4-2 Journal: Historical Documentaries (50 points) can’t open the last two have to download app

[ M USIC P LA YIN G ]

H ait i, 8 m illio n in hab it a n ts .

C ap it a l, P o rt-a u -P rin ce .

2 50,0 00 in hab it a n ts in 1 957, 2 m illio n in 2 004.

L if e e xp ecta n cy , 5 0 y e ars .

7 0% o f t h e p op ula tio n liv e s b elo w t h e p ove rty lin e. Illit e ra cy r a te , o ve r 6 5% .

U nem plo ym en t r a te , 7 0% .

O ffic ia l la n g uag es, C re ole a n d F re n ch . H ait i's h is to ry is n ot a c y clic a l h is to ry .

I t 's a lin ear h is to ry .

W e a re n ot g oin g a ro u nd in c ir c le s.

W e a re m ovin g t o w ard s a s ta te o f la w . It t o ok y e ars f o r E u ro p e t o b uild d em ocra tic p illa rs .

H ere in H ait i, t h e e xe rc is e o f d em ocra tic p ow er o n ly b eg an in 1 991 w it h m y e le ctio n a s p re sid en t.

U nfo rtu nate ly , a c o u p d 'e ta t p ut a n a b ru p t e n d t o t h is s e ve n m on th s la te r.

T h e d em ocra cy w as r e sto re d in 1 994.

C on so lid atin g t h e n atio n 's d em ocra tic in stit u tio n s w ill b e a g ra d ual p ro ce ss.

O nce t h is is a ch ie ve d , H ait i w ill n o lo n g er p ro je ct t h is im ag e o f a c o u ntr y in w hic h t h ere 's a t e n d en cy t o r e p eat t h at w hic h h as b een

p ut a sid e.

S om e w ou ld s a y o u r h is to ry is a c o n str u cte d p ast, o th ers a p ast t o b e r e co n str u cte d .

I s e e it a s a p ast t o b e r e co n str u cte d . W it h A ris tid e, w e a ll d evo te d o u r e n erg ie s t o t r y in g t o b uild t h is n ew s ta te f r o m a g ra ssro ots

l e ve l. W it h t h is m ass m ob iliz a tio n o f t h e p eop le , it w as a n e xtr a ord in ary o p portu nit y . Y o u c o u ld a lw ays c rit ic iz e o u r illu sio n s, b ut

t h e f a ct is t h is h op e r e ally e xis te d a t t h e c o lle ctiv e le ve l, a t t h e n atio n al le ve l.

T h at s a id , it d id n't h ap pen .

I t w as a n oth er f a ilu re .

F a ilu re , d oe s h is to ry a lw ays r e p eat it s e lf in H ait i?

G on aiv e s, t h e b ir th p la ce o f in d ep en d en ce , is a t o d ds w it h P o rt-a u -P rin ce y e t a g ain .

F o r t h e c u rre n t o ccu p an t o f t h e P re sid en tia l P a la ce , t h is m ay p ro ve o n e t im e t o o m an y.

E ve ry H ait ia n w ho h as r u le d t h is c o u ntr y h as w an te d t o r e m ain in p ow er.

T h ey g et t h ere , t h ey e n jo y a ll t h ese p riv ile g es, t h ey w an t t o s ta y. T h e e n tir e p op ula tio n is b eh in d o u r d em an d t h at A ris tid e g o.

I f h e d oe sn 't g o, w e'l l w ag e w ar. I n G on aiv e s y o u 'l l f in d t h e b ir th p la ce o f in d ep en d en ce , y o u 'l l f in d r e b els .

B ut it is n 't a r e b ellio n a g ain st t h e s a m e in d iv id uals f o r t h e s a m e c a u se s.

W e'r e f ig htin g t e rro ris m .

T h ere a re t e rro ris ts w ho m ay c h oose G on aiv e s b eca u se it 's t h e b ir th p la ce o f in d ep en d en ce in o rd er t o t u rn it in to a p la ce w here

t h is in d iv id ual o r t h at in d iv id ual is p ers e cu te d in a n a tte m pt t o d esta b iliz e t h e g ove rn m en t.

B ut y o u h ave t h e c o m munit y o f G on aiv e s r e b ellin g a s a w hole a n d s a yin g n o t o t e rro ris m .

A nd t h is is w hy t h e s it u atio n c o n tin ues.

A nd y o u h ave a p ow er, e xe rc is e d f r o m h ere a d m it te d ly , b ut w hic h s a ys n o t o r e p re ssio n .

T h e p olic e w ill n eve r b e g iv e n o rd ers t o s u p pre ss t h e t e rro ris ts .

T o id en tif y t h e c u lp rit s , ju stic e is d on e, s a n ctio n s a re a p plie d in a cco rd an ce w it h t h e la w . In d ep en d en t s in ce 1 804 u nd er t h e

w atc h fu l e ye o f A m eric a , H ait i is c e le b ra tin g it s b ic e n te n ary t h is y e ar. 6 00 m ile s f r o m t h e U S, r ig ht n ext d oor t o C ub a, n eig hb orin g

t h e D om in ic a n R ep ub lic , w it h w hom it s h are s t h e is la n d , t h e y o u ng r e p ub lic o f H ait i s till h asn 't g ot a n ew le ase o f lif e .

W hile t h e r e b el t o w n o f G on aiv e s is m ore t h an e ve r t h e s y m bol o f o p posit io n t o t h e g ove rn m en t in p ow er, t h e c a p it a l P o rt-a u -

P rin ce , w it h it s N atio n al P a la ce , r e m ain s t h e s y m bol o f a d esp otic p ow er, a d em ocra cy t h at's t r y in g t o f in d it s e lf .

T h e N atio n al P a la ce is t h e s y m bol o f a u to cra tic p ow er.

I n m y o p in io n , t h e N atio n al P a la ce is t h e v e rit a b le t o m b o f d em ocra cy . If y o u w ere t o r e ad a ll t h e c o n stit u tio n s t h at t h is c o u ntr y h as

k n ow n a n d y o u w ere s o m eon e w ho w asn 't f a m ilia r w it h H ait i, y o u 'd s a y t o y o u rs e lf , h old o n .

T h is is a d em ocra tic c o u ntr y .

B ut w e'r e f a ce d w it h a s it u atio n w here it is p ro ve d im possib le t o a p ply t h ese c o n stit u tio n al t e xts t o p olit ic a l p ra ctic e s, t o m ake

t h ese t e xts a r e alit y , t o s u ch a d eg re e t h at w e h ave a t w o t ie r r e g im e.

T h ere 's t h e r e g im e e m bod ie d in t h e c o n stit u tio n , a n d t h ere 's t h e r e g im e a s it is in p ra ctic e .

A nd p olit ic a l p ra ctic e is s tr a yin g f u rth er a n d f u rth er f r o m t h e c o n stit u tio n al t e xts . D is c o ve re d b y C hris to p her C olu m bus in t h e la te

1 5th c e n tu ry , t h e W este rn h alf o f t h is r e m ote is la n d , H ait i, b eca m e a F re n ch t e rrit o ry in t h e 1 7th c e n tu ry .

T h e v io le n t p ro ce ss o f c o lo n iz a tio n in vo lv e d t h e m assa cre o f t h e n ativ e A ra w ak In d ia n s a n d t h e im porta tio n o f t h ou sa n d s o f b la ck

s la ve s f r o m A fr ic a .

T h e is la n d b eca m e F ra n ce 's r ic h est c o lo n ia l p osse ssio n a t t h e p ric e o f in d esc rib ab le s u ffe rin g .

T h e in hum an e liv in g c o n d it io n s im pose d o n t h e s la ve s, t h e c h ain s, t h e b eatin g s, t h e h um ilia tio n , t h e t o rtu re , a n d t h e m urd er

p ro vo ke d a n g er a n d r e b ellio n . U nd er t h e le ad ers h ip o f T o u ssa in t L o u ve rtu re , t h e s la ve s t h re w o ff t h eir s h ack le s in t h e y e ar 1 791,

t h re e y e ars b efo re t h e o ffic ia l a b olit io n o f s la ve ry b y t h e F re n ch N atio n al C on ve n tio n . F o r t h e s la ve s t o b e a b le t o id en tif y w it h e ach

o th er, f o r t h ere t o b e a c e rta in s o lid arit y b etw een t h em , t h ere n eed ed t o b e a c o m mon s y m bolic a l c u lt u ra l s y ste m . A nd t h is s y ste m w as c re ate d t h ro u g h v o od oo. F ro m a c u lt u ra l p oin t o f v ie w , v o od oo r e p re se n te d a f o rm o f r e sis ta n ce f o r t h e

s la ve s, t h e s la ve s w ho h ad b een t o rn f r o m t h eir la n d , t h eir c u lt u re , f r o m A fr ic a , a n d f o u nd t h em se lv e s in a n u nfa m ilia r w orld , a

s tr a n g e e n vir o n m en t.

I t h in k t h at if t h ere h ad n't b een t h is c u lt u ra l r e se rv e , t h ey m ay w ell h ave d ie d o r e n d ed g oin g in sa n e.

E ve n a t t h e B ois C aim an c e re m on y, w hic h r e p re se n ts t h e f o u nd in g a ct o f t h e n atio n , v o od oo w as v e ry m uch p re se n t. T h e f ig ht f o r

t h e in d ep en d en ce o f H ait i b eg an w it h a g en era l in su rre ctio n .

T h is s la ve r e b ellio n w as p re p are d a t a m eetin g b etw een t h e r e p re se n ta tiv e s o f t h e d if fe re n t e th nic g ro u p s o rg an iz e d b y a v o od oo

l e ad er c a lle d B ou km an . D urin g t h e n ig ht o f A ug ust t h e 2 2nd , 1 791, B ou km an a n d t h e o th er s la ve le ad ers c o n d ucte d a m ajo r r e vo lt .

A ft e r t h is , t h e s la ve s n eve r a g ain w ork e d o n t h e s e ttle rs p la n ta tio n s a s s la ve s. It is im possib le t o u nd ers ta n d t h e H ait ia n s if y o u 'r e

n ot f a m ilia r w it h v o od oo.

V ood oo n ot o n ly a s a r e lig io n o r p hilo so p hy b ut a ls o a s a c u lt u ra l m atr ix lie s a t t h e v e ry h eart o f t h e H ait ia n s o cia l e xp erie n ce .

S o v o od oo is v e ry m uch p re se n t.

U nfo rtu nate ly , it h as a lw ays b een p ush ed a sid e in H ait ia n s o cie ty .

V ood oo w as b an ned d urin g t h e c o lo n ia l p erio d .

T h e b la ck c o d e e sta b lis h ed b y t h e F re n ch p ro h ib it e d a ll r e lig io n s o th er t h an C ath olic is m . A nd a n yo n e w ho w as c a u g ht a ft e r 6

o 'c lo ck a t n ig ht t a kin g p art in v o od oo d an ce s o r c e re m on ie s w as q uit e s im ply m urd ere d . S o in o th er w ord s, v o od oo w as a ctiv e ly

s u p pre sse d t h ro u g hou t t h e c o lo n ia l p erio d .

A ft e r t h e B io s C aim an c e re m on y p act, t h e f ir s t a ct o f lib era tio n , T o u ssa in t L o u ve rtu re 's r e tu rn , a n d t h e o ffic ia l a b olit io n o f s la ve ry ,

p assio n s a b ate d s o m ew hat.

T h e y e ar w as 1 797.

T o u ssa in t L o u ve rtu re , h ero o f t h is f ir s t r e b ellio n , w as a p poin te d c o m man d er in c h ie f o f t h e F re n ch a rm ed f o rc e s o f S ain t-D om in g ue

H e g ave t h e c o lo n y a lm ost t o ta l a u to n om y a n d e xp elle d t h e F re n ch o ffic ia ls . T h e is la n d w as r e u nif ie d .

T o u ssa in t L o u ve rtu re t h en p ro cla im ed h im se lf g ove rn or g en era l f o r lif e a n d g ave H ait i a n a u to n om ou s c o n stit u tio n .

H is s h ow o f f o rc e le d t h e F re n ch t o s e n d a n e xp ed it io n ary f o rc e t o t h e is la n d w it h o rd ers t o r e esta b lis h s la ve ry a n d r e sto re t h e

c o lo n ia l o rd er. T o u ssa in t L o u ve rtu re w as a rre ste d a n d e xile d t o F ra n ce .

H e d ie d a f e w m on th s la te r o n A pril 7 , 1 803, in t h e F o rt d e Jo u x. M ean w hile o n t h e is la n d , t h e F re n ch t r o op s w ere h ara sse d b y t h e

r e b ellio n le d b y G en era l D essa lin es a n d G en era l C hris to p he.

D efe ate d b y t h e b ra ve r e b el f o rc e s, w orn d ow n b y y e llo w f e ve r, t h e F re n ch G en era l R och am beau w as f o rc e d t o c a p it u la te o n

N ove m ber t h e 1 9th , 1 803.

H is t r o op s t o ok r e fu g e in C ub a a n d in t h e f o rm er S pan is h p art o f t h e is la n d t o t h e e ast.

W it h t h e W este rn p art o f t h e is la n d lib era te d , D essa lin es a n d h is g en era ls o ffic ia lly p ro cla im ed t h e in d ep en d en ce o f H ait i in t h e c it y

o f G on aiv e s o n t h e 1 st o f Ja n uary , 1 804. T h ey t h us f o u nd ed t h e f ir s t b la ck r e p ub lic in h is to ry .

A ll m en w ere d ecla re d e q ual.

T h e s a m e y e ar o n F e b ru ary t h e 1 5th , D essa lin es w as c ro w ned e m pero r Ja ck I o f H ait i.

H ait i w as b orn a n d w as p erc e iv e d f r o m t h e s ta rt a s a n a ct o f d efia n ce , a n a n om aly a n d a t h re at b y t h e s la ve -h old in g , c o lo n ia lis t

p ow ers o f t h e p erio d .

A nd t h ese p ow ers m ad e it k n ow n t h at H ait i, t h e H ait ia n e xp erim en t, m ustn 't s u cce ed , a s t h is w ou ld s e t a n u nw elc o m e p re ce d en t.

S o t h is is w hy w e h ad s u ch d if fic u lt y g ettin g o u r in d ep en d en ce r e co g niz e d .

W e p aid a h ig h p ric e .

A ft e r p ayin g w it h o u r liv e s, w e h ad t o p ay in m on ey. P o rt-a u -P rin ce , Ja n uary 2 004, t h e p re sid en t o f t h e r e p ub lic Je an -B ertr a n d

A ris tid e c e le b ra te s t h e h ero t o T o u ssa in t L o u ve rtu re .

I f e el v e ry c lo se t o T o u ssa in t L o u ve rtu re .

H e is t h e p re cu rs o r o f in d ep en d en ce , t h e g en iu s o f t h e r a ce , t h e m an w ho g ave u s o u r f ir s t c o n stit u tio n in 1 801.

H e d em on str a te d h is in te llig en ce , h is a b ilit y t o s tr u g gle b y n on vio le n t m ean s in o rd er t o t a ke t h e f ir s t s te p s t o w ard s t h e

e sta b lis h m en t o f a s ta te o f la w s in ce t h e c o n stit u tio n c ry sta lliz e s a le g al f r a m ew ork . W e s till d ra w in sp ir a tio n f r o m T o u ssa in t

L o u ve rtu re t o d ay a s w e w ork t o w ard b uild in g a s ta te o f la w . D essa lin es w as p ro cla im ed g ove rn or g en era l f o r lif e b y a ccla m atio n .

T h ere w as a n e le ctio n .

I t w as a v o ic e v o te .

T h e c ro w ds w ho g ath ere d o n t h e P la ce d 'A rm es in t h e c it y o f G on aiv e s Ja n uary t h e 1 st, 1 804, p la ce d t h eir d estin y in D essa lin es'

h an d s.

A nd t h e C ou ncil o f S ta te f o rm ed b y t h e g en era ls s a w in D essa lin es t h e in ca rn atio n o f t h is p ow er.

T h e n atio n 's d estin y w as e n tr u ste d t o D essa lin es. .

T h e C ou ncil o f S ta te a g re ed w hole h earte d ly .

T h ere w as n o d is a g re em en t.

T h is t h in kin g o u tliv e d D essa lin es.

A nd it s till e xis ts t o d ay.

E sta b lis h ed o n O cto b er 8 , 1 804, D essa lin es' b lo od y a n d d ic ta to ria l r e g im e c a m e t o a v io le n t e n d o n S ep te m ber t h e 1 7th , 1 806,

w hen t h e e m pero r w as a ssa ssin ate d .

T h is m ark e d t h e s ta rt o f a n oth er b lo od y c h ap te r in t h e h is to ry o f H ait i. B la ck s a n d w ealt h y m ula tto e s f o u g ht o ve r t h e c o u ntr y . T h e N orth w as g ove rn ed b y G en era l H en ri C hris to p he, w ho w as c ro w ned

K in g H en ri I in 1 811.

H e w ou ld c o m mit s u ic id e in 1 820.

W hile t h e S ou th w as in t h e h an d s o f t h e m ula tto le ad er P e tio n , w ho d ie d in 1 818.

I n 1 804, w e e sta b lis h ed a s ta te a g ain st F ra n ce , w hic h s y m boliz e d t h e r e tu rn t o s la ve ry .

B ut w hen t h e f o u nd in g f a th ers e sta b lis h ed t h is s ta te , t h ey d id n ot c re ate w hat y o u m ig ht c a ll a u nit a ry p ro je ct. E ve ry o n e m ay h ave

j o in ed f o rc e s t o d riv e o u t t h e F re n ch t o p re ve n t t h e r e tu rn o f s la ve ry , b ut t h ese g en era ls t h en t o ok p ow er in o rd er t o r e p la ce t h e

c o lo n ia lis ts .

A nd f r o m t h at m om en t o n , t h ey c re ate d a s o cie ty b ase d o n e xclu sio n .

T h is e xclu sio n h as p ers is te d t h ro u g hou t o u r h is to ry .

A nd in H ait i, t h e 1 9th c e n tu ry w as o n e lo n g b attle . T h e c o u ntr y w as c re ate d b y t h e a rm y, w it h t h e s u p port o f t h e m asse s o b vio u sly .

B ut it w as t h e a rm y t h at b ro u g ht a b ou t in d ep en d en ce .

A nd t h e g en era ls t h en f o u g ht w it h e ach o th er in o rd er t o h ave t h eir s h are o f p ow er o r r a th er t h eir t u rn in p ow er. T h is a rm y s e iz e d

s o ve re ig nty .

T h at's t o s a y, it m ad e it s e lf t h e r e p re se n ta tiv e o f t h e p eop le .

A nd it w as o n t h is b asis t h at t h e o n ly in stit u tio n , t h e m ilit a ry in stit u tio n , e vo lv e d d urin g t h e 1 9th c e n tu ry .

T h ey m ay h ave b een d ep utie s, b ut t h e p olit ic a l p ers o n nel a ll id en tif ie d w it h t h e a rm y. T h ey w ere a ll g en era ls .

A ll t h e g re at p olit ic a l f ig ure s w ere , f ir s t a n d f o re m ost, g re at m ilit a ry m en . D essa lin es, C hris to p he, P e tio n .

F a u stin I, t h e e arly 1 9th c e n tu ry w as a lit a n y o f d ic ta to rs h ip s, p olit ic a l a ssa ssin atio n s, a n d r e b ellio n s. T h e r e p ub lic w as r e -

e sta b lis h ed in 1 859 b y N oco la s F a b re G effr a rd .

B ut t h e o lig arc h y in p ow er r e je cte d m od ern iz a tio n .

P a u p eriz a tio n s e t in .

T h e c a co , in su rg en ts f r o m t h e b la ck p easa n tr y , t o ok u p a rm s a g ain st t h e m ula tto e lit e . T h is w as t h e s ta rtin g p oin t o f a v io le n t

s tr u g gle w hic h la ste d f r o m 1 868 t o 1 870 a n d le d t o t h e o ve rth ro w o f , G effr a rd , t h e b lo w in g u p o f t h e N atio n al P a la ce .

a n d f o r t h e f ir s t t im e e ve r in t h e h is to ry o f t h is c o u ntr y , t h e e xe cu tio n o f a H ait ia n p re sid en t f o llo w in g a s u m mary t r ia l. It w as a

m ajo r c ris is .

I 'd s a y it w as t h e b ig gest c ris is o f t h e 1 9th c e n tu ry .

A nd t h e c a co w ere t o p la y a n im porta n t r o le in t h e p olit ic a l h is to ry o f H ait i, u p t ill a n d in clu d in g t h e f ir s t y e ars o f t h e A m eric a n

o ccu p atio n . T h ere w ere t h re e s ta g es in t h e c a co m ove m en t.

T h e f ir s t d ate s f r o m 1 867, w hen S ylv a in S aln ave w as s w orn in , t o 1 915. I t w as a m ove m en t w hose t r o op s w ere c h ie fly m ad e u p o f p easa n ts f r o m t h e n orth east o f H ait i o n t h e b ord er w it h t h e D om in ic a n

R ep ub lic .

T h ese p easa n t q uan tit ie s t r o op s f r o m t h e n orth east w ere c o m man d ed b y t h e m ajo r la n d o w ners o f t h e r e g io n w ho p ro m is e d t h em

t h e m oon if t h ey o ve rth re w t h e g ove rn m en t a t P o rt-a u -P rin ce . In o th er w ord s, t h e c a co s e t o u t f r o m t h e n orth east b earin g a rm s

p ro vid ed b y t h e la n d o w ners a n d g en era ls a n d h ead ed f o r t h e c a p it a l in o rd er t o o ve rth ro w t h e g ove rn m en t.

T h e h ostilit ie s b etw een t h e m ula tto e lit e a n d t h e b la ck p easa n tr y p lu ng ed t h e c o u ntr y in to v io le n ce .

N o le ss t h an s ix p re sid en ts w ere a ssa ssin ate d b etw een 1 911 a n d 1 915.

U sin g t h is c h aos a s a n e xcu se , t h e U S M arin es la n d ed o n H ait i o n Ju ly t h e 2 8th , 1 915.

T h ey t o ok o ve r P o rt-a u -P rin ce a n d p ut a b lo od y e n d t o t h e c a co m ove m en t.

A d e f a cto p ro te cto ra te w as s e t u p w hic h o n ly t h e b la ck s r e sis te d .

T h e g ap b etw een t h e b la ck s a n d t h e m ula tto e s w id en ed f u rth er.

U nd er t h e p re ssu re o f t h e o ccu p yin g f o rc e , a n ew c o n stit u tio n w as p ro cla im ed .

T h e a rm y o f In d ep en d en ce w as d is b an d ed a n d r e p la ce d b y a n A m eric a n iz e d f o rc e t h at s e rv e d t h e n ew r e g im e.

T h e A m eric a n o ccu p atio n w as t o t o ta lly c h an g e t h e f a ce o f t h e c o u ntr y s tr u ctu re s a n d o f w hat's c a lle d t h e F e d era tio n o f P ro vin ce s.

T h e F e d era tio n o f P ro vin ce s c o lla p se d a s a r e su lt o f c o n sta n t b atte rin g f r o m t h e A m eric a n s.

A nd t h is le d t o t h e R ep ub lic o f P o rt-a u -P rin ce .

I t e xp la in s t h e p ow er o f p eop le lik e t h e D uva lie r, a n d a b ove a ll it e xp la in s t h e p ow er o f t h e L a va la s, b eca u se t h is t y p e o f p ow er is

o f a n u rb an n atu re .

A nd t h is h asn 't b een s tr e sse d e n ou g h.

T h e A m eric a n o ccu p atio n d id n ot e sta b lis h a d em ocra tic s y ste m .

O n t h e c o n tr a ry , t h e h ig h c o m mis sio n er is a c iv il s e rv a n t.

T h e h ig h c o m mis sio n er, t h e A m eric a n g en era l, is t h e o n e w ho d ecid es.

S o y o u h ave t h is t w o-h ead ed s y ste m w here t h e h ig h c o m mis sio n er d ecid es a n d t h e p re sid en t s im ply a n aly ze s w hat t h e h ig h

c o m mis sio n er h as a lr e ad y d ecid ed . T h ere fo re in t h ese c o n d it io n s w hen t h e o ccu p ie r le ave s, y o u n o lo n g er h ave a h ig h

c o m mis sio n er.

Y o u s till h ave a n a m bassa d or.

B ut a ll t h e p ow er is c o n ce n tr a te d in t h e p re sid en t's h an d s, w ho h as v a st m ean s a t h is d is p osa l.

I t 's a p ure ly r e la tiv e f o rm o f s ta b ilit y .

I n t h is s e n se , t h e 2 0th c e n tu ry m ay s e em m ore s ta b le t h an t h e 1 9th c e n tu ry t o t h e u nin fo rm ed o b se rv e r.

B ut it 's t h e s ta b ilit y o f a n a n ti- d em ocra tic s y ste m . L e d b y t h e c a co , t h e r e sis ta n ce m ove m en t s p re ad t h ro u g hou t t h e c o u ntr y . F o r t h e s e co n d t im e in h is to ry , H ait i o b ta in ed t h e w it h d ra w al o f t h e o ccu p yin g f o rc e s.

T h e la st m arin es le ft H ait i in 1 934.

S te n io V in ce n t, t h e p re sid en t c h ose n b y t h e U nit e d S ta te s, w as s u cce ed ed b y E lie L e sc o t, w ho w as o ve rth ro w n a n d r e p la ce d b y a

m ilit a ry t r iu m vir a te .

H ait i t h en e n d ure d t h e d esp otic r u le o f D um ars a is E stim e, t h e f ir s t b la ck p re sid en t t o b e e le cte d s in ce t h e o ccu p atio n .

H e w as o ve rth ro w n in 1 950 t o m ake w ay f o r C olo n el P a u l M ag lo ir e , w ho f e ll s ix y e ars la te r in 1 956.

F ra n co is D uva lie r u se d t o s a y, a ft e r t h e A m eric a n o ccu p atio n , o b vio u sly , w hen h e w as in p ow er, t h at c o u p d 'e ta t n eve r c o m e f r o m

t h e s tr e et b ut f r o m t h e p ala ce .

T h is w as c e rta in ly t r u e a ft e r t h e A m eric a n o ccu p atio n .

T h e e vid en ce b ears t h is o u t.

B ut b efo re t h e A m eric a n o ccu p atio n , it w as t h e p ro vin ce s t h at w ere in str u m en ta l in o ve rth ro w in g t h e r u le rs . O ne m ustn 't f a ll in to

t h is r a cis t o r p atr o n iz in g t r a p o f a s o rt o f e xce p tio n alit y o f H ait i.

T h ere is a n e xce p tio n alit y in t h e h is to ry o f H ait i, b ut t h is m ust b e t a ke n in to a cco u nt.

B ut w hat H ait i d id t h at w as e xce p tio n al o r e xe m pla ry w asn 't d on e t o m ain ta in H ait i in a s o rt o f e xce p tio n al s ta te .

O n t h e c o n tr a ry , it w as d on e in o rd er t o b rin g m od ern it y , d em ocra cy t o t h e c o u ntr y .

I u se t h e t e rm d em ocra cy b eca u se I h ave n o o th er w ord .

I t 's a s o m ew hat o ve ru se d e xp re ssio n .

I t h in k t h at t h ose w ho o b se rv e u s f r o m a b ro a d h ave t o g et t h is in to t h eir h ead s.

I t r e ally p ain s m e t o h ear p eop le s a y, w ell it 's a d if fic u lt c o u ntr y .

W hy d on 't t h ey ju st p ut u p w it h a d ic ta to r?

O r t h is c o u ntr y w asn 't b orn f o r d em ocra cy .

O r, it 's b eca u se t h ey'r e b la ck .

O r, t h ey'r e k illin g e ach o th er.

W hen eve r a f o re ig n jo u rn alis t s a ys t o m e, y o u 'r e k illin g e ach o th er, I s a y, t h at's a p pallin g .

W e'r e n ot k illin g e ach o th er.

T h ose in p ow er a re k illin g t h e p op ula tio n .

W e'r e n ot k illin g e ach o th er.

I t h in k it 's t h is v ie w t h at h as t o b e c h an g ed , t h e w orld 's v ie w o f t h is c o u ntr y , a c o u ntr y t h at h as h ad a n e xce p tio n al h is to ry in t e rm s

o f it s c o u ra g e a n d o f w hat it h as c o n tr ib ute d a t c e rta in m om en ts in t h e h is to ry o f h um an it y . I t m ad e a n e xce p tio n al e n tr y in to m od ern it y .

I t m ustn 't b e c o n d em ned in t h e n am e o f t h is e xce p tio n al e n tr y f o r n ot b ein g c a p ab le o f e n te rin g in to t h e m od ern it y o f t o d ay.

W hen p eop le lo ok a t u s, w hen t h ey h ear u s s a y t h ere h ave t o b e c h an g es in H ait i, t h ey h ave t o u nd ers ta n d t h at w e'r e d em an d in g

e xa ctly t h e s a m e t h in g t h at t h ey a re .

B eca u se t h ere a re t h in g s h ap pen in g h ere w hic h a re in acce p ta b le e ls e w here , s o t h ey s h ou ld b e in acce p ta b le h ere . E ve ry th in g h as

t o b e r e b uilt in H ait i.

I g re w u p h ere .

I 'v e n eve r s e en t h e lik e s o f t h is .

P e op le a re k illin g e ach o th er e ve ry d ay.

W e c a n 't liv e lik e t h is . W e n eed w ate r.

T h e la n d is t o o d ry .

I t n eve r r a in s. W e n eed t o w ork in o rd er t o s u rv iv e a n d t o h elp t h e c o u ntr y m ove f o rw ard .

I n eve r e at m y f ill.

T h ere 's n oth in g t o e at h ere . W e r e ly o n o u r v e g eta b le p atc h .

I t p ro vid es e n ou g h f o od f o r o n e d ay a n d t h at's it . T o m orro w w e h ave t o m ake t h e s a m e e ffo rt a g ain .

W e h ave t o s ta rt a ll o ve r a g ain .

[ S IN G IN G IN F O REIG N L A N G UAG E]

I f y o u w alk a ro u nd P o rt-a u -P rin ce t o d ay, y o u 'l l s e e t h e lif e o f t h e p eop le , t h eir p riv a te lif e o n f u ll v ie w in t h e s tr e et.

T h ey w ash in t h e s tr e et, e at in t h e s tr e et, s le ep in t h e s tr e et, d re ss in t h e s tr e et. A w hole s e rie s o f in hib it io n s h as d is a p peare d .

A nd t h is h as p ush ed p eop le b ack t o t h e s ta te o f a n im als lik e t h ey w ere 2 00 y e ars a g o.

I t h in k w e h ave a t e n d en cy t o p ut h is to ry o n t r ia l.

N ota b ly , t h is im porta n t q uestio n o f t h e r e stit u tio n o f t h e d eb t o f in d ep en d en ce . B ut I s e e t h is a s a w ay o f n ot f a cin g u p t o t h e f a ct

t h at w e n ow h ave a p op ula tio n t h at m ay n ot a ctu ally b e in c h ain s b ut w hose e xis te n ce is a kin t o t h at o f t h e v e ry w ors t d ays o f

s la ve ry . It 's t h e r e su lt o f a lo ss o f v a lu es a n d o f s e n sib ilit y .

A nd if t h ere 's t o b e a m ass m ob iliz a tio n , it s h ou ld b e t o b rin g u s o u t t o t h is s ta te o f s la ve ry , w hic h I t h in k is a b ove a ll in p eop le 's

m in d s a n d in t h e liv in g c o n d it io n s t h at w e'v e c re ate d f o r o u r p op ula tio n . T h e p ro b le m o f t h e r e al e n d t o s la ve ry is s till o n t h e

a g en d a. I t r e m ain s a p ro b le m in H ait i t o d ay in t h e s e n se t h at t h e H ait ia n p easa n ts o r t h e e n se m ble o f H ait ia n s liv in g o n H ait ia n s o il a re n ot

r e ally c o n sid ere d c it iz e n s. In o th er w ord s, a ft e r t h e lib era tio n m ove m en t, w hic h le d t o in d ep en d en ce , t h e q uestio n o f t h e

i n stit u tio n aliz a tio n o f t h e lib erty a n d e q ualit y o f a ll H ait ia n s in la w s till r e m ain s. In t h ose d ays, t h ere w as b oth t h is in fr a -h um an

p ove rty a n d t h e c h ain s o f s la ve ry .

U nfo rtu nate ly w e s till h ave t h is in fr a -h um an p ove rty t o d ay.

B ut w e h ave lib erty t o o.

T h ere 's a h ug e d if fe re n ce b etw een a b je ct p ove rty p lu s s la ve ry a n d a b je ct p ove rty m in us s la ve ry .

S ad ly , a b je ct p ove rty s till e xis ts t o d ay.

B ut t h ere is a n u nsh aka b le d ete rm in atio n t o f ig ht t h is in fr a -h um an p ove rty in o rd er t o g ra d ually r a is e H ait ia n s f r o m a b je ct p ove rty

t o d ig nif ie d p ove rty . In t h e 1 950s, P o rt-a u -P rin ce w as a c it y o f 1 50,0 00 p eop le .

T o d ay t h ere a re 2 m illio n .

W hy?

B eca u se t h ere w as a m ass r u ra l e xo d us w hic h b eg an 5 0 y e ars a g o.

S eco n d ly , t h ere w as w hat I'd c a ll t h e d em ag og ic a n d m alic io u s e xp lo it a tio n o f t h ese p eop le b y t h e D uva lie r r e g im e.

W hen eve r t h ere w as a n im porta n t o cca sio n , D uva lie r w ou ld h ave p eop le p ic k e d u p b y t h e t r u ck lo a d in t h e c o u ntr y sid e a n d

d ro p ped o ff o u ts id e t h e n atio n al p ala ce s o t h at h e c o u ld s h ow t h e w orld w hat a p op ula r p re sid en t h e w as.

T h e s a m e is a ls o t r u e o f A ris tid e.

O nly n um bers c o u nt.

T h ese p eop le w ho w ere a rriv in g in t h e c a p it a l f o r t h e f ir s t t im e w ere c o m ple te ly lo st.

T h ey w ere g iv e n a s u m o f m on ey.

T h e M aco u te s in tim id ate d t h em .

T h ey t o ld t h e p eop le w hen t o a p pla u d t h e p re sid en t.

W hen t h e p re sid en t f in is h ed h is s p eech a n d t h e c a m era s o f t h e f o re ig n p re ss s a w t h is m assiv e c ro w d, t h ey'd s a y, w e c a n s e e h ow

p op ula r D uva lie r is .

B ut w hat t h ey d id n't k n ow w as t h at t h ese p eop le w ere d um ped in f r o n t o f t h e p ala ce T h ey w ere s te ere d t o w ard s t h e r a vin es

a ro u nd P o rt-a u -P rin ce .

T h e s h an ty to w ns b eg in t o e m erg e in t h e 1 950s.

A nd it w as in t h is w orld , in t h ese d ep riv e d a re as w here u nem plo ym en t w as r if e , t h at D uva lie r b eg an t o r e cru it h is T o n to n M aco u te s.

H e u se d t h ese h en ch m en t o in tim id ate t h e a rm y, e ve ry s e cto r o f s o cie ty , a ll h is o p pon en ts .

I t d id n't m atte r if y o u w ere w ork in g c la ss, m id dle c la ss, w hate ve r. H e'd s a y, w atc h o u t.

I c a n s e t t h ese p eop le o n y o u . It w as lik e a v e rit a b le o ccu p yin g f o rc e in t h e c a p it a l, w hic h in D uva lie r's m in d w as t h e c it y -s ta te .

T h at's w here t h e p ow er la y.

D uva lie r u se d t o s a y y o u c a n t a ke [ IN AU D IB LE ], I d on 't g iv e a d am n.

I 'l l b e w ait in g f o r y o u in f r o n t o f t h e p ala ce , b eca u se t h at's w here t h e p ow er is .

F o llo w in g t h e r e sig natio n o f M ag lo ir e , a b la ck n atio n alis t w as e le cte d p re sid en t o f H ait i in 1 957.

F ra n co is D uva lie r, a ls o k n ow n a s P a p a D oc, e n te re d t h e p ala ce .

C la im in g t o b e t h e g re at d efe n d er o f t h e b la ck m ajo rit y , h e n eu tr a liz e d o r e lim in ate d t h e p re d om in an tly m ula tto p olit ic a l c la ss.

S eco n d ed b y t h e in fa m ou s T o n to n M aco u te s, h e d eca p it a te d t h e a rm y, t o ok c o n tr o l o f t h e le g al s y ste m , t h e c h urc h , t h e m ed ia , a n d

t h e e n tir e p op ula tio n .

T h an ks t o h is p op ulis t r h eto ric h e w as r e ele cte d in 1 961 a n d im med ia te ly h ad h im se lf d ecla re d p re sid en t f o r lif e . H e h ad s o m eon e

i n e ach a re a w ho w asn 't a b utc h er, o f c o u rs e , b ut a s p ecia l a d vis e r.

a n a d vis e r o n t h e m ilit ia , a m ilit a ry a d vis e r, a n a d vis e r o n e ve ry th in g .

I f F ra n co is d id a ll t h at it w as s im ply b eca u se h e d id n ot t r u st t h e a rm y.

T h e a rm y o ffic e rs w ere v e ry p ow erfu l a n d e xtr e m ely c u nnin g . W e k n ew t h at t h ese s o rt o f p eop le a re in clin ed t o o rg an iz e c o u p s. S o

i n o rd er t o f o il t h em , F ra n co is m ad e s u re h e a lw ays h ad a t r u ste d s e rv a n t w ho c o n tr o lle d e ve ry th in g . W hen eve r F ra n co is a p poin te d

a m in is te r o f t h e in te rio r, h e w ou ld a p poin t a m ilit ia m an a s s e cre ta ry o f s ta te . It w asn 't t h e m in is te r w ho g ove rn ed .

I t w as t h e s e cre ta ry o f s ta te w ho g ove rn ed .

A c lim ate o f t e rro r, a rb it r a rin ess, e xp uls io n s, t o rtu re , a n d s u m mary e xe cu tio n s p erp etr a te d in t h e n am e o f la w a n d o rd er, t h ese

w ere t h e t o ols o f t h e t y ra n nic a l p ow er D uva lie r w ie ld ed u ntil h is d eath .

Y o u c a n 't m ake a n o m ele tte w it h ou t b re akin g e g gs.

S o n atu ra lly t h ere w ere v ic tim s.

I d on 't d en y it . B ut t a ke f o r e xa m ple t h e 1 9 o ffic e rs w ho w ere s h ot f o r t r e aso n . If I h ad b een in F ra n co is D uva lie r's p osit io n , I w ou ld

h ave d on e m uch m ore t h an t h at, b eca u se t h ose p eop le r e ally w ere d is h on est.

T h ey w ere w ork in g w it h F ra n co is , b ut a t t h e s a m e t im e t h ey w ere c o n sp ir in g t o d estr o y h im .

I n F ra n co is D uva lie r's p osit io n , I w ou ld h ave e xe cu te d m ore t h an 1 9 o ffic e rs , b eca u se t h ey w ere a ll g uilt y a n d t h ey w ere d is h on est.

T h ey w an te d t o liv e o ff o f D uva lie r.

B ut a ll o f t h at w as h id den f r o m t h e g en era l p ub lic .

M em bers o f t h e b ou rg eois ie a ccu se d F ra n co is D uva lie r o f b ein g a m urd ere r b eca u se h e h ad h ad t h ese 1 9 o ffic e rs s h ot.

T h at's n ot t h e q uestio n . I f y o u c o m e in to m y lif e , if y o u w ork in m y f a m ily , a n d y o u t r y t o d estr o y m e, I h ave n o o p tio n .

I h ave t o a ct a t a ll c o sts .

Y o u h ave t o u nd ers ta n d t h at t h ere a re t w o le ve ls t o D uva lie r.

T h ere 's t h e h is to ria n , t h ere 's t h e e th nolo g is t, a n d t h is f o rm s a n a m alg am w hic h e xp la in s h is t o ta lit a ria n is m .

D uva lie r w as a m an o f t h e p ast.

H e in te rp re te d H ait ia n s o cie ty w it h t h e c o d es o f t h e p ast. F ra n co is D uva lie r, w ho w as a n e th nolo g is t a n d a p hysic ia n , m ad e

e xtr e m ely in te llig en t u se o f v o od oo, o f t h e v o od oo u niv e rs e in a n y c a se , t o c o n so lid ate h is d ic ta to rs h ip . It e xp la in s w hy t h e

D uva lie r r e g im e la ste d f o r 3 0 y e ars .

W hile it w ou ld b e u ntr u e t o s a y t h at v o od oo o ccu p ie d a p la ce o f h on or u nd er D uva lie r s in ce it w as s till p en aliz e d , h e d id t e n d t o

o rg an iz e v o od oo c e re m on ie s w hen eve r t h ere w as a p artic u la r p ro b le m , a n d a ll h is o ffic ia ls w ere o b lig ed t o a tte n d t h ese

c e re m on ie s. F ra n co is w as a m yste rio u s m an , a n d h e w as s o m eon e o f g re at w orth . A nd a s f a r a s m ystic is m is c o n ce rn ed , F ra n co is

w as a g re at c it iz e n . O bvio u sly D uva lie r t r ie d t o m ake m assiv e u se o f t h e v o od oo u niv e rs e .

H e w as a b ove a ll a ccu se d o f u sin g t h e m ag ic a sp ects , t h e w it c h cra ft a sp ects o f v o od oo.

T h at's t o s a y, it s m ost f r ig hte n in g a sp ects .

T h ose t h at d ro ve t h e f a it h fu l t o r e sig n t h em se lv e s t o h is p ow er, w hic h t h ey s a w a s h avin g a n e vil h ors e . It w asn 't a n o rd in ary

d ic ta to rs h ip .

I t w as t o ta lit a ria n , b eca u se h e h ad a b so lu te c o n tr o l o f p ow er a n d e ve ry s in g le s e cto r o f s o cie ty w as a ffe cte d . W hat w e n eed n ow is

a s tr o n g r e g im e, a n oth er F ra n co is D uva lie r. W e n eed t o h ave s o m eon e lik e F ra n co is D uva lie r a g ain . W e'v e a lw ays h ad m on str o u s

p ers o n alit ie s in H ait i.

I t 's a c o u ntr y t h at h as e n co u ra g ed in d iv id ualis m w it h ou t e ve r p ro vid in g s u ffic ie n t s p ace f o r in d iv id ualit y .

F o r m e, F ra n co is D uva lie r a n d Je an -B ertr a n d A ris tid e a re p erfe ct e xa m ple s o f t h e s o rt o f m on str o u s p ers o n alit ie s t h at H ait i

p ro d uce s.

H ere a re t w o p eop le w ho h ave d eve lo p ed a d estr u ctiv e r e la tio n sh ip , a h ostile r e la tio n sh ip w it h t h eir o w n c o m munit y .

B eca u se t h ey b elie ve , a n d m ayb e t h ey'r e r ig ht, t h at t h is c o m munit y w ill in s o m e w ay h am per t h eir in d iv id ualit y . F o llo w in g t h e

d eath o f F ra n co is D uva lie r in 1 971, h is s o n Je an -C la u d e in herit e d t h e p re sid en cy a n d m ove d in to t h e N atio n al P a la ce .

B eb e D oc w as o n ly 1 9 y e ars o f a g e.

H is y o u th , s h yn ess, a n d d is c re tio n g ave h im a n a lm ost r e assu rin g im ag e.

T h e H ait ia n s w ou ld h ave lik e d t o b elie ve in t h e a d ve n t o f a m ore f le xib le , m ore lib era l r e g im e.

[ S PE A KIN G IN A F O REIG N L A N G UAG E] T h e t e rro r s u sta in ed b y t h e r e g im e's h ard lin ers s till in p la ce a n d b y t h e e ve r f e ars o m e

T o n to n M aco u te s r a p id ly r e ve ale d t h e r e g im e's r e al f a ce , t h at o f a d ic ta to rs h ip w hic h k ille d , w hic h e xp elle d , a n d w hic h n oth in g

s e em ed c a p ab le o f b rin g in g d ow n.

A lo t o f in te lle ctu als w ere e xp elle d b y D uva lie r, m an y u nio n a ctiv is ts , in te lle ctu als , a n d p olit ic ia n s. T h ere w ere f e w in te lle ctu als in t h e c o u ntr y , a n d t h e c h urc h f ille d t h is g ap .

I n o th er w ord s, f r o m t h e 1 980s o n w ard s, t h e c h urc h p la ye d t h e r o le o f in te lle ctu al f o r t h e m asse s.

W e w ere t h e o n ly o n es t o h ave e asy a cce ss t o t h e m ed ia , b eca u se Je an -C la u d e D uva lie r h ad c lo se d d ow n a n um ber o f n ew sp ap ers .

A s a r e su lt , jo u rn alis ts w ere p ra ctic a lly n on exis te n t in t h e c o u ntr y .

S o t h e c h urc h s e rv e d a n in te lle ctu al f u nctio n f o r H ait ia n s o cie ty t h at a ls o p la ye d t h e r o le o f jo u rn alis t.

H im mle r R eb u c a n o n ly b e e xp erie n ce d D uva lie ris m f ir s th an d .

T h is f o rm er c o lo n el o f t h e d is b an d ed H ait ia n a rm y w as c h ose n b y F ra n co is D uva lie r t o b eco m e a s o ld ie r w hen h e w as s till a y o u ng

h ig h s c h ool s tu d en t.

D uva lie r h ad d ecid ed t o m ake t h is h ard w ork in g b la ck s tu d en t o f h um ble o rig in s o n e o f t h e f u tu re o ffic e rs o f a n ew a rm y t h at

w ou ld s e rv e t h e c a u se o f n oir is m o, o r b la ck n atio n alis m , a n d b e lo ya l t o h is r e g im e.

P ro m ote d t o t h e r a n k o f s e n io r o ffic e r u nd er Je an -C la u d e D uva lie r, H im mle r R eb u b eca m e h is p hysic a l e d uca tio n in str u cto r.

H e h as f o n d m em orie s o f B eb e D oc.

U nd er Je an -C la u d e t h e a tm osp here w as r e la xe d , a lm ost g ood n atu re d .

T h e p re sid en t w ou ld s p en d t h e m orn in g w ork in g in h is o ffic e t h en s tr o ll a ro u nd P o rt-a u -P rin ce in t h e a ft e rn oon .

H e w en t o u t a lm ost e ve ry e ve n in g f o r d in ner.

A t t h e w eeke n d s, h e'd g o h untin g o r t o t h e s e asid e.

E ve ry o n e k n ew h is b each .

T h ere w ere lo ts o f n eig hb ors n earb y w ho f r e q uen te d t h e s a m e a re a.

T h ere w ere n 't a n y p ro b le m s. E ve ry o n e k n ew t h at t h e p re sid en t w en t o u t e ve ry n ig ht t o d in e in P e tit e R och e o r a t h is in -la w s.

A nd h e c o u ld b e s e en in t h e s tr e ets a lm ost e ve ry n ig ht.

A nd t h at's w hy t h e s tr e ets w ere a lw ays w ell m ain ta in ed , b eca u se n o o n e k n ew w hic h r o u te h e w as g oin g t o t a ke .

T h e m in is te r o f p ub lic w ork s a lw ays h ad h is w ork c u t o u t, a n d t h e s tr e ets w ere a lw ays c le an , a lw ays w ell m ain ta in ed .

T h ey w ere n 't a n y p ro b le m s.

Y e t t h is a n ecd ote o f t h e H ait ia n p re sid en t's c it y ja u nts h id es a n oth er r e alit y -- t h e p eop le w ere s ta rv in g a n d t h ey v o ic e d t h eir a n g er.

T h e r e g im e h ad n o q ualm s a b ou t t e llin g .

H it h erto le g alis t, t h e c h urc h s h ow ed it s s o lid arit y w it h t h e p op ula r m ove m en t.

T h e V atic a n c o n d em ned t h e a g re em en ts w hic h g ave t h e H ait ia n p re sid en t t h e r ig ht t o a p poin t b is h op s. T h e p op e's v is it t o P o rt-a u -

P rin ce in M arc h 1 983 w as t o b e a d ecis iv e s te p in t h e p ro ce ss t h at u lt im ate ly le d t o t h e f a ll o f t h e d ic ta to rs h ip . T h e p ap al s p eech

p ro m pte d t h e H ait ia n s t o g ath er t o g eth er t o o rg an iz e t h em se lv e s. I n t h e n am e o f t h e p eop le , t h e p op e d em an d ed f r e ed om o f a sso cia tio n , f r e ed om o f e xp re ssio n , ju stic e , t h e r e sp ect o f h um an r ig hts ,

t h e d is tr ib utio n o f w ealt h , a n d e q ualit y f o r a ll. T h e p op e s a id s o m eth in g h as t o c h an g e in t h is c o u ntr y .

T h is g ave g re at m om en tu m t o t h e m ove m en t o f t h e c h urc h .

A nd it c o n tr ib ute d s o m eth in g in cre d ib ly p osit iv e t o t h e s tr u g gle a g ain st t h e d ic ta to rs h ip a n d a g ain st D uva lie r. T h e P e tit e E g lis e , o r

s m all c h urc h , a n d in p artic u la r a y o u ng p rie st b y t h e n am e o f Je an -B ertr a n d A ris tid e b eg an t o o p en ly o p pose t h e r e g im e a n d

c a m paig ned f o r t h e r e sig natio n o f Je an -C la u d e D uva lie r.

A t t h e e n d o f 1 985, G on aiv e s, t h e s e at o f p ast r e b ellio n s, e xp lo d ed o n ce m ore .

T h e a rm y a n d t h e T o n to n M aco u te s r e acte d w it h e xtr e m e v io le n ce .

T h e p re sid en cy t o tte re d .

I t h in k Je an -C la u d e D uva lie r le ft b eca u se t h e A m eric a n s a sk e d h im t o .

I a ls o b elie ve M ic h ele B en nett p la ye d a n im porta n t r o le in Je an -C la u d e's d ep artu re .

S he w as w ho s h e w as.

S he h ad le d a v e ry f u ll lif e b efo re s h e c a m e t o t h e P re sid en tia l P a la ce .

S he w as a w om an f r o m a w ealt h y b ack g ro u nd , a m ula tto w ho h ad b eg un t o g et t ir e d o f h avin g t o s ta y in t h e N atio n al P a la ce a ll t h e

t im e. S he s a w h ers e lf a s o n e o f t h e w ealt h y p eop le o f t h is w orld .

A nd s h e w an te d t o h ave a g ood t im e, t o m ake t h e m ost o f h er m on ey a n d a ls o o f h er y o u th .

S o I t h in k t h at w as a d ete rm in in g f a cto r. O n N ove m ber t h e 2 8th , 1 985, t h re e c h ild re n w ere k ille d in G on aiv e s.

F o r t h e in te rn atio n al c o m munit y , f o r t h e A m eric a n s, t h is a d ded u p t o t h re e k illin g s t o o m an y.

D uva lie r m ay h ave t h ro w n m on ey t o t h e c ro w ds f r o m h is c a r, b ut h is d ow nfa ll w as h en ce fo rth in evit a b le .

R ob ert C on sta n t w as c o m mis sio n er o f t h e D uva lie r g ove rn m en t in G on aiv e s a t t h e t im e. T h e p op ula tio n o f G on aiv e s is r e b ellio u s

b y n atu re .

A t r iv ia l m atte r h ad s p ark e d a r e vo lt in t h e c it y .

I w as t h e c o m mis sio n er o f t h e g ove rn m en t t h ere .

S om eon e c a m e t o in fo rm m e t h at t h e c h ild re n w ere p ro te stin g o n t h e s tr e ets a n d t h at t h e a rm y, t h e m ilit a , h ad b een f o rc e d t o

o p en f ir e in f r o n t o f t h e C olle g e o f Im macu la te C on ce p tio n a n d h ad k ille d a c h ild in t h e p ro ce ss.

A noth er c h ild w as t h en s h ot d ead in a c o u rty a rd o p posit e t h e s c h ool a n d a t h ir d o n t h e r o a d le ad in g t o t h e s c h ool.

S o in a ll, t h re e c h ild re n w ere k ille d -- Je an -R ob ert C iu s, w ho w as s h ot d ead a t t h e C olle g e o f t h e Im macu la te C on ce p tio n , M ic h ae ls o n

M ic h el, a n d D an ie l Is ra e l. In m y o p in io n , t h e b ulle ts w ere a im ed a t t h e s tu d en ts .

T h is e ve n t w as t o u nif y t h e p op ula r p ro te st a g ain st Je an -C la u d e D uva lie r. A f e w w eeks a ft e r t h is t r a g ic e ve n t o n F e b ru ary t h e 7 th ,

1 986, Je an -C la u d e D uva lie r a n d h is f a m ily f le d t o F ra n ce o n a U S m ilit a ry p la n e. [ S PE A KIN G IN A F O REIG N L A N G UAG E] H ait i r e jo ic e d .

H ait i h ad h op e.

G en era l N am phy h ead ed t h e n ew , p re d om in an tly D uva lie ris t N atio n al G ove rn in g C ou ncil.

A f e w m on th s, la te r, L e slie M an ig at, a f o rm er D uva lie r m in is te r w ho h ad f a lle n in to d is g ra ce a n d b een e xile d b y t h e D uva lie rs , w as

e le cte d p re sid en t.

H e w as o ve rth ro w n f o u r m on th s la te r b y a m ilit a ry c o u p . T h e m ost d ra m atic a sp ect o f t h e w hole a ffa ir is t h at I w as o n ly in o ffic e

f o r 4 .5 m on th s, t h at's t o s a y f r o m m y e le ctio n , w hic h w as a g re at m om en t o f o p tim is m a n d h op e, t o m y o u ste r, w hic h w as a

d ra m atic m om en t w hen w e a lm ost lo st o u r liv e s.

T h ere 's n o d ou b t a b ou t it .

W e w ere e xtr a ord in arily lu ck y .

A ny in cid en t c o u ld h ave c a u se t h e a rm y t o s im ply k ill u s.

F o r e xa m ple , a ft e r t h e a tta ck o n m y h ou se t h e a rm ed a tta ck w it h t a n ks a n d s o o n , it 's c le ar t h at w hen w e c a m e d ow n in to t h e

c o u rty a rd , a lm ost a ll o f u s w ere c o n vin ce d w e w ou ld b e k ille d . G en era l N am phy, w ho h ad b eco m e t h e N atio n al P a la ce 's n ew t e n an t

f o llo w in g a p uts c h , w as o u ste d b y a n oth er a rm y o ffic e r, G en era l P ro sp er A vril, w ho w as h im se lf f o rc e d t o r e sig n in A pril 1 990.

F o llo w in g h is r e sig natio n , S up re m e C ou rt Ju stic e M is su s E arth a T ro u illo t w as s w orn in a s t h e a ctin g p re sid en t o f t h e p ro vis io n al

g ove rn m en t.

S he o rg an iz e d g en era l e le ctio n s. F ro m t h e s ta rt o f t h e e le cto ra l c a m paig n, t h e y o u ng p rie st Je an -B ertr a n d A ris tid e w as c le arly t h e

f a vo rit e .

H e w as o ve rw helm in g ly e le cte d p re sid en t in D ece m ber 1 990, o n ly t o b e o u ste d s e ve n m on th s la te r b y G en era l R aou l C ed ra s.

T h ou sa n d s o f H ait ia n s lo st t h eir liv e s d urin g C ed ra s' b lo od y t w o y e ar r e g im e.

R ece iv e d a t t h e U N , A ris tid e w as in r e se rv e .

F o r t h e A m eric a n s, C ed ra s w as n o lo n g er p re se n ta b le .

T h ey n eg otia te d a n d o rg an iz e d h is d ep artu re .

I n 1 994, w it h t h e h elp o f P re sid en t C lin to n , P re sid en t A ris tid e r e tu rn ed t o t h e c h eers o f H ait i's lo w er c la sse s.

H e c o m ple te d h is f ir s t t e rm in o ffic e , h ad h is t r u ste d a lly R en e P re va l e le cte d f o r f iv e y e ars , t h en r e tu rn ed t o p ow er f o llo w in g t h e

e le ctio n s in 2 000.

W hen A ris tid e r e tu rn ed , e ve n if h is r e tu rn w as f a cilit a te d b y f o re ig n t r o op s, h e h ad a n e xtr a ord in ary o p portu nit y , f a r m ore s o t h an

i n 1 990.

H e m ay h ave h ad f a r g re ate r a u to n om y v is a v is t h e im peria l p ow er in 1 990 t h an h e h ad a t t h e t im e o f h is r e tu rn in 1 994.

H ow eve r, t h ere w ere t w o im porta n t e ve n ts in 1 994.

F ir s tly , t h e im peria l p ow er r e co g niz e d t h e v a lid it y o f t h e p op ula r v o te a n d r e tu rn ed t o A ris tid e t o H ait i. S eco n d ly , t h e im peria l p ow er t r ie d t o f o rg e a n a llia n ce b etw een t h e d if fe re n t s e ctio n s o f t h e p op ula tio n , t h e s e cto rs o f s o cie ty w ho

w ere h ostile t o A ris tid e, in p artic u la r t h e d om in an t c la sse s. T h ey t r ie d t o o rg an iz e a r e co n cilia tio n . A t t h at p oin t, a h ead o f s ta te

w it h a c e rta in u nd ers ta n d in g o f t h e s ta te c o u ld 'v e t a ke n a d va n ta g e o f t h is t o a ctu ally b uild a s ta te o f la w .

B ut t h at d id n't h ap pen a t a ll. A ris tid e w as f a r m ore c o n ce rn ed w it h k e ep in g p ow er f o r h im se lf , w it h h is p ers o n al p ow er.

T h at's t o s a y, h e d id n't m ake a n y e xtr a ord in ary a d va n ce s.

H e r e tu rn ed t o t h e o ld s y ste m , t o a p re sid en tia l a u to cra cy . A n illit e ra te m an Is n ot a s tu p id m an .

H e is s o in te llig en t t h at h e r e je cts v io le n ce in f a vo r o f h is v o tin g s lip .

A nd t h at is w hy y o u h ear p eop le t a lk in g r e sp ectfu lly a b ou t t h e p re sid en tia l t e rm o f o ffic e , f iv e y e ars .

T h ey s p eak w it h t h eir h an d s s o t h e f iv e f in g ers s y m boliz e t h e f iv e y e ars o f t h e p re sid en tia l t e rm o f o ffic e a s is la id d ow n in t h e

C on stit u tio n .

S o y o u h ave t h is m ajo rit y o f illit e ra te p eop le , b ut t h ey a re f a r f r o m s tu p id .

W ho w as m ore illit e ra te , t h e m an w ho h as a d ip lo m a b ut d oe sn 't u nd ers ta n d t h is b asic p rin cip le o r t h e m an w ho c a n n eit h er r e ad

n or w rit e b ut is c a p ab le o f u nd ers ta n d in g t h at it is t h ro u g h n on -v io le n ce , t h ro u g h f r e e a n d d em ocra tic e le ctio n s t h at w e w ill b uild a

s o cie ty in w hic h t h e r ic h c a n b eco m e r ic h er?

B eca u se if I k n ow h ow t o r e ad , I c a n h elp y o u b ro a d en y o u r p ro fit b ase .

S uch in te llig en ce r u ns t h ro u g h H ait ia n s o cie ty .

T h is is w hy in m y h um ble o p in io n , if w e a re t o t a lk a b ou t t w o c a te g orie s o f H ait ia n s, w e s h ou ld p erh ap s b e c a re fu l a b ou t w ho w e

c a ll illit e ra te .

A ft e r a ll, t h ere a re r e al in te lle ctu als w ho a re illit e ra te if y o u v ie w t h em in t h is p artic u la r c o n te xt.

A nd t h ere a re illit e ra te p eop le w ho a re g re at in te lle ctu als if w e r e ally t a ke t h e t im e t o s e e h ow in te llig en t t h ey a re . W heth er y o u

k n ow h ow t o r e ad o r n ot, le t's jo in f o rc e s a n d b y m ean s o f e le ctio n s m ove t o w ard s t h is d em ocra cy , w here w e w ill b e a b le t o

i m pro ve b oth o u r w ell- b ein g a n d o u r e co n om ic g ro w th . A bje ct p ove rty is a r ic h r e so u rc e f o r d em ag og ues a n d t y ra n ts .

I t 's a w ell.

T h ey p ull 1 2-y e ar-o ld s, 1 3-y e ar-o ld s o u t o f t h is w ell o f a b je ct p ove rty a n d ig nora n ce .

G iv e t h em a w eap on a n d s a y, if y o u k ill s o a n d s o , I'l l p ay y o u .

T h at's w hat t h ey d o.

A nd t h is r e ally s ta rte d w it h D uva lie r. P re sid en t A ris tid e, b efo re y o u r n om in atio n a s p re sid en t, y o u w ere a n a rd en t d efe n d er o f

h um an r ig hts , o f t h e r ig ht t o liv e . H ow c a n y o u a cce p t p eop le k illin g w it h im punit y in t h is c o u ntr y ? It 's a h ug e p ro b le m .

F o r t h is s it u atio n t o c h an g e, t h ere n eed s t o b e a c o n ve rs io n .

P e op le m ust b e t a u g ht a b ou t d em ocra cy , a b ou t ju stic e . In stit u tio n s m ust b e p ut in p la ce , s ta rtin g w it h t h e le g al s y ste m , t h e

c o u rts . A nd t h ere h as t o b e a s e p ara tio n o f p ow ers o f t h e e xe cu tiv e a n d t h e le g al s y ste m . I t 's a b so lu te ly v it a l.

O th erw is e w e'l l g et n ow here . P e op le w ill c o n tin ue t o k ill k n ow in g t h at t h ey w ill n eve r b e p unis h ed .

T a ke Je an D om in iq ue, w ho w as a v e ry c lo se f r ie n d o f m in e o r m y c o lle ag ue Je an M arie V in ce n t, o r F a th er Je an P ie rre -L o u is .

T h ey w ere a ll k ille d . T h ere 's b een n o ju stic e .

I n q uir y c o n tin ues, a s w e s a y in H ait i. A ris tid e h as d estr o ye d a ll h op e s y ste m atic a lly . If y o u t h in k o f t h e p op ula r m ove m en t, if y o u

t h in k o f a ll t h e h op e, if y o u t h in k o f h ow m uch s u p port t h is g ove rn m en t h ad a t a n atio n al le ve l a n d a t a n in te rn atio n al le ve l, y o u

c a n s a y t h at in t h is p artic u la r c a se h e h as d on e f a r m ore h arm t h an F ra n co is D uva lie r. It 's a s o cie ty t h at h as n ot g iv e n it s m em bers

t h e p ossib ilit y o f s a yin g , I'm g oin g t o s h ap e m yse lf in a d if fe re n t w ay.

I n m y o p in io n , it 's a f u nd am en ta l e le m en t o f d em ocra tic m od ern it y .

T h is c o u ntr y d oe s n ot a llo w p eop le t o im ag in e lif e a n y o th er w ay [ M USIC P LA YIN G ]