12583: BREAK THE IMPASSE (Miami Herald Editorial) (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: MKarshan@aol.com

Miami Herald
Posted on Sun, Jul. 28, 2002

BREAK THE IMPASSE
POLITICAL, ECONOMIC STALEMATE IN HAITI

More than two years have passed since Haiti's ill-fated election of May 2000. Yet fallout from the election has been like a noose around Haiti's neck that has strangled its economy and politics -- and could precipitate its descent into total anarchy.

But there is a ray of hope: President Jean-Bertrand Aristide has signaled his intent to end the crisis by agreeing to a long list of demands proposed by the Organization of American States. Mr. Aristide promised to hold new parliamentary elections next spring, conclude investigating last December's palace attack, pay reparations to people who suffered damages due to the attack and comply with other ''confidence building'' measures.

The agreement is a last-ditch effort to bridge the political impasse. It lacks a concurrent agreement with the Democratic Convergence, which represents opposition parties that have little popular support in Haiti. After 26 months of negotiations, Convergence has made it clear that it is unwilling to accept any terms other than Mr. Aristide's ouster.

But the OAS has accepted Mr. Aristide's new pledge as a binding testament of his intent. So, too, should the U.S. government, which has pressed to cut off hundreds of millions of international aid to Haiti.

Meanwhile, Haiti's tenuous grasp on its economy and political institutions continues to deteriorate badly. The government -- still buffeted by corruption and mismanagement -- is unable to provide basic security, health care, education or enough food and jobs for its 8 million citizens. Without U.S. and international assistance, Haiti seems destined to collapse from its own ineptitude.

Thus far, the Bush administration has blocked funds and watched from a distance. That risks a scenario such as those that caused previous administrations to intervene after the fact to restore order in Haiti. There are some encouraging signs, however, that the Bush administration may be quietly reviewing its strategy.

Tomorrow, a team from the Inter-American Development Bank, which handles loans for humanitarian development, arrives in Haiti for a close inspection. A successful visit, coupled with acceptance of Mr. Aristide's new pledges, could form the basis for a welcome renewal of U.S. and international assistance to Haiti.