THE EDITOR, Sir:IN YOUR article in The Sunday Gleaner, February 1, 2004 entitled 'CARICOM and Haiti A time for vision and principle' the writer showed a great deal of competence and understanding of the Haitian political crisis.
When I heard that the regional body was trying to meet with the different sectors involved in the crisis, I thought it was the moment for truth to triumph like the beacon light that guides our path.
Today it is Haiti, tomorrow may be any other Caribbean state. Every nation is vulnerable to political or other forms of crises. I could even refer to the very chairman of CARICOM the Honourable P.J. Patterson, while he is proposing for the Haitian Government to make fundamental changes within the next two months, there were gangs and area dons tearing down Spanish Town with gunfire.
While he is proposing reform in the Haitian Police Force, Jamaica is plagued with its own crimes.
I would like to ask, Mr. Chairman, when will you stop the killings in your own backyard? Nevertheless, I am very optimistic that this time, the parties in Haiti will make an effort to bring the passa-passa to an end.
The only concern I have is that some of the very nations who pretend to help Haiti out of the crisis are also the ones feeding it.
The Bush administration can identify well with what I am saying. There is a great deal of diplomatic manipulation behind the crisis that CARICOM may not know anything about.
When opposition forces launch attacks against Aristide's supporters, no press release comes from the foreign institutions in Port-au-Pince. But the moment the security forces step out to protect and to serve the Government, everybody finds the microphone to blame Government. This situation only gives the opposition free rein to carry out all kinds of terrorist activities.
Yes, it is a fundamental right for people to demonstrate and express their views freely, but not at the expense of other people's lives.
RECOMMENDATION
Ever since the crisis, there has never been any concrete recommendation made to the opposition forces, who are engaged in terrorising the Haitian people including schoolchildren and school facilities just to attain power by any means possible, except elections.
As a reminder, let me reaffirm in true western term, that terrorism is nothing but the use of violence to achieve political or religious ambitions. If terror is not acceptable in the United States of America, in Canada, or elsewhere, why should it be promoted or endorsed in Haiti?
Another devastating element about the whole situation is that the media, both national and international, have been engaged in a campaign of misinformation or propaganda, which can't serve as any standard of reliable source for Caribbean communities and the rest the world to analyse, understand and interpret the Haitian situation.
At present, there is no independent or scholarly organised or honest press in Haiti. All the private media centres that call themselves independent, also declared themselves as members of the opposition's platform.
But they are the ones to provide news for Caribbean media. This is a very complex situation, which requires diplomatic wisdom to solve. How could you ask one side in a crisis that involves two, to make changes that should involve the whole?
It is obvious that some of the recommendations made by CARICOM to the President are unrealistic, especially if they do not involve both parties engaging in deliberate action for peace. Aristide may go back to Haiti, take away the guns from some of his supporters whom he may know, but how likely will he be able to detect the strongholds of the opposition forces?
Politicians and diplomats play their games while sharpening the suffering of the people. If the leaders of the opposition must enjoy all their rights, they must also enjoy accountability, first, to the Haitian people whom they aspire to lead, then to the international bodies who are trying to help. The crisis is deep enough for concrete steps to be taken by both entities.
I am, etc
LOUINEL JEAN
icmnloui@hotmail.com
