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| President
of Haiti resigns; U.S. troops Enter Caribbean Nation |
Posted:
03.1.04 | |
| After
increasing diplomatic pressure from the United States and other allies, President
Jean-Bertrand Aristide of Haiti fled into exile Sunday, leaving the Caribbean
nation in a state of turmoil. Printer-friendly versions: HTML
/ PDF | |
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| Following
Aristide's resignation, President Bush authorized the deployment of about 200
Marines as part of an "interim international force" to restore order.
The U.S. troops join  soldiers
from countries such as Canada and France that are trying to stop the looting and
revenge killings that have destabilized Haiti in the past several weeks. The
situation in Haiti, which shares an island with the Dominican Republic around
600 miles off the coast of Florida, has sparked political debate over when and
how the United States should intervene in emergency situations around the world.
And pressure to resolve the crisis continues, especially from the large number
of Haitians living in New York and Florida. | |
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| Exile
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| Following weeks of violent protests, a U.S. military aircraft carried
the displaced Aristide and his American wife, Mildred Trouillot Aristide, to the
Central African Republic, where they are expected to stay "for a short time,"
according to state radio. The couple had earlier in the week sent their
two daughters to Mildred's mother's home in New York City. In a letter explaining
his resignation, the former president said that he left to prevent further bloodshed
and to ensure that the  new
government would conform to Haiti's Constitution. "[The Constitution]
should not be drowned in the Haitian people's blood. This is why tonight, if it
is my resignation that will prevent a bloodbath, I agree to go with the hope that
there will be life and not death." Haiti's chief justice of the Supreme
Court, Boniface Alexandre, was sworn in as the leader of a transitional government
until elections can be held in 2005, as defined under the Haitian Constitution. | |
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| Violent
uprising | |
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| In
the 200 years since it gained independence from France, Haiti has been plagued
by violent uprisings and brutal military dictatorships. Many Haitians hoped
that Aristide, a former priest, would end the painful cycle when he became Haiti's
first democratically  elected
president in 1990. However, he was only in the presidential palace for several
months before a military coup forced him into exile. U.S. troops reinstated him
in 1994 and he finished the end of his five-year term. He returned to power
in 2000, but many of his critics believe that the elections were marred by corruption.
A coalition of political parties, civil societies, trade unions and business associations
boycotted the Congress, and refused to cooperate in any government initiatives
until he resigned. At the same time, armed rebel groups -- not linked to
the political opposition groups -- began violent clashes with government supporters
especially in the North. In recent days law and order has broken down and
ordinary citizens have been caught up in the looting of stores, government buildings
and hospitals. Dozens have been killed. | |
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| U.S.
troops | |
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initial 200 U.S. Marines who arrived in the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince late
Sunday night could be joined by hundreds more, according to Secretary of State
Colin Powell. "I don't think there will be a great deal of fighting,
but they have to be prepared for that. They need to bring a sense of  security
back to society, as we have done in times past. Unfortunately, that security didn't
stick because of the flawed politics of Haiti," Powell said. According
to a deal reached by the United Nations, the troops will remain no longer than
three months, at which time they will be replaced by U.N. peacekeepers. The
U.S. Coast Guard has also been on duty in the area. Three ships stationed just
offshore have been picking up Haitians who are trying to flee the violent nation
and returning them home. | |
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| Foreign
policy criticism | |
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| "This
is the beginning of a new chapter in the country's history," President Bush
said Sunday. "I would urge the people of Haiti to reject violence to give
this break from the past a chance to work. The United States is prepared to help." The
Democratic presidential candidates and the Congressional Black Caucus, a group
of black Congress members who advocate for black and minority citizens, have criticized
the Bush administration's handling of the Haiti crisis, saying that lack of attention
allowed the situation to spiral out of control.  Rep.
Charles Rangel, a Democrat from New York and a member of the Congressional Black
Caucus who was deeply involved in restoring Aristide to power in 1994, said the
United States must shoulder much of the blame for Aristide's fall and the chaos
that brought it on.
"We are just as much a part of this coup d'etat
as the rebels, looters or anyone else," he said. But Powell said Aristide
had a large role in creating the political crisis. After the United States reinstated
the leader in 1994, Powell said, "corruption came into play, inefficiency
came into play, cronyism came into play and the whole political tapestry of the
country came apart." --
Annie Schleicher, Online NewsHour | |
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