Return of exiled Haitian President

One of the most important news in Haiti these days is the announcement of the return of ousted former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, after seven years living in exile in South Africa.

Officer of the South African Ministry of Foreign Affairs spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized for official announcement. According to his information, the exiled Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide should be returned to their homeland within a few days. One is able to return after he was last month Haitian government has decided to give a diplomatic passport. But on the other hand, the Haitian and U.S. officials claim that his presence could disrupt the second round of presidential elections to be held March 20. "The U.S. remains focused on helping to ensure a peaceful and democratic transition of power in Haiti and that a second election accurately reflects the will of the Haitian people, "  the statement said the State Department.

Council President Aristide party Fanm Lavals, which was forbidden to run to their members at the last presidential and parliamentary elections, apparently due to errors in the documents to sign, also confirmed that "imminent" return of the former president of this Caribbean nation.
"This is an important event for people in Haiti because it waited so long, " said Maryse Narcisse, adding: "He will not travel incognito. People will be able to come."

Three weeks ago, thousands Aristide's supporters protested in the capital Port-au-Prince, announced that it will disrupt the elections if they do not facilitate the return home. Aristide urged the government to him as a former president to provide constitutionally guaranteed security. Asked last month if he is ready to return, said it would return "today, tomorrow, at any time" and eagerly wants to "serve their Haitian brothers and sisters as an ordinary citizen in the field of education." Later he added that his doctors recommended him to any more winter is not implemented in South Africa, due to serious eye problems.

Speculation that it will attempt to return to Haiti have risen after the return of former dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier, known as "Baby Doc", the 25-year-old exile who is now facing charges of corruption and human rights violations. Seeing that the Duvalier returned from exile, Aristide was also requested to end his persecution. Both former presidents say they are interested in national reconciliation, but critics have their doubts about the former government of their intentions. Domestic and foreign experts fear that the presence of two former leaders could further destabilize the country, which is already struggling with the consequences of last year's devastating earthquake, as well as political instability.

                      Photo (hispanicallyspeakingnews.com): Jean-Claude Duvalier

  The first democratic president

Aristide, a former priest from the slums, in 1991. after a 29-year Duvalier family dictatorship became the first democratically elected president of Haiti, despite opposition from the army and the Haitian elite. Became crucial to the democratic movement during the first rule of "Baby Doc", and then under the transitional military regime that followed.

However, twice ousted by a military coup - the first time shortly after the election 1991st, but under U.S. pressure and after Aristide agreed to abolish some of their reforms, so the military regime collapsed, and he was returned to power. His second term ended 2004th, when he was overthrown in a rebellion which was attended by former soldiers, on charges of assassination of anti-government protest leader, Amiot Metayer. And the rebels and political opposition accused Aristide that he was actually a dictator who is cheating the voters said they believe it will help poor Haitian people. They also said that the armed mercenaries known as Chimeres who terrorized the population.

Controversies arise over who is actually overthrew Aristide. He accused the United States to organize a coup backed by, among others, Jamaican Prime Minister PJ Patterson. He also claimed he did not voluntarily left the country, but that was hijacked and that he did not know where it water, until he eventually did not say that he and his wife landed in a French military base in central Africa. In this case doubted the United States - charges that the White House dismissed as "nonsense". So the question is whether France and the United States were truly involved. But any of my attempts to find reasons and explanations would be mere speculation.

  Violation of human rights and corruption?

Of the reformers, who, among other things, the general population, access to health care and education, and the army brought under civilian authority, accused of violating human rights. Human Rights Watch accused the Haitian police under the rule of President Aristide and his political supporters for attacks on opposition rallies. They also said that the emergence of armed rebel groups who wanted to overthrow it reflected "the failure of state institutions and democratic procedures. " But despite charges of violations of human rights, the OAS / UN International Civilian Mission in Haiti, known by the French acronym MICIVIH, has determined that the human rights situation in Haiti has improved greatly after the return of Aristide to power 1994th Amnesty International has reported that after his departure 2004th Haiti was "descended into serious human rights crises."

 
 
 On the other hand, the Haitian investigators claim to have discovered a huge embezzlement and money laundering by former Aristide administration, in which the use of sophisticated financial transactions alleged to have been lost millions of dollars of public funds. Aristide has vehemently denied the allegations.
Many believe that it its popularity among the Haitian people have saved from the fate of former dictator Duvalier, who was quickly tested and must now face charges of corruption and human rights violations. "You see, when people learn that they are safe returns, will go out into the streets and clean them for him" commented on the 26-year-old Jeremy Dupin, a journalist from Cité Soleil, one of the poorest areas of the capital.

But some fear that his return will be destabilizing for the state of recovery efforts. Because the same forces that supported the coup, which it in 2004. was deposed and expelled from the country, they will realize its return as a major threat. But regardless of his true motives for return and whether it might be similar to deposed dictator Duvalier than his supporters think, enough already suffering people of Haiti should not be an additional tragedy and a reminder of the past.