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Behind the headlines of the mainstream media in Canada you can find that the U.S. government is increasing its military forces in Haiti today from 4,000 to 11,000. The Harper government is to raise its military forces there by another 1,000. As in New Orleans, Hilary Clinton has announced that the primary objective of the mounting military presence is to provide “security.” Military forces are reported to have opened fire on desperate Haitians who have been looting stores, looking for food and water. The U.S. military is in complete control at the international airport and giving priority to U.S. aircraft.
Across Saskatchewan people are mounting campaigns to help Haitians in this time of great tragedy. It is important to make sure that donations go to those organizations in Haiti who are actually assisting the victims of the earthquake and the years of political and economic repression. Money should be sent to the organizations identified with the Canada Haiti Action Network. They can be found at the following web site:
http://canadahaitiaction.ca
Canada's sorry record in Haiti
Our Canadian government has a horrendous record in Haiti. In February 2004 a military force backed by the U.S., French and Canadian governments overthrew the democratic government of Jean-Baptist Aristide. He had won 75% support from the electorate on a program to help the poor. Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world, and the poorest in the Americas. The majority of the people try to survive on less than two dollars ($2) a day. The U.S. government forced him into exile.
From this time on, the U.S. government, backed by the Canadian government, has done everything that it could to block any political and economic programs to aid the poor majority. They had the assistance of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, which imposed a structural adjustment program which made it impossible for the government to carry out social and economic development programs.
Blocking democracy in 2010
In December 2009 the corrupt government presently in office banned the Fanmi Lavalas party from participating in legislative elections scheduled for February 28, 2010. This is Aristide’s party, by far the largest in the country.
In the Senate elections in April and June 2009, this mass party of the poor was first banned. Popular organizations across Haiti denounced this action and urged the people not to vote. Less than 10% turned out. But the U.S. and Canadian governments recognized the election and the results. The first priority of these governments is to keep power in the hands of the small business class. There is no commitment what-so-ever to democracy. This is our legacy in Haiti.
The fear today is that with the U.S. government and its military taking over complete control of Haiti they will use this crisis as a pretext to build a large permanent military presence there. They have recently been kicked out of Ecuador, have expanded military bases in Columbia, and have backed the military coup in Honduras. In May 2008, in a campaign speech in Miami, Barrack Obama denounced the Bush Administration for "losing Latin America," allowing a "political vacuum" to develop in Venezuela, Bolivia and Ecuador, and promised to defend U.S. interests in the area.
John W. Warnock is a Regina political economist.
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