HAITI: "Damming the Flood" Book Review

[magbana]

Of all the illegal and dishonest misadventures that the Bush Administration got away with, the least criticized of all might be the 2004 overthrow of Haiti's democratically elected government. Even human rights groups and left-leaning press that stood up against the Iraq war gave, and still give, Bush a pass on the horror he unleashed on Haiti by kidnapping President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

(Editor's note: No pass was ever issued by BlackCommentator.com e.g. Return Aristide to Haiti - Try Bush as a Global Pirate (Issue 81 - March 11, 2004) - Republished in this issue)

Peter Hallward's new book Damming the Flood: Haiti, Aristide and the Politics of Containment (Verso 2008) is a welcome corrective to the false impressions and historical amnesia about Haiti afflicting most of the English-speaking world. Jonathan Kozol called it, "A brilliant politically sophisticated and morally infuriating work on a shameful piece of very recent history that the United States press has either distorted or ignored. The most important and devastating book I've read on American betrayal of democracy in one of the most tormented nations in the world."

Hallward, a United Kingdom-based philosophy professor, was teaching a course in 2003 that involved daily reading of Le Monde and other French newspapers when he noted a systematic demonization of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and his Lavalas movement. He subsequently wrote one of the best long articles about the 2004 coup (New Left Review 27, May-June 2004) shortly after it happened. Ever since, he seems to have been collecting information for a bill of indictment against the US, France and Canada, the coup's principle backers, ever since. In the process he has also put together a damning critique of liberals and self-described radicals who through either intellectual laziness or lack of cross-class solidarity accepted Bush-approved PR on Haiti.

More:

http://www.blackcommentator.com/271/271_damming_the_flood_haiti_review_terrall.html

[subsuelo]

1. I have got to read this book

I have no excuse for paying so little attention to the inexcusable horrors that have taken place there. That first line is completely correct. Sounds like a worthy read.

[magbana]

2. I finished reading the book a few months ago and it is superb!

He provides an incredible amount of detail about who all the players are and you understand quickly that President Aristide and the people of Haiti never had a chance. I'm glad to hear you are interested in reading the book.

[Judi Lynn]

3. You just sold a copy! I went and ordered it after reading this thread & added

Naomi Klein's "Shock Doctrine" while I was there. Now I've got TWO very worthwhile books to read and to share.

"One of the most tormented nations in the world." Sad, sad, sad. They did something to save their world from pure hell, and they've been tortured every day since then.

Every effort made to shine some light into this economic torture chamber situation is an effort taken in support of life. Eventually people are going to have to confront the truth, as it's really NOT going to go away, no matter how hard they try to avoid it.

As drunks learn, even the most dedicated can't stay drunk ALL the time! The results of this murderous assault on innocent people by those who would destroy their rights, their wills, their lives and sacrifice them ALL to their own greed are STILL going to come home to roost with the abusers.

I'm hoping I will be able to learn in my lifetime that finally Haitians and other suffering people who've been caught in the jaws of hell by power players are finally able to sleep without nightmares and without fear of the next day.

[magbana]

4. Late Breaking News from Haiti

I just got a call from my friend, Kevin Pina, who is a journalist and reported from Haiti for nine years. Here's a news flash from him. And to think, the UN has been sending out the rosiest press releases about how everything is better and Laura Bush came to give Haiti its stamp of approval as well by deeming Haiti safe enough for rich white women. I guess they never realized that starving makes you mad as hell and you will kick anyone's ass to get some food.


It is not up at the Haiti Action website yet:

HIP News Flash

HIP News Flash

One protester killed as demonstrations continue in Haiti

Les Cayes, Haiti- A second day of protests in Haiti's third largest city against growing hunger and high food prices escalated out of control today. More than 3000 demonstrators surrounded a UN compound that houses Uruguayan troops who reportedly opened fire on the crowd. One protester was confirmed killed and four others wounded by gunfire.

On Thursday , over 5000 protesters set up flaming barricades throughout the main downtown area of Les Cayes and paralyzed traffic for several hours according to eyewitnesses. Demonstrators stopped two trucks loaded with rice and after the drivers fled the scene, began distributing it to the crowd. They also attacked the fence of the headquarters of United Nations forces in the area. Uruguayan troops with the United Nations Stabilization Mission, known by its acronym MINUSTAH, opened fire on the crowd and witnesses claim that five people were wounded in Thursday's protests.

A thirty-two year-old woman who identified herself as Sonia Jeanty stated during a telephone interview from Les Cayes, "We are hungry and have given up on the UN and the Preval government to help us. After all the money they have spent here most of us are eating only one meal a day. It's unacceptable especially as we hear the UN trying to tell us everyday on the radio that things have gotten better. It's a lie!"

Mounting protests throughout Haiti stand in stark contrast to recent press releases and interviews by UN officials that the situation in Haiti has vastly improved since the election of Rene Preval as president in Feb. 2006. The international community has invested over 2 billion in Haiti to date while reports indicate the average Haitian has seen relatively little improvement in their living conditions. The price of staples such as rice and beans, whose importation is controlled by a few wealthy families, has nearly doubled while unemployment remains at close to 80%.

[Judi Lynn]

5. It's 4:25 a.m., EST, and I just found this article:3 killed in Haiti amid food riots, clashes

3 killed in Haiti amid food riots, clashes
From the Associated Press
April 5, 2008


PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI -- At least three people were killed and 25 injured in food riots and clashes with U.N. peacekeepers Friday, a mission spokeswoman and Haitian radio said.

A young man was shot in the head and killed during protests in southern Haiti. It was not immediately clear who shot him, though protesters blamed United Nations troops.

U.N. soldiers fired because they were fired upon, said U.N. spokeswoman Sophie Boutaud de la Combe. She said the mission had opened an investigation.

At least two other people were found dead in other parts of Les Cayes, a southern town where rioting occurred for a second day Friday, Radio Kiskeya reported. It was not clear how they died. Boutaud said the U.N. mission was not aware of those deaths.

Nine people were treated for bullet wounds, Boutaud said. A U.N. soldier was slightly injured.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-haiti5apr05,1,5805472.story

This is truly sad.

You definitely got the "scoop" on this situation from your friend. Please let us know if you hear more.

[Judi Lynn]

6. Food riots turn deadly in Haiti

Page last updated at 04:21 GMT, Saturday, 5 April 2008 05:21 UK
Food riots turn deadly in Haiti

At least four people were killed and 20 wounded when demonstrations against rising food prices turned into riots in southern Haiti, officials say.

Reports say scores of people went on the rampage in the town of Les Cayes, blocking roads, looting shops and shooting at UN peacekeepers.

The UN said its personnel had opened fire at some of the armed protesters.

For two days running, parts of Haiti have been erupting into violence triggered by the soaring cost of food.

The prices of rice, beans and fruit have gone up by 50% in the last year.

Earlier this week, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon issued a report saying that the food crisis threatened the Caribbean nation's fragile security.

More:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7331921.stm

[magbana]

7. Les Cayes is a tourist area and I'm sure the Haitian gov't. is flipping out

Judi, thanks much for providing these very important updates to yesterday's story. As you might imagine, the UN lo-balls its casualty figures so I imagine we will get higher figures over the next few days. I noted that they mentioned that one of the protestors was shot in the head. TShooting Haitians in the head is a normal practice and guarantees one less Haitian to deal with. The UN base mentioned houses largely the Uruguayan troops. - keep in mind the brown against black racial hatred that operates in the se kinds of situations. I should get another update from Kevin today and will report in. on this list.

[magbana]

8. Lies told by PM Alexis Follow Patter of "Damming the Flood"

"We know that these demonstrations have been infiltrated by individuals linked to drug dealers and other smugglers," Haiti's Prime Minister, Jacques Edouard Alexis, condemning the violence told BBC News report on Saturday."


The most effective thing that the anti-Aristide forces did back in 2004 was to label (repeatedly) his supporters "bandits" and "criminals" It forever doomed the poor to summary executions and indefinite incarceration without charge. Here PM Alexis, in one sentence, condemns hungry Haitians to the same fate. But from a logical standpoint, the drug dealers and smugglers want nothing to do with a people's struggle for a decent life -- it is a preposterous statement by the PM.


Food Riots Kill At Least Four, Dozens Injured In Haiti

April 5, 2008 8:14 a.m. EST

Mayur Pahilajani - AHN News Writer

Port-au-Prince, Haiti (AHN) - At least four Haitians were killed and around 25 others wounded in demonstrations-turned-riots in southern Haiti with U.N. peacekeepers, according to the local reports.

On the second day of demonstrations related to the anti-poverty and against the rising prices on Friday, riots broke out among the armed protesters and clashes were reported between the United Nations peacekeepers and the people.

Violence engulfed different parts of Haiti for the last two days over the rising food prices including rice, fruits and beans that have surged by more than 50 percent over the last 12 months in the region.

"Four people were shot dead and some 20 injured" in the protest in Cayes, the country's third most populous city 190 kilometers (118 miles) south of Port-Au-Prince, Senator Gabriel Fortune told AFP news agency.

"I cannot go out, the situation has degenerated and it appears to be taking a turn for the worse," Fortune said.

"There are armed people who came from Port-au-Prince, the capital, to bolster the demonstrators," he added.

A young man was reportedly shot in the head by the U.N. peacekeepers and three others were found dead in Les Cayes during the clashes as thousands of Haitians went on the rampage, looting stores, blocking the roads, firing at the U.N. troops and burning cars.

Almost 30 people were injured in similar protests-turned-riots on Thursday in Port-au-Prince, Cayes and Gonaives, the country's three most populous cities, according to AFP.

Haiti, which face food crisis that is threatening the country's vulnerable security, holds 8.5 million people with only marginal number of people earning less than two dollars per day.

"We know that these demonstrations have been infiltrated by individuals linked to drug dealers and other smugglers," Haiti's Prime Minister, Jacques Edouard Alexis, condemning the violence told BBC News report on Saturday.

He added that the country has already spent almost $10 million to curb the rising food prices and to make the food aid schemes available to the people.

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7010546869

http://snipurl.com/23jlk

[Judi Lynn]

9. Cross referenced your thread with a post in LBN on the food riot:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3256333#3256599

Looks as if a couple of DU'ers are also interested in this book. I've got to get it, as well. It sounds exactly like a book one would want to share.

[magbana]

10. Glad to know that other DU'ers are interested in the Haiti book

I swear after you read the book, you will be armed with ALL the information needed to whack the bastards. Peter Hallward provides so much detailed ammunition. Virtually everything he writes is in keeping with my personal experience with Haiti

I'm working on a piece about Guy Philippe and the US Deputy Ambassador to Haiti, Luis Moreno. We interviewed both of them during our delegation trip to Haiti. Luis Moreno is the one who kidnapped Aristide (along with the help of 30 US Special Forces soldiers armed to the teeth) and put him on the plane to the Central African Republic. But, that ain't all Moreno did during the coup -- he and Guy have a history. STAY TUNED!!!