Reply #6: The pREsident trying to take down Aristide? You betcha. [View All]

[Judi Lynn]

We were apparently fond of Francois Duvalier, as we surely were determined to keep him in power, and he was a MONSTER, but our own monster:

(Quick trip to google)

(snip) Attempts to Overthrow Papa Doc Duvalier
Tracy Stacy
Spring, 1992

"Student Paper from my 1992 Haitian History course"

September 22, 1957 is a date which when mentioned brings memories of tyranny, oppression and terror to the minds of many people of Haitian descent. It is the day when Francois Duvalier, better known to most as Papa Doc, took the reigns of the Haitian government. Few could have foreseen the devastation that this elected dictator would bring to the masses of the Haitian population. Although Papa Doc was elected to the Presidential office for a non-renewable six year term, he extended his autocratic tenure for fourteen years. During the time period of 1957-1971, between 20,000 and 50,000 Haitians are said to have been murdered by Duvalier's government. An additional one-fifth of its population lives else-where in political or economic exile. An estimated 80% of Haitians employed in professional fields fled Haiti under this oppressive regime headed by a terrorist. The ramifications of this fleeing to technology and research, education and health care can not be over-estimated. Many of the problems faced by Haiti today can be traced back to the monstrous policies of Duvalierism.

The fact that Papa Doc was able to control the Haitian people by ruling with an iron fist policy and maintaining a large and viscous guard, known as the Ton Ton Macoutes, make it surprising that anyone would dare attempt to defy his orders and remove him from his coveted position. Although these attempts were generally unsuccessful and their leaders frequently met with death, they stand as testimony to the courageousness and spirit of the Haitian people. The first such invasion occurred on June 28, 1958, less than one year after the Haiti Elections placed Papa Doc in power. Eight men comprised the group of rebels. Three ex-deputy sheriffs from Miami, Florida and Buffalo, New York, joined by mercenaries and former mulatto officers landed near Montrouis which is approximately forty miles north of Port-au-Prince. As they were unloading their weapons, a local chief section arrived. The rebels shot the policeman and commandeered his jeep. On their way to the capital the jeep broke down. Posing as tourists, the group flagged down a tap tap (taxi bus), and hijacked it. Although this seems unbelievable, arrival by tap tap was not expected by the army and actually worked to the invaders advantage. They were able to drive into the Dessalines barracks and disarm the sleepy soldiers before the military became aware of their presence. Unfortunately for the rebels, the weapons which they had expected to be stored at the barracks had been moved to the palace. Meanwhile, Duvalier who had no idea that only eight men were involved in the invasion, prepared to flee the country via of the Columbian embassy. As dawn broke the rebels sent a mulatto officer who was being held hostage out to buy cigarettes and the number of invaders was quickly revealed to the authorities. Duvalier ordered troops to storm the barracks. Consequently, all eight men were killed.

On August 12, 1959 another attempt to rid Haiti of Papa Doc was made. This group was led by Creole speaking Henri d' Anton was comprised of Cuban guerrillas and Haitian exiles. The invaders came ashore Haitian land at Les Irois, the southern most tip of the country. The initial reaction in Port-au-Prince was panic. With the help of U.S. marines and a full scale mobilization of Haitian military forces, the invaders were either captured or killed. By August 22, it was all over.
(snip)

http://www.webster.edu/~corbetre/haiti/history/duvaliers/overthrow.htm

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HAITI: A crisis made in the United States

Roberto Jorquera & Neville Spencer

On January 1, Haiti marked the 200th anniversary of its independence — the first black republic in the world. Yet the celebrations were overshadowed by protests against the government of Jean Bertrand Aristide, part of a surge of demonstrations that started in September. The crisis that Haiti is facing is, however, not simply due to the policies of the Aristide government, but is partly a consequence of US policies. (snip)

Although the protests are significant, many suspect that we are seeing a big business media/US government campaign similar to that which paved the way for the attempted military coup against the left-populist president of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, in April 2002.

The sizes of opposition demonstrations as they have appeared in the big business and international media have been inflated, while large pro-government rallies have been almost ignored. This has been coupled with attempts to paint Aristide as a brutal dictator, despite having been elected by a significant majority.

Even though popular opposition to Aristide is likely to have grown in the face of his government’s neoliberal policies, it is not clear whether this shift is so significant that he would not win another election were one held now.

The impression given by the media of an overwhelming popular rejection of Aristide by the Haitian people is likely to be wishful thinking or, as in Venezuela, part of a deliberate campaign on the part of the US government and Haitian big business. If Lavalas can be forced out of government, it is the forces, like the Democratic Convergence, that they would most like to see in power in Haiti.
(snip/)

http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2004/570/570p18.htm

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Makes you wonder what future purpose some of our "visionaries" have for Haiti. It's so small and so poor, and those citizens had the nerve to overthrow the slave owners! They probably got on the bad side of some of our own slave-owning "business" people all those years ago, don't you imagine? Couldn't have them controlling their own destiny, after all.

Thank you, AP, for the information imparted here. The pattern is getting more familiar now, isn't it?