and many Kossacks pride themselves in being progressive. All that I ask is that we "listen" to the voices of progressives who are Haitian, rather than accept the almighty AP, CNN, and CBS.
In an article from Narco News Bulletin I found this report:
At the collapsed parliament building in downtown Port-Au-Prince, another bulldozer retrieved the bodies of politicians laying in the street. Supporters of Haiti’s most popular political party, Fanmi Lavalas, dragged the stiff and dripping body of a high-profile party organizer named Bob Moliere into a wheelbarrow. The bulldozer drove 200 yards to a grassy area on the sea and dumped his body in a four-foot-deep grave dug minutes earlier. Marianne Moliere, now a widow, looked out at the dipping sun with tears streaming down her face. "There is no life for me because Bob was everything to me. I lost everything. Everything is destroyed," she said. "I’m sleeping in the street now because I’m homeless. But when I get some water, I share with others. Or if some one gives some spaghetti, I share with my family and others."
She clutched a manilla folder with photos of her dead husband. One of them showed him shaking hands with former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. The men had no idea that Aristide, pushed out by a coup in 2004, had issued a statement from exile in South Africa asking that he be allowed to return to Haiti immediately.
As I told them the news, they started smiling and talking excitedly with one another. "They international community must let him return!" one man said. Moliere won his freedom from the post-coup regime in Haiti only three years ago after a full year in detention. The grave behind us remained open for the moment, a small mound of loose brown soil waiting to cover up Moliere’s stiff right arm pointing at the sky.
One wonders what more Haitians will have to say, when the word spreads that Aristide wants to come home.