Representative Maxine Waters wrote a letter to Sec Clinton asking that the US fund fair and inclusive elections in Haiti only (more information below). This is Justice, Not Charity Thursday diary.
"The Haitian people are asking not for charity, but for justice."
"What, then is to be done? Speaking of events since the 1991 coup, Noam Chomsky has noted that 'honest commentary would place all of this in the context of our unwavering opposition to freedom and human rights in Haiti for no less than 200 years.' The first order of business, for citizens of the United States, might be a candid and careful assessment of our ruinous policies towards Haiti. Remorse is not a very fashionable sentiment. But for many, old-fashioned penitence might be the first step towards a new solidarity, a pragmatic solidarity that could supplant both our malignant policies of the past and the well -meaning but unfocused charity that does not respond to Haitian aspirations. The Haitian people are asking not for charity, but for justice." (The Uses of Haiti P. 307) |
&sitesearcThis is where Paul Farmer's book The Uses of Haiti ends. This is where our new diary begins. Farmer answers our question- what to do first?
"The first order of business, for citizens of the United States, might be a candid and careful assessment of our ruinous policies towards Haiti." that is what this diary will attempt to do (mainly through the discussion that takes place in the comments). Many of us are new to learning about Haiti. This diary is a place to learn about Haiti, about US policy towards Haiti, and to advocate for Haiti.
Be sure not to miss JDH's Summer Reading list.. Please take a couple of minutes to see/complete (takes 5 minutes) today's action alert directly below today's topic. Join us in comments for today's news discussion and more.
ONE DAY TO CALL REPRESENTATIVE: |
Silent Coup in Haiti, Part II
"Brian Concannon: The mainstream American media has a bias towards covering personalities over policies in all elections, including our own. Reporters and editors claim that it’s what Americans like to read. The Wyclef Jean coverage carries that bias to an extreme. It has devoted extensive space to a clearly ineligible candidate with no political experience running with a party that has never won any elected office. At the same time, it ignores the disqualification of the party that has won every free election held in Haiti for 20 years, always by a landslide.The US equivalent to what’s happening in Haiti would be President Obama forming a new party before our 2012 elections, and announcing that the Democrats and Republicans were disqualified, then California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger—who was born in Austria and thus constitutionally barred from the Presidency—announcing his candidacy, then the press foaming at the mouth about how his entry into the race has energized action hero movie fans, while ignoring the disqualification of the parties that win every election."
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It is a critical time for Haiti. There is an upcoming election November 28, 2010, that will determine how Haiti is rebuilt. It will determine whether there is justice, opportunity and equality in Haiti, or whether the elite and US continue to pillage the country. Unfortunately so far it looks like it will be the latter -- the slogan build back better seems to be nothing more than a slogan.
The US sees Aristide and the Lavalas movement as the biggest threat to the interests of the US: A bigger threat than secular Marxist-Leninism and bigger than the labor unions.
A US official spoke for a more general Washington consensus when he said that 'Aristide-slum priest, grass-roots activist, exponent of Liberation Theology-represents everything that the CIA, DOD and FBI think they have been trying to protect this country against for the past 50 years.(Damming The Flood, pg. 37)
The US does not want a fair election because in any democratic election the FL candidate would win easily: As they have in all elections they have participated in. On December 16, 1990, Jean Bertrand Aristide made history by becoming Haiti's first democratically elected president and he did with a bang. He won a whopping 67% of the popular vote in a field of 12 candidates
In the 2000 legislative and local elections FL candidates won 89 of the 115 mayoral positions 72 of 83 seats in the chamber of Deputies and of the 17 senate seats that were up FL won 16. In his second election he won with over 90% of the vote. Fanmi Lavalas will win if they are allowed to compete in any fair and open democratic election. The US and the IC hate FL because they see it as a threat to the social and economic status quo and are willing to do (and indeed have done) whatever it takes to exclude them. The FL's "sin" is that they represent poor people. And, we live in a world where that is not acceptable the ruling class will not stand for it!
"[...]The coup of 2004 did not simply disrupt the Lavalas organization and kill thousands of its supporters. It was also intended to complete a task that began back in 1991: the task of reversing Lavalas' achievements and of inverting their significance. It didn't serve merely to put an end to the "threat of a good example," but also to discredit it beyond repair. Haiti's mobilization had proved that "the poorest people in the hemisphere", Elie goes on, " can know more about democracy than the people who are pretending to be beacons of civilization [...]. For the US, Haiti is an example that must be crushed, that must be made to fail." (P xxxII; quotes from Lavalas activist Patrick Elie)
The US, Haiti's Elite, and International Community (IC) have successfully excluded Fanmi Lavalas (FL) Aristide's Party from every election since they removed Jean-Bertrand Aristide from office in the 2004 coup.
A recent article compared the exclusion of FL to both the Democrats and Republicans being excluded from the upcoming election and allowing only small third Party candidates to participate. (There is much more information about the election below.)
Action Alert: Election:
The International Community Should Support Prompt and Fair Elections.
IJDH has a new action alert. Please call you Rep and sign the petition Stop U.S. Taxpayers’ Good Money From Going to Bad Elections in Haiti!
Elections that forbid the presence and participation of FL are essentially undemocratic and disenfranchising the choice of the vast majority of Haitians (h/t ny brit expat). The US and International Community should not fund illegitimate elections.
It is like the Democratic Party being excluded from our upcoming midterm elections.
To stand in solidarity with Haiti at this crucial time, please contact US government officials, your local
senators, and representatives and tell them not to fund illegitimate elections that Lavalas must be allowed to
participate in free, democratic elections. The US should withhold aid for the elections unless the ban is lifted.
The ban on Lavalas in the upcoming elections must be revoked.
IJDH has a new action alert
Take Action
Help Rep. Waters fight for democracy in Haiti by calling TODAY or TOMORROW to urge your Representative to sign the letter to Secretary Clinton. The letter is open for signature this week only, so call Wednesday or Thursday!
To call:
- Dial the Capitol Switch board – 202–224-3121. Ask to be connected with your Representative’s office. (Click here to find your Representative by name or zip-code).
- You will be connected with the receptionist. Ask to speak to the staff person who handles international issues.
- Whether you speak to the staffer in person, or just leave a message on his/her voice mail, here’s what to say:
“My name is _________ and I am a constituent from _(your city)__. I am calling to ask that Representative _________ sign Rep Waters’ letter calling on Secretary Clinton to support only fair elections in Haiti. To sign the letter, contact Kathleen Sengstock in Rep. Waters’ office, at 52201.”
- If you are speaking to the staff person be sure to thank them for their time and ask whether they think that the Repre sentative will sign the letter found here.
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(Patrick Elie, head of Aristides Security)
It's as if Aristide was put in charge of a house that was falling apart and was expected to fix it. But then his enemies start setting fire to the back door, they send people with guns to attack the front door, and when these people finally manage to break in they said 'Look! He didn't wash the dishes in the sink! He never repaired the leak in the roof!' They made him spend all his time trying to put out the fire and to protect the door, and then once they got rid of him they said he was pushed out because he'd failed to repair the house. (Damming The Flood, P131)
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Elections
"Our rulers, notes Aristide's prime minister Yvon Neptune, still 'want a democracy without the people,' but rather than simply exclude them from politics today's goal is instead 'to reduce the people to puppets or clowns.'" (Damming The Flood, P XXXIII)
Haiti Liberté editorial on political situation, upcoming election | The International Community Should Pressure the Haitian Government for Prompt and Fair Elections (IJDH) |
The International Republican Institute: Promulgating Democracy of Another Variety | U.S. Gvt. Channels Millions Through National Endowment for Democracy to Fund Anti-Lavalas Groups in Haiti Amy Goodman interview's Anthony Fenton about the US funded National Endowment for Democracy (NED) it was created by Reagan in the 80's ostensibly to promote Democracy. What it does is funnel huge amount of money to anti-Lavalas groups. Most large NGOs have become arms of the CIA. They are easy for the US to control because large NGOs make a living off poverty. |
November Election in Haiti: The Silent Coup: The Silent Coup in Haiti P.1 of 2 9/19/2010 interview conducted by Darren Ell, with Concannon, Ives, and others . It covers the state of the Lavalas movement, the Nov 2010 election and more. -- P.2 | The Untold Story of Aristide's Departure from Haiti, By KEVIN PINA 10/11/04 covers: Aristides second term; the 2000 election which was initially applauded by the IC as Haiti's best election, but was soon delegitimized by the "democratic opposition," the US, and IC. It covers the destabilization program & the coup. |
What’s At Stake in Haiti’s December 3, 2006 Elections: the ASEC System | Haiti: No Leadership — No Elections (U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations) |
Haiti’s elections won’t relieve misery | Unfair and undemocratic |
"Beat the Dog Too Hard" Haiti's Elections, By MARK SCHULLER covers election day and the empty streets and polling places. And he covers clintons devastating neoliberal plan for Haiti. He mentions Charles Baker who is currently running for president. | IJDH-Elections IJDH has the bes election coverage around there are links to new and old articles and there are reports that explain Haiti's election system. They do amazing work. My favorite NGO |
With Date for Elections Set, Next Step is to Ensure Full Participation | Elections Without Voters: Eroding Participation in Haiti |
Elusive Victories in Haiti | Letter to Secretary Clinton Urging “Free, Fair and Inclusive” Elections in Haiti IJDH & other organizations write letter to Clinton re Nov 28, 2010 election. |
Haiti election commission under scrutiny for ties to President René Préval There are rumors that Preval told the CEP panel who to exclude from the 11/28/2010 election. | Selection, or Election? The Monitor Describes the CEP's Troubling Exclusion of Fanmi Lavalas et al explains why the 2010 election as planned is a shame election. It links to some other must read articles. |
List of candidates here.
Additional articleshere.
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Top Stories: See comments for Today's News Update & discussion: |
- TOP STORY:
- Silent Coup in Haiti, Part II
Brian Concannon: The mainstream American media has a bias towards covering personalities over policies in all elections, including our own. Reporters and editors claim that it’s what Americans like to read. The Wyclef Jean coverage carries that bias to an extreme. It has devoted extensive space to a clearly ineligible candidate with no political experience running with a party that has never won any elected office. At the same time, it ignores the disqualification of the party that has won every free election held in Haiti for 20 years, always by a landslide.The US equivalent to what’s happening in Haiti would be President Obama forming a new party before our 2012 elections, and announcing that the Democrats and Republicans were disqualified, then California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger—who was born in Austria and thus constitutionally barred from the Presidency—announcing his candidacy, then the press foaming at the mouth about how his entry into the race has energized action hero movie fans, while ignoring the disqualification of the parties that win every election.
- November Election in Haiti: The Silent Coup: The Silent Coup in Haiti P.1 of 2 9/19/2010 interview conducted by Darren Ell, with Concannon, Ives, and others . It covers the state of the Lavalas movement, the Nov 2010 election and more.
Sources We Like |
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Arguably, there is no single event in the whole of modern history whose implications were more threatening to the dominant global order of things. The mere existence of an independent Haiti was a reproach to the slave-trading nations of Europe, a dangerous example to the slave-owning US, and as an inspiration for successive African and Latin American liberation movements. Much of Haiti's subsequent history has been shaped by efforts, both internal and external, to stifle the implications of this event and to preserve the essential legacy of slavery and colonialism - that spectacularly unjust distribution of labor, wealth and power which characterized the whole of the island's post-Columbian history. (Damming The Flood, Pg. 11)
“THE FREE MAN WILL NEVER BE BROKEN”
In 1804 the Haitian slaves defeated the army of Napoleon making Haiti the first and only nation founded by a slave revolution. At the time of the revolution, 70 percent of the slaves had been born free men and women in Africa. This victory resulted in Haiti being feared by the world’s powerful countries and thus politically marginalized or dominated for the next 200 years. Symbolizing this epic struggle, Neg Mawon stands, shackles broken, machete in hand, defiant and unafraid. He blows a conch to call others to freedom.
Joia found herself weeping in front of the statue when a Haitian woman—a survivor who until that moment was a stranger—approached her. She too was crying and as she put her arms around Joia, she said “Neg mawon pap jamn kraze.” The free man will never be broken.
Back in the United States, Joia is frequently asked about how Haiti can rebuild in the face of this tragedy. Her response is an optimistic one. “Haiti’s strength is her people,” she says with confidence. Insisting that if foreign aid can invest in the public sector--particularly health and education-- and communities are actively engaged in the process, Haiti can be built back better. The woman in front of the statue is not far from Joia’s thoughts as she says “The indomitable spirit of the Haitian people is Haiti’s greatest resource, and it is a spirit that is present in abundance.” Neg Mawon, the free man, will always stand for Haiti. We will always stand with Haiti.
- Must see VIDEO
- Change Haiti Can Believe In
Amy Goodman led a panel discussion about US-Haiti policy, Haiti's history, and what we can do to assist Haitians in their fight for justice -- The panel includes Paul Farmer Co/Founder of PIH, Brian Concannon Found of IJDH, Mat Damon, State Rep. Linda Dorcena Forry. You can watch the whole program, or if you are short on time pick a 10 minute segment to watch. This video especially the parts with Brian Concannon are a large part of what got me so interested in helping put a stop to my governments oppression of Haitians.
- Haiti Dreaming for More Than $3 a day Watch
this is an excellent short video about how neoliberalism has destroyed Haiti's farm economy and what can be done differently.
- Life and Debt
this award winning documentary about the impact that US neoliberal trade policy has had. It focus' on Jamaica but applies doubly to Haiti. This is a Must See. It is sometimes available on Youtube.
- Edwidge Danticat on US immigration detentions 60 minutes
- Haiti: Toto Constant Talks About CIA vs. Aristide
this short video has clips from a 60 minute interview with Emmanuel Toto Constant who worked for the CIA and was the leader of the vicious death squad FRAPH. The full interview is not available. I purchased the transcript from CBS News but they have strict copyright rules and would not even sell me the actual video. If anyone has it please share.
- Jeremy Scahill on Democracy Now! responds to Clinton being appointed as UN envoy to Haiti Jeremy Scahill sums up Clinton's vicious Haiti policy in about 2 minutes. I love this video.
Today is Haiti diary book day : Current book is Damming The Flood: Haiti, Aristide, And The Politics Of Containment, by Peter Hallward: Chapter 8 Pt 2: You can see our book list is here. |
Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti:
Mission
We strive to work with the people of Haiti in their non-violent struggle for the consolidation of constitutional democracy, jus tice and human rights, by distributing objective and accurate information on human rights conditions in Haiti, pursuing legal cases, and cooperating with human rights and solidarity groups in Haiti and abroad.
IJDH draws on its founders’ internationally-acclaimed success accompanying Haiti’s poor majority in the fields of law, medicine and social justice activism. We seek the restoration of the rule of law and democracy in the short term, and work for the long-term sustainable change necessary to avert Haiti’s next crisis.
"IJDH is simply the most reliable source for information and analysis on human rights in
Haiti." — Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) |
Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti:
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Diaries:
- ShelterBox: carolina stargazer has regular diary ShelterBox series. The next ShelterBox diary is planned for Tuesday morning, but activity in Friday's diary will be monitored until then.
- The World Traveler - Haiti page.: This website has links to articles about Haiti and it has excerpts from books including The Uses of Haiti and Damming The Flood.
- Be sure to also see diaries by Bev Bell for informed ground-level information on Haiti's needs.
- Meteor Blades points the way to a better and more sustainable future for Haitians in Haiti Could Use a New Deal.
- As the MSM (in the United States) turns attention away from Haiti, Deoliver47 reminds us that things are not suddenly all better: Raining Disease and More Deaths.
- Mokurai has an excellent diary in response to the initial rightwing racist response to the Haiti quake Translating Code: The Punishment of Haiti.
- Daisy Cutter's Book Review: "Damming the Flood" by Peter Hallward, pt 1 this diary was published in July 2008 and presents a history of Haiti up to 1999 using Hallward's book as a reference.
Sunday is Haiti diary book day. Here is the Book List
UPCOMING DIARIES
Tuesday: ***open***
Thursday: ***open***
Sunday: allie123
If you would like to volunteer to contribute a diary to continue this series, please leave comment below. Norbrook has created a Google documents file with the source code for the first version of the diary with the NGO list. allie123 created a Google doc for the new series Justice, Not Charity. However, because we are cutting back to 2 or 3 diaries a week we will be adding a focus and new information to each diary now.
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The icons of this diary series are courtesy of the html artist known on Daily Kos as Pluto.
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