Ousted Haiti president wins honorary fellowship

[seemslikeadream]

Liz Ford
Tuesday March 1, 2005

The former leader of Haiti, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, has been made an honorary research fellow at the University of South Africa.

The former Roman Catholic priest, who was ousted from power one year ago today, is attached to the college of human sciences at the campus in Pretoria. He has degrees in theology, philosophy and psychology earned in Haiti and Europe.

...

According to Amnesty International, by 2003 Mr Aristide faced growing discontent from opposition parties and civil society movements. The police and judiciary were accused of bias in favour of the government. Police officers were accused of committing numerous human rights violations and failing to protect opposition groups from attack by pro-government activists.

Mr Aristide and his supporters, however, continue to claim he was denied international aid during his time in office - the US was believed to play a leading role in cutting off millions of dollars of international aid in 2001 while supporting a minority opposition party - and was forcibly removed from power by the US last February.

"Mr Aristide was unlawfully deposed as president of the Caribbean island of Haiti in February 2004. He is now the guest of the South African government in Pretoria," said Professor Pityana.
more
http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/worldwide/story/0,9959,1428000,00.html

[Say_What]

1. We Will Not Forget: The Achievements of Lavalas in Haiti

Haiti is another fine example of the Bushistas spreading *democracy* around the globe. :puke:

<clips>

We Will Not Forget: The Achievements of Lavalas in Haiti

On February 29, 2004, the constitutional government of Haiti was violently overthrown, bringing Haiti's ten-year experience with democracy to a brutal end. Orchestrated by the United States, France and Canada, the coup forced President Jean-Bertrand Aristide into exile and removed thousands of elected officials from office.

A year after the coup, the Haitian people continue to demand the restoration of democracy. Braving police gunfire, wholesale arrests and beatings, they are taking to the streets holding up their five fingers, signifying their determination that Aristide complete his five-year term.

Why are Haitians so insistent on Aristide's return? Why have they been so resolute in their opposition to the coup and the subsequent U.S./U.N. occupation? Answering these questions requires a close look at what actually occurred during the years of democratic rule in Haiti.

We Will Not Forget: The Achievements of Lavalas in Haiti is a new 16-page pamphlet written by Laura Flynn and Robert Roth, members of the Haiti Action Committee. It highlights the most significant Lavalas accomplishments in areas such as healthcare, education, political democracy and economic justice. These initiatives moved Haiti towards the full participation of its poor majority in the life of the nation. Since last February's coup, most of these advances have been reversed. This pamphlet provides a context for understanding the social and economic dynamics behind the coup d'etat, making clear that Aristide was attacked and overthrown not because Lavalas failed to change Haiti, but precisely because profound transformation was underway.

http://www.haitiaction.net/News/WWNF/2_28_5.html

[struggle4progress]

2. Doubts Linger on Aristide's Exit (LAT)

<snip> Former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune, who spoke with Aristide by telephone several times the night he fled, said the president told him about five hours before he left that he felt "like a prisoner" and that Western diplomats were warning him that unless he left, thousands could die in a clash of his armed supporters and advancing rebels.

Citing concerns about American pressure and "circumstantial evidence" that the U.S. may have helped incite the rebellion against Aristide, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) submitted a bill to Congress on Feb. 17 calling for an investigation.

"The American people and the world deserve to have the facts surrounding any U.S. involvement in what was, in effect, a coup d'etat," said Lee, adding that she has had no direct contact with Aristide on the issue. <snip>

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-ushaiti1mar01,1,16424.story?coll=la-headlines-world&ctrack=1&cset=true