Not the Democracy for which we prayed and fasted
I’m struggling right now to be positive. Haiti’s political juncture discourages me. In particular, I am disgusted and infuriated by crimes of the chime--poor men paid and armed by President Aristide’s government to intimidate outspoken non-Aristide supporters--and this structure of chime, which President Aristide created and which, by convincing accounts, he continues to nourish.
I remember the joyous optimism back in 1990/91 when 67% of voters elected Jean Bertrand Aristide to be their president. He represented the hope of the people for all that is good: economic improvement, justice, opportunity for those willing to work instead of just those born into the right families, etc. For the first time in Haiti’s history, Haitians felt that they had a leader committed to the betterment of the masses, not just to enriching a few. Then, there was a major setback to democracy when forces opposing the social change President Aristide pushed for, ousted him in a violent coup d’etat less than eight months after his inauguration.
From September 30, 1991 until October 15, 1994 the military and those from whom they received their orders terrorized Haiti’s civilian population and exploited every opportunity to further enrich themselves. Trafficking drugs between Colombia and the U.S. was among their core activities
But the cries and prayers of the people were heard. With the support of 20,000 American troops, President Jean Bertrand Aristide returned to Haiti on October 15, 1994 to finish his mandate. People in Beyond Borders network were among those who worked hard during those dark days for democracy to be restored. More than 2,500 of you fasted and prayed each month with faith that truth and justice would win out, and that those who stole power would be obliged to return it to the democratically elected president.
Now, once again, we’re watching power being abused. Last week my colleague, Michlet, was downtown Port-au-Prince and unable to find public transportation back to our office due to political unrest. Those calling for President Aristide’s resignation were demonstrating and Aristide supporters were terrorizing. Not having any other option, Michlet walked the 5 miles to our office. He recounted to us his experience, shaking his head with disbelief; “There were armed men and women—chime--right and left throughout the streets of Port-au-Prince. They stopped me and other passersby at gunpoint asking, ‘What party are you for?’ They told us we’d be as good as dead if we were have to said we oppose the president.”
Our dear friend Job, a university student, was much less fortunate. The very next day, he loaded a bus along with his colleagues just outside the university. Within 10 minutes of taking off, the bus was forced to a stop and surrounded by heavily armed men—chimè, reportedly--from two cars. They fired into the air and ordered the students out of the bus and to leave all their belongings on board. They frisked all them taking personal items of value. One of the thieves punched the face several times of the one student who protested. Before loading back into their cars and also taking off with the bus itself, thieves ordered the students to raise their opened hands (showing 5 fingers) and chant, “Five years, Five years, Five years,” signifying that Aristide is finishing his 5 year term. Frequently, this chanting of “Five years” is sprinkled with words like, “Ten Years” of “For Life.”
According to the Aristide Administration, the opposition is far from innocent, which likely contains at least some truth. The general sense among the many and diverse networks in which I circulate is that the Aristide Administration has become totally corrupt and that Aristide is not unlike previous dictators in his pursuit of power.
My colleagues and I work under the assumption that the practice of Open Space and Reflection Circles are two very concrete ways to help people better understand power--its danger to do harm and its capacity to do good—and to use this understanding to do good.
JohnEngle.info
TheExperiment.info
John@TheExperiment.info
I’m struggling right now to be positive. Haiti’s political juncture discourages me. In particular, I am disgusted and infuriated by crimes of the chime--poor men paid and armed by President Aristide’s government to intimidate outspoken non-Aristide supporters--and this structure of chime, which President Aristide created and which, by convincing accounts, he continues to nourish.
I remember the joyous optimism back in 1990/91 when 67% of voters elected Jean Bertrand Aristide to be their president. He represented the hope of the people for all that is good: economic improvement, justice, opportunity for those willing to work instead of just those born into the right families, etc. For the first time in Haiti’s history, Haitians felt that they had a leader committed to the betterment of the masses, not just to enriching a few. Then, there was a major setback to democracy when forces opposing the social change President Aristide pushed for, ousted him in a violent coup d’etat less than eight months after his inauguration.
From September 30, 1991 until October 15, 1994 the military and those from whom they received their orders terrorized Haiti’s civilian population and exploited every opportunity to further enrich themselves. Trafficking drugs between Colombia and the U.S. was among their core activities
But the cries and prayers of the people were heard. With the support of 20,000 American troops, President Jean Bertrand Aristide returned to Haiti on October 15, 1994 to finish his mandate. People in Beyond Borders network were among those who worked hard during those dark days for democracy to be restored. More than 2,500 of you fasted and prayed each month with faith that truth and justice would win out, and that those who stole power would be obliged to return it to the democratically elected president.
Now, once again, we’re watching power being abused. Last week my colleague, Michlet, was downtown Port-au-Prince and unable to find public transportation back to our office due to political unrest. Those calling for President Aristide’s resignation were demonstrating and Aristide supporters were terrorizing. Not having any other option, Michlet walked the 5 miles to our office. He recounted to us his experience, shaking his head with disbelief; “There were armed men and women—chime--right and left throughout the streets of Port-au-Prince. They stopped me and other passersby at gunpoint asking, ‘What party are you for?’ They told us we’d be as good as dead if we were have to said we oppose the president.”
Our dear friend Job, a university student, was much less fortunate. The very next day, he loaded a bus along with his colleagues just outside the university. Within 10 minutes of taking off, the bus was forced to a stop and surrounded by heavily armed men—chimè, reportedly--from two cars. They fired into the air and ordered the students out of the bus and to leave all their belongings on board. They frisked all them taking personal items of value. One of the thieves punched the face several times of the one student who protested. Before loading back into their cars and also taking off with the bus itself, thieves ordered the students to raise their opened hands (showing 5 fingers) and chant, “Five years, Five years, Five years,” signifying that Aristide is finishing his 5 year term. Frequently, this chanting of “Five years” is sprinkled with words like, “Ten Years” of “For Life.”
According to the Aristide Administration, the opposition is far from innocent, which likely contains at least some truth. The general sense among the many and diverse networks in which I circulate is that the Aristide Administration has become totally corrupt and that Aristide is not unlike previous dictators in his pursuit of power.
My colleagues and I work under the assumption that the practice of Open Space and Reflection Circles are two very concrete ways to help people better understand power--its danger to do harm and its capacity to do good—and to use this understanding to do good.
JohnEngle.info
TheExperiment.info
John@TheExperiment.info
posted by John Engle at 1/16/2004 03:55:00 PM
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