HAITI : The untold occupation.

POSTED BY: Howard
UPDATED: Sunday, October 23, 2005 22:39
VIEWED: 876
PAGE 1 of 1

HOWARD

Sunday, October 23, 2005 4:42 AM

USAID boasts “success” with pacification program in Haiti by Kevin Skerrett
October 10, 2005

In the alternative press, the role of many US government agencies and NGOs in the destabilization and overthrow of various governments around the world is widely recognized. The CIA, the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), the International Republican Institute (IRI), and other US government and government-funded groups have been widely exposed for their involvement in advancing a very neoliberal, "anti-communist", pro-US policy agenda in countries throughout Latin America and around the world. But USAID, America’s aid agency, has attracted somewhat less attention. Yet, their role in shaping the political climate of “recipient countries” has been critical, whether the objective has been to condition aid on neoliberal economic policy, destabilize left-populist governments (as in Chile, Nicaragua and more recently Venezuela and Haiti), or to provide support and legitimacy to right-wing governments and dictatorships that support US objectives (Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, the list is long).

Recently, USAID has played a central role in a ten-year “regime change” process in Haiti that is now reaching its final, consolidation phase. An August 2005 report published on their website offers a revealing glimpse of the very political function of this agency following the US/Canada/France-backed coup of February 29, 2004, an event which saw President Jean-Bertrand Aristide physically removed from the country by US marines, and dumped unceremoniously in the Central African Republic. The following notes provide several citations from this report in order to help clarify the current mandate of USAID's "Office of Transition Initiatives" (OTI) in Haiti.

The report starts:

In response to growing political turmoil in Haiti, OTI initiated the Haiti Transition Initiative in May 2004 with implementing partner International Organization for Migration. The program emphasizes stability-building measures in key crisis spots through the implementation of quick, visible small projects and activities that promote peace with the following objectives: enhance citizen confidence and participation in peaceful political transition, with specific focus on disaffected communities; promote peaceful interaction among conflicted populations; and constructively engage groups that threaten the peaceful political transition.

First of all, it's worth noting that the "implementation of quick, visible small projects" is described as the priority. It suggests that the agenda here is not to implement projects that have the greatest “developmental” impact, but rather those that will be cheap ("small") and visible - so that the impression of progress is created. The aim to engage "groups that threaten the peaceful political transition" is code phrasing for the objective of undermining the peaceful efforts of groups and leaders who continue to oppose the US-controlled coup government that was unconstitutionally established in March 2004.

The report then provides a (literal) whitewash of the horrifying UN military attack on Cite Soleil on July 6. As reported by an independent labour/human rights delegation that investigated the aftermath of this attack, the UN conducted an "arrest" operation that day which was in fact a carefully coordinated military assault, deploying some 350 troops, 20 armored personnel carriers (APCs), tear gas, smoke bombs, grenades, mortars, and “Chilean and Argentinian” helicopters.

This heavy firepower was launched at 4am into a densely-populated poor neighbourhood in Cite Soleil, with the unsurprising result that at least 23 innocent civilians were killed, some local estimates running as high as 50. The Médecins Sans Frontières hospital nearby admitted some 27 patients that day, mostly women and children, all with bullet wounds and stories of “UN blue helmets” having shot them. The purported target of the attack, a "gang leader" (or community defender, depending on your perspective) named Dred Wilme, was al

CHRISISALL

Sunday, October 23, 2005 8:48 PM

More bad news. But thanks for making me aware of the sit. Unlike some, I'd rather know what's happening, than feel all warm and cozy with the false notion that everything's right in the world, thanks to all the brave and benevolent leaders we have.

Chrisisall

HOWARD

Sunday, October 23, 2005 10:39 PM

You are welcome.

It is interesting to compare for example
the media response to the massacre in
Haiti and the bombs in London. The killing
of the people in the shanty town took place
a day before the tube and bus bombs in
London. Once the situation in London unfolded
the media had their standard excuse that the
violence closer to home was more relevant to
the domestic audience. I had this fight with
news guys at the BBC. The problem is that the
massacre in Haiti happened a day before the
London bombings and there was nothing in the
mainstream media and still nothing. It was not
a case of the London bombings causing the Haiti
story to be bumped there was no Haiti story
according to domestic BBC TV news. They were
not even working on the Haiti story.

What is really insulting is the idea that we
the viewers are some how not capable of caring
about Port-Au-Prince and London.

What is interesting about the Haiti situation
is that Bush has convinced Brazil and Canada
to be running the dirty campaign down there.
Wrapped up in the false veil of UN blue helmets
with the UN totally going along with it.

I listen to Canadian radio a lot via satellite
and the media there is not at all pressuring
Prime Minister Paul Martin on the issue. This
is the same Paul Martin who has reneged on
the photo-op promises made at Glen-Eagles on
the eve of the Live 8 concerts. All the paper
thin promises for Africa have already been
dissolving before Africa's eyes. Still Bono
insists that making best friends with Jessie
Helms and George Bush is the best way to save
Africa. In my opinion what Africa needs is
saving from Western rock stars. As one British
writer wrote LIVE 8 is just the official rock
and pop celebrity wing of the G8. A trojan
horse of neo-colonialism.