Haiti: The Humiliation of Military Intervention

Camille Chalmers, Executive Secretary of PAPDA, speaks out against international intervention

Divulgacao, March 6, 2004 -Haiti


Although the United States denies any participation in the current crisis shaking Haiti, an armed uprising leaving nearly 90 people dead, economist Camille Chalmers, Executive Secretary of PAPDA (Platform Advocating Alternative Development), has no doubt. The United States provoked the ouster of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, is responsible for all the chaos, and funneled support through the CIA to the paramilitary groups overthrowing the government.

In an interview with Adital, the economist repeatedly acknowledged Aristide’s responsibility facing the crisis. In the midst of one of the poorest populations on the planet, Aristide has been accused of corruption and of failing to carry out a popular mandate to improve the economic situation of the country. To the contrary, he preferred the methodology imposed by the United States.

Adital- What can you extrapolate from the uncertainty of the moment? Has this been an advance or a setback for the nation?

Chalmers- The current situation is both difficult and confusing. Basically, we can say that opposition to Aristide grew because Aristide went against the popular mandate conferred to him in 1991, when he was elected president. He rejected it totally, adopting the goals and methodology imposed by the United States. This was most apparent after 1994, following military intervention, when he imposed a very austere structural adjustment plan with dire consequences for the population. This culminated in a student movement, reaching its peak in 2002 when Aristide attempted to end university autonomy. The students took their demands to the streets, achieving the first change in policy under Aristide -the order to end university autonomy was revoked.

The events taking place at the moment are very confusing. The United States was also opposed to Aristide’s government. Initially, U.S. opposition was inspired by Aristide’s anti-imperialist line, and his popular base, support particularly strong in the poorest neighborhoods. However, as Aristide abandoned his political line and grew closer to the United States, a change of sentiment occurred in Haiti within the popular neighborhoods which had supported him previously. They turned to the opposition.

Adital- Could it be said that Haiti is trying to find its path as a nation?

Chalmers –We are currently in the process of building a national consensus, which includes Aristide’s departure, and encompasses a transition to normalcy with respect to the political situation and around true nation building. This process was sabotaged when the United States ousted Aristide in a very questionable manner, creating a chaotic situation in Port-au-Prince and outlying cities. The United States financed paramilitary organizations feigning allegiance to the democratic movement while actually answering to the CIA. The United States is taking advantage of this chaos to establish Haiti as a protectorate. We can see this now in looking at the U.S./UN resolution, as well as the direct military intervention of U.S., French, Canadian and Chilean troops. It has become quite clear that a multinational force will be installed for three months, followed by a democratic stabilization force that may last from two months to two or three years. This is protectorate status. Foreign control is totally unacceptable to the Haitian people. An unnecessary military intervention was manipulated to create chaos during a poorly evolved transition that could have gone much more smoothly. There were concrete proposals on the table at the time for organizing and carrying out a transition to a more democratic situation. So, we are now living through an extremely humiliating military intervention during Haiti’s bicentennial anniversary of independence. The political agenda and reforms are being defined by an imperialist power.

Adital- Was there the expected “avalanche” of refugees fleeing to other countries?

Chalmers- No, there has not been a significant wave of refugees. The United States took emergency measures to impede such an exodus. In any event, there really wasn’t any major flow of refugees. The majority of the cities returned to calm within four hours after Aristide’s departure.

Adital- News sources are currently reporting Kofi Anan, Secretary General of the United Nations, has invited Brazil to lead a multinational force in Haiti. How do you interpret this invitation?

Chalmers- The presence of the Brazilian government, well, that’s an interesting situation given the political orientation of the current Brazilian government. It seems to me that Brazil’s participation in a multinational military force could only take place with very clear conditions –prioritizing the self-determination of the Haitian people and a political agenda allowing for an authentic political transition, as opposed to the channeling of orders from the Empire.

Adital- What condition is the popular movement in at this point?

Chalmers- The student movement is alive and well with its anti-imperialst, anti-neoliberal line. There is also the Agrupacion Popular Democratico (ADP), a popular coalition uniting 30 organizations in a national network. The ADP includes some very strong rural organizations and is trying to follow up the movement to oust Aristide with something of greater content –a national development plan prioritizing the interests of the majority of Haitians.






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