The overthrow of Haiti’s Aristide: a coup made in the USA

[Tinoire]

The overthrow of Haiti’s Aristide: a coup made in the USA

The violent overthrow and forced exile of Haiti’s President Jean-Bertrand Aristide has ripped aside the democratic pretensions of Washington and the other major powers to expose the brutal and predatory character of resurgent imperialism. The actions taken by the US government in Haiti demonstrate the farcical character of its claims that the aim of the US invasion of Iraq was to inaugurate an era of democratization and freedom in the Middle East and around the world.

Aristide’s overthrow is the outcome of a bloody coup orchestrated by the Bush administration and aided by the Chirac government in Paris. It was executed by a band of killers drawn from the disbanded and discredited Haitian army and the CIA-backed death squads that terrorized the population under the former military dictatorship that ruled the country in the early 1990s.

Among those leading the armed bands that overran the country are Louis-Jodel Chamblain, a former Haitian army officer sentenced to life at hard labor in connection with the 1993 assassination of political activist Antoine Izmérym, and Jean-Pierre Baptiste, likewise sentenced to life for his role in a 1994 massacre. Both were leaders of the FRAPH, or Haitian Front for Advancement and Progress, a CIA-backed organization that carried out state terror against opponents of the military regime that ruled the country from 1991 to 1993.

Another leader of the armed bands is Guy Philippe, a former member of the Haitian military who received training from US Special Forces in Ecuador in the 1990s and was then sent back to Haiti, where he became a brutal police chief and sought to organize a coup in 2000. He is suspected of involvement in cocaine trafficking.

These heavily armed terrorists invaded Haiti from across the border with the Dominican Republic. There is convincing evidence that they were trained, financed and armed by Washington, provided with M-16 rifles, grenade launchers and other weapons out of stockpiles originally sent to the Dominican army.

<reluctant snip>

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/mar2004/hait-m01.shtml

Whew. Really good article.

[alittlelark]

1. Been following it on Pacifica for a couple of weeks

I just wish the mainstream press would cover the issues you posted

[Webster Green]

8. Me too! Pacifica coverage has been great.

Especially "Flashpoints", produced by Dennis Bernstein.

http://www.flashpoints.net /

[kiahzero]

2. Do you have any information about the CIA backing?

I'd like to see how strong a case they've made. Wouldn't surprise me, nor would it be the first time, but I'd like to see what we know so far.

Thanks.

[Darranar]

3. Here's some info...

• Guy Philippe (a rebel leader) was trained by the US.
  
• The US has been reluctant to try some of those who are now rebel leaders for human rights abuses.
  
• Bush has been calling for Aristide's resignation.
  
• According to several eyewitness reports, US soldiers captured Aristide.
  

There's plenty of things I've missed. It all seems too much of a coincidence to me.

[kiahzero]

4. Looking mainly for information on the organizations mentioned

The story calls out several groups as "CIA-backed." I was hoping for some documentation.

"It was executed by a band of killers drawn from the disbanded and discredited Haitian army and the CIA-backed death squads that terrorized the population under the former military dictatorship that ruled the country in the early 1990s."

"Both were leaders of the FRAPH, or Haitian Front for Advancement and Progress, a CIA-backed organization that carried out state terror against opponents of the military regime that ruled the country from 1991 to 1993."

"The statement declared that chaos in Haiti—the result of a CIA-backed rebellion—was “largely of Mr. Aristide’s making.”"

"Earlier, Foley had said Aristide supporters would “burn, pillage and kill”—this after watching placidly as the CIA-backed force massacred hundreds."

[Tinoire]

7. The CIA backing of the FRAPH is pretty old accepted fact

I can dig up links for you tomorrow if you want (sorry I saw this so late). It was the CIA that orchestrated the first coup with Cedras and Constant in '91. For this coup, I'm going to have to dig a little bit to give you something well sourced. Give me until tomorrow PM because I'm too tired now. Peace

==
Aristide resigns, flees Haiti; U.S. Marines land in Port-au-Prince

By Nancy San Martin, Trenton Daniel and Martin Merzer
Knight Ridder Newspapers

<snip>

In Miami, Ira Kurzban, a spokesman for Aristide, said he believed that U.S. intelligence agencies were involved in the ouster.

He noted that one rebel leader, Louis Jodel Chamblain, was a member of FRAPH, a notoriously brutal paramilitary group that supported Haiti's 1991-1994 military dictatorship and was later found to have CIA connections.

``This was a major operation by the intelligence agencies of the U.S.,'' Kurzban said. ``Eventually, the truth will come out.''

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/8074322.htm
==

Bush administration defends role in Aristide's departure

BY MARIKA LYNCH, JACQUELINE CHARLES AND ANDRES OPPENHEIMER

Knight Ridder Newspapers

MIAMI - (KRT) - While members of the U.S. Congressional Black Caucus accused the Bush administration of toppling the democratically elected president of Haiti, the White House Sunday stressed the transfer of power was constitutional, and that the events that led to it were neither induced nor encouraged by Washington.


<snip>

"I don't know what's going on, but we are just as much a part of this coup d'etat as the rebels, looters or anyone else," Rangel, D-N.Y., said on ABC's "This Week."

U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-Fla., echoed the sentiment. "Obviously the Bush administration had a plan from the beginning and it's played out now. Unfortunately so many Haitians had to lose their lives in that plan."

<snip>

Haiti's American lawyer and lobbyist, Ira Kurzban of Miami, alleged that Washington was secretly behind the rebels who seized much of northern and central Haiti since Feb. 5 - even though U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell has repeatedly called them "thugs."

Kurzban noted that at least one of the gunmen's leaders, Louis Joel Chamblain, was part of the paramilitary group FRAPH, which terrorized the country after a military junta ousted Aristide in 1991. FRAPH's founder, Emmanuel "Toto" Constant, later acknowledged he was on the CIA payroll.

But senior U.S. officials vehemently deny those charges and insist Aristide's departure was constitutional and not a coup.

<snip>

http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/nation/8073630.htm

[DemBones DemBones]

11. Charlie Rangel is always marvelous, and I hope he's

watching his back and staying out of small planes. No apologies for :tinfoilhat:


"I don't know what's going on, but we are just as much a part of this coup d'etat as the rebels, looters or anyone else," Rangel, D-N.Y., said on ABC's "This Week."

He was great educating Russert last week.

[kiahzero]

12. Thanks! (n/t)

[G_j]

5. bookmarked... good article

it appears once again it's up to us to counteract a complete media coverup.

[LoneStarLiberal]

6. Still No Evidence of CIA Involvement

In every case where the CIA has been behind something of this magnitude there are always pieces of evidence to discuss that directly implicate them.

But this article, like others you've posted here about Haiti, only alleges that the CIA are involved and then moves on without even attempting to offer some of this "convincing evidence" of how the CIA is behind this "made in America coup."

Don't get me wrong, the very fact that a buch of rebels come across the border from the Dominican Republic with brand new uniforms, new weapons, and new logistical support tells us right off the bat that there is outside money involved on the now-government side.

I think it's more probable that there was drug money backing the rebels instead of CIA money. Haiti is a perfect transshipment point for drugs headed north and if I remember right (notice the lack of "convincing evidence" on my behalf as well!) there have been issues with Haiti being used as such in the past.

I'm not saying that the CIA wasn't involved, but rather that I simply don't see any evidence for it beyond conjecture. Why would they be involved? What threat did Aristide pose to the CIA and/or the Bush administration? Where are the dirty CIA fingerprints?

[Tinoire]

9. I'll look tomorrow

Haiti is a very small island. Nothing is kept secret there.

The first coup was CIA-linked and these are the exact same people (FRAPH) returning, in the same manner. Emmanuel Constant, from the first coup was on the CIA payroll as were several other FRAPH leaders who were never brought to justice because of what they knew.

I'll come back to this thread tomorrow. Too tired now... Peace

[Webster Green]

10. Another link........

http://www.blackcommentator.org/79/79_haiti_dogs.html

[lapislzi]

13. What is the interest in destabilizing Haiti?

What's in it for bushco? Maybe I'm being naive (and I don't for one minute believe that any of what you're saying isn't true!), but I don't know what the payoff is.

Haiti is one of the poorest nations on the planet. It has been completely, systematically stripped of resources. What possible advantage can there be in destabilizing such a poor country?

[ret5hd]

15. haiti was poised to join the ranks of vanezuela, brazil, and cuba...

as nations whose governments were more interested in the welfare of the common man than the welfare of the imf, world bank, and other monied interests.

More schools had been built under aristedes presidency than those built sinced before 1900.
Also:
Subsidies for school books and school clothes
Agriculture subsidies
Road, other infrastructure improvements

Look at the parallels between haiti and venezuela in particular:
80%+ support from the poor
0% support from the rich
coups supported by u.s.

granted, haiti has no oil, BUT:
the u.s. is prepared to do ANYTHING, WHATEVER IT TAKES, to stop this spread of populism and the empowerment of the common man. Corporo-fascism MUST be allowed free reign.

[lapislzi]

16. Gotcha. Thank you.

I suspected a Venezuela connection. Thanks for clarifying.

I guess a generally enforced policy of destabilization is good for business, huh?

[htuttle]

14. Maxine Waters and Barbara Lee both call this a coup

On Democracy Now this morning, both representatives stated in very clear terms that this was clearly a US backed coup.

Amy made them repeat the statement and clarify it: "This is a US-backed Coup d'Etat," stated both very emphatically.

[CWebster]

17. Still hounding Chavez

as well.