Word: haitian
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However, these recent events must be understood in a broader historical context. Since Aristide was first elected president in 1990 at the forefront of a grassroots democratic movement, his rule and Haitian sovereignty have been consistently challenged. A democracy where the poorest people in the Western Hemisphere would have power struck fear in the hearts of Washington officials and the Haitian elite. President Aristide held office for only seven months before he was ousted in a military coup...
Many assume that the current situation in Haiti is the inevitable result of President Clinton “abandoning” the country shortly after Aristide was reinstalled with the help of 20,000 U.S. Marines. But in truth, the Haitian people were never left alone. While supporting Haiti’s political system, the Clinton administration undermined its economic sovereignty by compelling Aristide to adopt a harsh neo-liberal economic program prior to his return. This program included lowering tariffs on grain and meat imports, so that highly subsidized American exports could be dumped on the Haitian market, undercutting...
This subversion of Haitian economic sovereignty has intensified under the second Bush administration. Despite a willingness to compromise on the outcome of eight disputed senatorial seats, more than $500 million in international loans and aid were blocked—including a $146 million loan package from the Inter-American Development Bank earmarked for healthcare, education, transportation and potable water. Meanwhile, the Haitian government was pressured to shell out $5 million in interest on these loans and pay $66 million in arrears. Dependent on foreign aid, the Haitian government had to empty out half its foreign reserves, causing the Haitian gourde...
Lastly, over the past three years the Bush administration has done little to challenge the insurgence by former Haitian military groups from the Dominican Republic. Beginning in mid-2001, these cross-border raids have murdered dozens of police officers, government officials and civilians. The invasion of these “rebel” groups in early February was just the culmination of a long campaign of terror and, like the first coup, they are targeting Aristide’s supporters in all the areas where no Marines are found. With Aristide in exile, the U.S. is allowing history...
Toussaint G. Losier ’04 is a social studies and Afro-American Studies concentrator in Leverett House. He is a member of the Harvard Haitian Alliance, a group which is sponsoring a teach-in tonight at 7 p.m. in the Parlor Room of Phillips Brooks House...