HAITI: 4th Anniversary of US Kidnapping of Haiti's Democratically-Elected President

[magbana]

Today, February 29, is the fourth anniversary of the 2004 coup in which the US government kidnapped the democratically elected president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide. A purge of Lavalas supporters was in full swing already but no one was prepared for the slaughter that was to come, especially at the hands of UN "peacekeepers."

Below are articles that provide background on the coup and its aftermath. The stories were authored by the Haiti Information Project and are posted at the Haiti Action website: www.haitiaction.net

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ARTICLES ARE ACCOMPANIED BY VERY GRAPHIC PICTURES

-In the following article, Randall Robinson gives you an insider’s look at the hours leading up to President Aristide’s kidnapping and the involvement of the US government

“Randall Robinson on the US’s Kidnapping of President Aristide”

http://www.haitiaction.net/News/RA/10_18_17/10_18_7.html

-The following article chronicles eyewitness accounts of a UN massacre on July 6, 2005, in the poorest neighborhood in Port-au-Prince by an estimated 300-400 UN troops. Through an FOIA request much later, it was found that the UN spent 22,000 rounds of ammunition in the attack.

“Evidence Mounts of a UN Massacre in Haiti”

http://www.haitiaction.net/News/HIP/7_12_5.html

-And, another massacre by UN Troops in Cite Soleil, on December 26, 2006

“UN in Haiti Accused of Second Massacre in Cite Soleil”

http://www.haitiaction.net/News/HIP/1_21_7/1_21_7.html

[algoreagain]

1. That was a sad moment

A sad moment in American history. Forcing a foreign presidency to flee his country betrays our ideals.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Thank you for these links. There's a lot to think about here.

What George W. Bush did to Haiti cannot be forgiven in this world or any other. We all saw it coming and were completely powerless to stop it.

I hope one day he will be UNABLE to escape his conscience, finally. He's going to be destroyed when he has to face the consequences of his filthy, inhuman, inexcuseable choices.

It didn't start with him, but he had ALL freedom in letting Haiti try to repair itself after the last assault on Haiti by his father, and he chose to cast Haitians into a deeper level of suffering than they had already known.

It's about time the lunatic cultures stopped punishing Haitians for standing up against their oppressors so very long ago. It has been considered heroic when American revolutionaries cut lose and overthrew the British for doing far, FAR, FAR less harm to them than what was done every minute of the day by French plantation owners to their "property," the actual working people of Haiti.

I hope a special hell awaits all slave owners, as it surely is, and most surely those who fight daily to keep their poisonous descendants controlling the future of the Western Hemisphere. What a shame these racists still have time to infest democratic message boards, trying to disrupt conversations among human beings.

[Judi Lynn]

3. Aristide supporters demand his return to Haiti

Aristide supporters demand his return to Haiti
Jacqueline Charles

February 29, 2008 5:41 PM

McClatchy Newspapers

(MCT)

Four years to the day that Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide was ousted from power, some 5,000 of his supporters marched down the streets of Port-au-Prince Friday to demand his return from exile to a home still politically fragile and struggling economically.

Chanting Aristide's name and waving signs, marchers took their protest to the gates of the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince and Haiti's National Palace to remind President Rene Preval - a one-time supporter of the former priest now living in South Africa - that Aristide's Fanmi Lavalas party helped elect him two years ago.

''I believe he heard us,'' said marcher Jean-Michel Porfil, 32. ''The people ... are hungry. They don't have work, but they protested because their president isn't here. We are asking for him to be returned.''

Aristide's supporters each year have marked his abrupt departure with his wife and a small contingent of bodyguards at his side amid an armed uprising, just after dawn Feb. 29, 2004.

More:
http://www.newspress.com/Top/Article/article.jsp?Section=WORLD&ID=565255101293658141