12004: Chamberlain: re 12930: Let's keep some perspective (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

> Let's keep some perspective on what is happening in Haiti

> A Haitian immigrant was injured during clashes between police and
> anti-government demonstrators in that 'model of democracy' - the
Dominican
> Republic. Riots and police violence are familiar phenomena in this
troubled
> neighbor of the Republic of Haiti.


Let's keep some perspective indeed!  Nobody says the DR is a "model of
democracy."
People there are poor, there's isn't much electricity and the police are
often violent.
The difference between it and Haiti is that despite this, most Dominicans
have a working confidence, or at least a willingness to engage with, their
institutions --
elections, Congress, courts, public services etc.  Haitians sadly don't,
because their
institutions are constantly undermined by their political class, themselves
and others.

Jamaica too bears mention.  More people are murdered in Jamaica each year
(about
1,000) than in Haiti.  But it is dishonest to imply that Haiti is "better
off" in this respect,
as has been suggested on this list in the past.  Jamaicans too are poor,
but like the
Dominicans have a working confidence in their institutions (including
regular and fairly
conducted elections, social security payments etc).

Same goes for the occasional protests of Haitian regime apologists about US
police
being as brutal as their Haitian colleagues.  Another false analogy.  In
the US, there's
a _chance_ of recourse against racist or brutal police, while there's none
of any
significance in Haiti.

And yes, the US had a spectacular and disgusting outcome to its last
presidential election
comparable with the machinations of any Third World dictatorship (or
Haitian regime).
Again, there's a chance of recourse (if only, so far, simply the exposure
of what happened)
and a degree of transparency absent in Haiti.

All these false analogies are raised by people who join in the game (if it
wasn't so serious
and tragic) of desperately covering up for the failings, abuses and
corruption of the Haitian
regime.

If only Haiti would learn from Jamaica and the DR, where things have got
some way beyond
focusing on people instead of policies.  But it seems still largely locked
in "saviour politics."

The Convergence is a joke with its total lack of interest in economic or
social policy and its
obsession with the ever-so-slightly "mal élu" Aristide.  In the DR and
Jamaica, an elected
government is criticised but allowed to finish its term.

Lavalas is a joke in its present state, above all when the president
himself refuses to obey
the law requiring him to file a statement of his assets with parliament.

But let's try to get beyond this dire situation.  Amid all the abuse and
abuses on both sides,
people need hope. So who can compile a list here of what has _improved_
under the current
regime? Especially things that are likely to survive a change of regime.
And let's leave out
all the ten-a-penny announced projects and focus on what's actually been
done.

So regime apologists, Aristide-haters and Convergence fanatics kindly stand
aside.


        Greg Chamberlain