Every nation, even the superficial and impractical constituent states created in Africa, the Caribbean and Central America under European colonialism, is imbued with a sense of purpose. The Igbos and Yorubas of Nigeria may spend their entire existence debating whether their primary allegiance should be to the Igbo and Yoruba tribes, their respective ethnic groups, or Nigeria, a rather superficial entity but their nominal country nevertheless. Likewise, the citizens of the little Caribbean island nation Grenada, for example, would have trouble explaining to an outsider why they consider themselves worthy of the respect of others as a sovereign nation. Yet, Nigerians and Grenadians defend the spirit of exceptionality that comes with their belonging to a particular entity in the proudest and most patriotic way that earn them the grudging respect of the skeptic interlocutor.
In contrast, Haitians, whose distinctive history should make them the poster nation for self-determination and intolerance to domination, have sunk into a culture of dependency, apathy and, most remarkably, an inclination to accept ideas and leadership from entities that have shown a propensity to harm their country. The latest transgression being the MINUSTAH (2004-?) whose disdain for the basic rights of Haitians and cruelty in the fulfillment of its illegal mandate surpass those of the French Expeditionary Force sent by Napoleon Bonaparte to restore slavery in Haiti (1802-03). The indiscriminate bombings and raping of civilians and summary executions of politically suspect Haitians, i.e. Lavalas sympathizers and opponents of the occupation are beyond the shadow of a doubt “crimes against humanity”, the very scourge the United Nations is supposedly trying to eradicate from this world. Yet, the vast majority of Haitians, blinded by the political class and abandoned by the country’s intelligentsia, seems oblivious to that reality.
Is it defeatism by default, given that the Haitian people have been led astray on too many occasions by their political leaders, or their legendary resilience has become an impediment to reasons? Though both theories could be the answer to this query; failure to abandon course and regain the sense of purpose that propelled a dysfunctional group of indomitable slaves to the status of immortals would have dire consequences for Haiti and its people. Although motivation, be it philosophical, cultural, ideological, religious or patriotic, has emotional limitations, such rationale doesn’t fully explain the collective indolence befallen the Haitian people in the face of such concerted and unrelenting assault on their identity and existence.
Anyone with an ounce of common sense can see the nefarious effects of the international community’s engagement in Haiti which, thus far, has caused the untimely death of thousands of Haitian citizens, the result of political repression and the Nepalese-imported cholera epidemic. Yet, the country’s political class, the fiduciary component of the immoral and illegal endeavor, is not showing any inclination to sever its ties with the occupiers. On the contrary, these politicians are perpetuating the myth put forward by the architects of the occupation 2004-?) (Haiti is being saved from itself or its corrupt leadership) by providing evidence of their incompetence in a consistent manner.
Since the devastating earthquake of January 12th, 2010, neither the Haitian Parliament nor the executive branch (under René Préval and the current government) has come up with a locally produced strategy to rebuild the damaged symbols of the state. This important undertaking, as decided by these politicians, is left to the benevolence of the international community which, incidentally, has never been kind to the interests and aspirations of the Haitian people. Aptly, their attitude corroborates the notion of Haiti being a “failed state” which serves as justification for its illegal occupation of under chapter VII of the UN Charter that authorizes the implicit use of force to fulfill the mandate.
To date, few member-nations of the United Nations have addressed the illogical nature of the original and subsequent Security Council resolutions (SCRs) that identified Haiti as a threat to peace and security in our world. Such blatant abuse of power not only discredits the notion of the UN and its Security Council as peace builder and enforcer but also the wisdom of belonging to such organization. Any self-respecting country that holds dear the principles of auto-determination and sovereignty would not participate in this charade; yet Haitian leaders cannot bring themselves to denounce the organization and its fascist actions in Haiti.
The international community’s assistance to Haiti is self-serving and does not in any way or shape benefit the country. More than any UN-backed endeavor, in any other member-state, it focuses on leaving cultural and political prints that are incompatible with the traditional values of the cornered nation. Though many issues confronting Haiti are attributable to its idiosyncrasies (incompetent leadership, unaccountability and corruption), the ones that created the present order were conceived and executed by or under the auspices of the international community. Hence, the notion of “Haiti being a threat to international peace and security” is an absurd fabrication that speaks volumes of the evil intention of the country’s self-appointed saviors.
Arrogance, the most conspicuous aspect of power, sometimes finds its match in the most unlikely circumstances or places. Haiti, an impoverished and overpopulated small nation, could not possibly have been a threat to the present geopolitical reality as the UN Security Council decided on March 1st, 2004 and continued to insist over the last 7 years. But, as the saying goes “be careful what you wish for, you may get it.”
ddjougan@gmail.com
Must Haitians Put Up with the Charade?
