South Africa Cannot Back the Removal of Aristide

ON SUNDAY, February 29, a US plane flew President JeanBertrand Aristide out of Haiti to the Central African Republic. He had neither requested to be moved out of Haiti nor asked that he should be transported to the Central African Republic.

Rather, for some days before the banishment of the elected president of Haiti, US government leaders had joined the French government and Haitian opposition parties in demanding Aristide resign. Whether intentionally or not, these governments which had differed sharply on Iraq, sided with groups that had treasonably taken up arms to overturn the democratically elected government of Haiti.


What occasioned this action by the US and French governments was the campaign of destabilisation carried out by armed gangs that were killing people, looting and burning buildings, all in an attempt to overthrow the government led by Aristide. Amnesty International had repeatedly sounded the alarm about armed groups that had launched a rebellion.

Of great importance with regard to the development in Haiti is the fact that the African world as a whole, in Africa and the diaspora, encompassing the African Union, the Caribbean Community (Caricom) and the African American legislators organised in the US congressional black caucus, acted together in unity.

All Africans throughout the world continue to draw inspiration from the great victory of African slaves in Haiti in 1804, which led to the establishment of the first black republic. Equally, they are deeply concerned Haiti has not seen sustained stability, democracy and development since its emancipation.

This is why they adopted a united position in support of democracy and respect for Haiti's constitution. At the same time, they united behind the positions of Caricom as it worked hard to facilitate a negotiated resolution of the Haitian conflict.

In the aftermath of the removal and banishment of Aristide, the Caricom heads of government "expressed dismay and alarm over the events leading to the departure from office by President Aristide and (continuing) political upheaval and violence in Haiti They expressed the view the circumstances under which he (left) office set a dangerous precedent for democratically elected government everywhere, as it promotes unconstitutional removal of duly elected persons from office".

Because of the circumstances relating to the removal of Aristide, the Caricom heads of government said: "In prevailing circumstances, heads of government do not envisage their participation in the multinational interim force authorised by the (United Nations) Security Council."

On March 1, the Miami Herald in the US reported "many members of the (congressional) black caucus delegation were visibly angered at Aristide's alleged treatment" by the US government.

Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has issued a statement, saying "the South African government joins Caricom leaders in expressing deep concern regarding developments and circumstances that led to the departure of a democratically elected president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, from office ... The slow response of the UN Security Council to pleas for assistance by the government of Haiti ... remains a matter of serious concern ... SA stands ready to support all efforts by Caricom to help bring stability, peace and security to Haiti".

Myakayaka-Manzini is the ANC head of international affairs. This is an edited version of the article which appears on the ANC's electronic newsletter, ANC Today.

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