Aristide returns to Haiti

[sandinista]

Hopefully something good will come of this, Haiti is really suffering and in need of a decent leader. This ones for 'zilla...strange to find that the US was involved in overthrowing Aristide in 2004, here I thought US meddling in world affairs was just a "conspiracy theory".


Haiti must decide Haiti's future

It is outrageous that, at the 11th hour, the US is still pressing South Africa to stop the return of ousted President Aristide

Haiti's first democratically elected president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, is scheduled to return to his homeland this week after seven years in exile in South Africa. He was overthrown – for the second time – in a 2004 coup organised by the United States and its allies. Washington has gone to great lengths to prevent his return over the last seven years, and this week the state department once again warned that Aristide should not return until "after the [20 March] electoral process is concluded."

The state department is pretending that Aristide can simply come home after the election, and that he must have some sinister political motive for returning before the vote. This is completely dishonest. It is obvious that the next elected president will likely defer to the US and keep Aristide out. Furthermore, there is electoral pressure right now to allow Aristide back in the country. The Miami Herald reports that both of the contenders in the Sunday election have now said they welcome Aristide's return, after previously opposing it. This about-face is obviously an attempt to court Fanmi Lavalas (Aristide's party) voters. But we Americans know what happens to candidates' political stances after the election is over.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree ... eignpolicy

[egbert]

Funny how the US didn't block Papa Doc's return. Aah, the lure of all that aid money, all that corruption...

[Dries van Tonder]

One good thing though, he's left South Africa. One less expence on the national fiscus.