African Union to Consider "Land for Haitians" Plan (Possible African State)

[tekisui]

Source: Reuters

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - The African Union (AU) agreed on Sunday to consider a Senegalese proposal to resettle Haiti's earthquake homeless and possibly create a state for them in Africa.

The idea was first floated by Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade who said the history of Haitians as descendants of African slaves gave them the right to a new life on the continent.

AU chairman Jean Ping told African leaders at its annual summit in Addis Ababa that they would discuss the proposal during the three-day event. The AU had opened an account for Haiti with the African Development Bank, he said.

"It is out of a sense of duty and memory and solidarity that we can further the proposal of Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade to create in Africa the conditions for the return of Haitians who wish to return after the effect of the disaster that ravaged Haiti," Ping said.

Wade said Senegal and other African states should naturalize any Haitians who sought new nationality, and he urged a mass adoption programme across the continent for orphans of the quake, feared to have killed as many as 200,000.

The idea for a new state is reminiscent of the 19th century creation of Liberia by freed U.S. slaves. The West African country is currently recovering from a 1999 civil war and is hoping to benefit from recent oil discoveries off its coast.

more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE60U0IV20100131

[Lyric]

1. A good idea.

I'm interested in hearing the details. Kudos to the AU!

[Ex Lurker]

10. that's already been tried. It's called Liberia. It hasn't worked out so well. n/t

[Lyric]

12. Liberia was an imperialist dumping grounds for people we didn't want to be bothered with.

It wasn't Africans helping their brethren, like this--it was Americans (mostly white abolitionist types) getting rid of as many free (or freed) black people as they could, because although they disapproved of slavery, they didn't consider free blacks to be "worthy" of sharing the same nation with us. Haiti is already as bad as Liberia or worse, and the two situations are not the same at all. I suggest you read about the history of Liberia. If it became a nightmare, it was a nightmare WE created--not the African people. Intentions matter. The AU's intentions for creating an African state for Haitians are good ones. They aren't doing it out of racism and imperialism, like we did.

Frankly, I support anything that that African people wish to do for themselves and their brothers and sisters in Haiti. See, unlike Liberia--WE don't get a say in it this time. I approve of the idea, but in the end my opinion (and yours) are irrelevant. It's really none of our damned business what the African nations choose to do. The sooner we stop assuming that we, The Almighty American People, deserve to dictate to other nations what they can and cannot do, the better of the rest of the world will be.

[dkf]

2. Is there a need for this?

Or even a request?

That is very nice for them to be doing this but do Haitians want to leave permanently ?

[sharesunited]

3. It would be a great sanctuary in any event. Difficult to rebuild an island everyone is standing on.

[dkf]

4. We do it. I've never heard of a situation where people simply abandon a devastated area

Everyone Else seems to rebuild.

[Codeine]

5. I find it hard to believe

many Haitians really want to head to Africa. This will come to nothing, I'm sure.

[jwirr]

6. Africa already has problems with hunger, health care, housing, and

other life issues. Would the Haitians be any better off there?

[scarletwoman]

7. A nice gesture, I suppose, but ultimately a really bad idea.

This kind of "help" seems aimed at simply dissolving Haiti as a nation. Like "mass adoptions" -- stripping Haiti of her children, her next generation. It's a form of genocide.

Real help would focus on giving Haitians the tools and freedom to build up their own nation for themselves. They've been fucked with by outsiders for far too long. Have they no right to their own viable nation on their own soil?

The Haitians are descendents of a people who fought for and won their freedom. They have their own unique heritage and culture. Haiti has been their home for centuries now, they have generations of ancestors buried there. They don't need to be relocated, they just need an end to being exploited.

sw

[Ex Lurker]

11. I suspect that Haitian doctors, engineers, professors, businesspeople and the like

would be welcomed with open arms. Poverty stricken Haitian slum dwellers, not so much.

[scarletwoman]

14. And the poverty-stricken slum dwellers do NOT need to have their doctors, engineers, etc.

stripped away from them.

[inna]

13. I agree with you 100%, especially considering how coveted (geostrategically)

the island is...

[scarletwoman]

15. Thank you.

And the truth is, I hadn't even thought about the geostrategic angle. Excellent point, and even more reason to fight against anything that involves stripping the Haitians away from their own home.

sw

[inna]

8. I'm really not sure what to make of it.

Is it good or bad? Or what are the possible implications?


All I know is that what's taking place in Haiti right now has all undertones of Disaster Capitalism in action.


On edit: Never mind. It's all clear to me now, after reading SW's post.

[mopinko]

9. whose state does he plan to give them?

bad idea.

[malaise]

16. Many Westerners would be surprised at the number of African

descendants who have returned to various parts of Africa.
At least somewhere on the planet has offered Haitians a new beginning.