DOC: Uprooting the Ton Ton Macoutes in Haiti/dechoukaj VSN
Fri, Feb 10 2012 10:06
A must see documentary to understand the depth of the betrayal of the Haitian people by Michel "Sweet Mickey" Martelly as he rehabilitates and defends Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier.
An excellent but roughly edited documentary film covering the bloody legacy of the Duvalier family in Haiti.
1. Documentaire réalisé en 1986 par les frères Denis (Haïti)
Images inédites, le nec plus ultra des reportages réalisés à l'époque.
Comments
Who's protecting Duvalier from prosecution for rights abuses in Haiti?
Wed, Feb 1 2012 03:55
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| Former dictator Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier is greeted by former president and UN Special Envoy to Haiti Bill Clinton at a commemoration for earthquake victims on January 12, 2012. Margaret Prescod interviews Kevin Pina about charges of human rights abuses being dropped against former dictator of Haiti Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier. Pina also discusses the role of Clinton and actor Sean Penn in providing legitimacy to the current government of Michel Martelly even as it seeks to rehabilitate Duvalier and protect him from prosecution. |
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Reflections on Oprah, Kim and Rory in Haiti
Sat, Jan 28 2012 01:21
by Paul W. Miller
The conditions in the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti should serve as an indictment of the inherent injustice that exists in a world where the haves have money beyond any possible use other than to mark the number of zeros behind their net worth and the have-nots are subject to the dreadful whims of nature because they are forced to live in the unsafe dregs of the material world.
It is ironic that some of the leading icons in the world of haves that should be most looking inward in this structural system that creates winners and losers are the ones newly offering their empathy to the poor, to be pitied children of the have and have not system where the aftermath of the earthquake is only the latest inhumanity served up to them.
So now we have Kim Kardshian, Oprah Winfrey and Rory McElroy tripping over each other to get involved in Haiti to show their humanity and to burnish their images with the backdrop of Haiti’s ongoing suffering. Do they, for a moment, question their access to grotesque wealth by being on TV, on the PGA tour, and for starring in a sex movie leading to fame and fortune for being, well, famous? Do they look inward to ask how it is they can earn millions and billions of dollars for trivial pursuits while people live and die for want of a drink of clean water? I doubt it.
It is an indictment that the world’s greatest super power could not lead the efforts to rescue trapped human beings in the critical days after the earthquake. Medicine, water and rescue efforts could not be delivered, in the year 2010, as needed and many human beings died due to the politics of Haiti’s role in the world.
Haiti lies a scant 681 miles from the southern most state in the continental United States. The country that produced “Shock and Awe” of the weapons variety produced shock and awe of a different sort in Haiti. The shock and awe of a country left to its own resources for the better part of a week to recover from one of the most devastating natural and unnatural disasters of our lifetime. The news announced that teams of 8 – 12 were sent out to rescue victims under the rubble that would claim upwards of 200,000 lives. The indifference needed for the US to not be able to respond is its own “Shock and Awe”.
Where was Oprah when the US sponsored coup of 2004 created the weak infrastructure and poor governance that would be unable to respond to the earthquake? Where was Rory when the US government was undermining the latest election in Haiti? Where was Kim when US sanctions against Haiti killed water projects that would have minimized the impacts of the recent cholera epidemic? And indeed where were we on those grave occasions? We are all complicit in a system that allows centuries of suffering in a country that has contributed greatly to our own well being through the fruits of slavery, land acquisition and its citizens fighting in our wars.
Haiti deserves to have a place of dignity in the world community. Pity from the iconic figureheads of our inhumanity will not provide Haiti with the rights that will create a just world. Why would anyone who has benefited with wealth beyond their wildest imaginations challenge the structural injustice that created Haiti’s conditions? Not helped to create those conditions, created those conditions.
To say that their efforts are well intentioned has no meaning in the bigger picture. That may or may not be true. Until we look inward to the grotesque injustice we live with everyday the conditions in Haiti will serve only the purpose of letting our leading citizens use Haiti to show, that despite their extreme wealth, they aren’t heartless, for God’s sake.
Haiti is an indictment. Not of Haiti’s inability to govern itself, not of Haiti’s God forsaken place in the world, but an indictment of our choices as human beings to let people suffer in inhumane conditions while we feast at the table of excess in our land of indifference to the world’s great suffering. Sean Penn says we need Haiti. After all we have done and continue to do to create the conditions in Haiti, Haiti sure doesn’t need us.
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Congresswoman Waters to Host Briefing on Who Runs Haiti
Tue, Jan 24 2012 12:15
PRESS ADVISORY
January 24, 2012 Contact: Mikael Moore
For Immediate Release Phone: (202) 225-2201
Washington - Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-California), a strong advocate for the Haitian people in the U.S. Congress, will host a briefing tomorrow entitled, "Who Runs Haiti? A Discussion of Governance, Political Power, and Democracy in Haiti, Two Years After the Earthquake." The event will be cosponsored by Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-California) and feature several prominent speakers from both Haiti and the United States.
WHO:
* Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Member of Congress
* Thomas C. Adams, Haiti Special Coordinator, U.S. Department of State
* Minister Rene Magloire, Vice-President, Haitian Presidential Commission on Justice Reform, and former Minister of Justice (1995-96, 2006-2008)
* Brian Concannon, Director, Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti (IJDH)
* Mark Weisbrot, Co-Director, Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR)
* Marguerite Salomon, Haitian grassroots activist and leader of a Haitian women's organization
* Peter Sollis, Senior Advisor in the Haiti Response Group, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)
* Michelle Karshan, Founder and Director, Alternative Chance
WHAT: Briefing on "Who Runs Haiti? A Discussion of Governance, Political Power, and Democracy in Haiti, Two Years After the Earthquake."
WHEN: Wednesday, January 25, 2012, 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
WHERE: 2456 Rayburn Building, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
WHY: Stable, effective and democratic governance is essential for Haiti's recovery and development following the devastating 2010 earthquake. This briefing will examine Haiti's political process, including the roles of the President, the Prime Minister, and members of Parliament; the various political parties in Parliament and who they represent; and the influence of various interest groups and stakeholders, including the wealthy elites, the business sector, and the impoverished majority. Panelists will also discuss proposals for judicial reform, human rights issues, and the opportunities and challenges facing grassroots activists.
To read more about Congresswoman Waters' longtime work on Haiti, click here.<http://waters.house.gov/Issues/Issue/?IssueID=5163>
Kathleen Sengstock
Senior Legislative Assistant
Rep. Maxine Waters
(202) 225-2201
Visit the Office of Congresswoman Waters Online:
Website<http://waters.house.gov/> | Facebook<http://www.facebook.com/maxinewaters> | YouTube<http://youtube.com/maxinewaters> | Twitter<http://www.twitter.com/maxinewaters>
Senator in Haiti continues to press for investigation
Mon, Jan 23 2012 02:04
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| Haitian Senator Moise Jean-Charles (l) continues to press investigation into Haitian president Michel"Sweet Mickey" Martelly's (r) having provided false information to run for office in the last elections. |
Haiti Information Project (HIP) News Flash: President Michel Martelly's woes concerning allegations of holding a US passport are multiplying in Haiti. If true, he would be indicted by the Haitian Senate for having lied on his candidate forms when registering in the last elections. The irony is that he would be indicted for providing a false declaration to the very same Provisional Election Council (CEP) his government is currently prosecuting for fraud.
The US Embassy has not commented on the authenticity of the US passport presented by Senator Moise Jean-Charles to the Haitian Senate. Jean-Charles and the Senate Investigating Commission will be traveling to Washington to meet with US Senators John Kerry (D) and Richard Luger (R). They are expected to forward an official request to the US Department of State to ascertain the validity of Martelly's alleged US passport. Either way, the controversy does not bode well for the Martelly administration which is already facing growing discontent at home and waning support from the international community.
Sweet Mickey invites Baby Doc to Commemorate Haiti's Earthquake
Sat, Jan 14 2012 10:24
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| President Michel "Sweet Mickey" Martelly and his wife greet former Haitian dictator Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier at a ceremony to commemorate the earthquake that struck Haiti two years ago. Duvalier is under orders not to leave the capital of Port au Prince before he stands trial for crimes against humanity including political murder and torture. (note: Bill Clinton is in background with jaw agape as Martelly greets Duvalier). |
Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier was the main attraction at the official government ceremony to commemorate the second anniversary of the earthquake of January 12, 2010.
The former dictator and president-for-life attended the ceremony and sat on the same platform as president Michel "Sweet Mickey" Martelly. During the ceremony he was seated next to former military strongman General Prosper Avril.
Duvalier was also greeted by former U.S. President and current UN Special Envoy William Jefferson Clinton. Most Haitians felt as disconnected from the commemoration as they do from the current government of Martelly. The former musician known as Sweet Mickey was elected president by less than 16% of eligible voters in the final round of controversial elections sponsored by the US government and the "international community."
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| After recovering his composure, Clinton follows his instincts and extends his hand to the former dictator-for-life in a clear gesture of legitimization. |
Masking fear in Haiti
Fri, Dec 30 2011 11:41
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| A photo (left) of Michel Martelly, the former musician aka "Sweet Mickey", circulated over the Internet by Haitians in opposition to his government. The titles reads "Dear Haiti I'm getting ready for you." The photo on the right is a study in contrast as the studious and serious image of Martelly cultivated as president of Haiti. |
Flashpoints on Pacifica Radio presents an end of 2011 analysis of the situation in Haiti with Special Correspondent Kevin Pina, Wadner Pierre and Gina, an anonymous Haitian afraid to give her full name.
PLAY PROGRAM
Screening to Oppose the Return of the Haitian MIlitary
Sun, Nov 13 2011 09:04
Haiti: Harvest of Hope to screen at
School of the Americas Vigil
November 18, 4:30PM
Convention Center, 801 Front Avenue
Columbus, Georgia
Haiti: Harvest of Hope received this review from President Jean-Bertrand
Aristide in 1995, nearly one year after he returned from exile.
20th anniversary radio special observing the brutal 1991 military coup in Haiti
Sat, Oct 1 2011 08:56
Flashpoints on Pacifica Radio takes an in-depth look back to September 30, 1991 when the US-backed Haitian military overthrew Haiti's first democratically elected president in a brutal coup. Special guests Ira Kurzban and Burt Wides join us from Miami and Washington D.C.... but first this update from Port au Prince with independent journalist Ansel Herz.
Mr. Kurzban is former Counsel for the Governments of Haiti, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Panama. He is also an adjunct faculty member in Immigration and Nationality Law at the University of Miami School of Law and Nova Southeastern University School of Law and has lectured and published extensively in the field of immigration law, including articles in the Harvard Law Review, San Diego Law Review and other publications. He is the author of Kurzban's Immigration Law Sourcebook, the most widely used one-volume immigration source in the United States.
Burt Wides has worked on national security policy issues for more than four decades, serving as chief counsel to Senator Philip Hart, Senator Edward Kennedy, and Senator Paul Sarbanes; as Special Counsel to President Jimmy Carter; and as senior counsel to House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers. Among other responsibilities held during that time, he was chief of investigations for the Church Committee, which set the standard for modern-day oversight of the intelligence community, and then was director of the President's Intelligence Oversight Board. He began his government career by working on strategic weapons planning in the Office of the Secretary of Defense during the Kennedy Administration, and he also has represented a variety of high-profile clients on controversial matters as an attorney in private practice.
PLAY PROGRAM
20th Anniversary of the 1991 coup in Haiti
Wed, Sep 28 2011 10:00
Today is the 20th anniversary of the brutal military coup of 1991 in Haiti. By the time it ended three years later, the Haitian military and the CIA creature known as FRAPH, had slaughtered, tortured, maimed and disappeared more than 5000 people. It is this legacy that must never be forgotten as Martelly, a supporter of the same deadly forces, calls for the re-institution of the military in Haiti.
On this day commemorating the memory of the victims of 1991, we are also reminded of the tremendous loss and sacrifice of the Haitian people following the second coup in 2004. The two years of severe repression between 2004-2006 also took thousands of lives as part of the history of the current UN military occupation, without which, a Duvalierist and military supporter such as Martelly could have never risen to power.
Join us in calling:
Long Live REAL popular democracy in Haiti!!
Long Live resistance to injustice & foreign occupations in Haiti!
Long Live the memory of the martyrs of the 1991 & 2004 coups!!
Long live the spirit of freedom, justice and independence in Haiti!!
On this day commemorating the memory of the victims of 1991, we are also reminded of the tremendous loss and sacrifice of the Haitian people following the second coup in 2004. The two years of severe repression between 2004-2006 also took thousands of lives as part of the history of the current UN military occupation, without which, a Duvalierist and military supporter such as Martelly could have never risen to power.
Join us in calling:
Long Live REAL popular democracy in Haiti!!
Long Live resistance to injustice & foreign occupations in Haiti!
Long Live the memory of the martyrs of the 1991 & 2004 coups!!
Long live the spirit of freedom, justice and independence in Haiti!!
