Q&A: What's behind the violent uprisings in Haiti?
As a violent uprising in Haiti continues to spread, the country's fragile
peace looks as shaky as it has in a decade. Robert Maguire,
Director of International Affairs & Haiti Programs at Trinity College
in Washington DC, spoke with csmonitor.com's Seth Stern about the
situation in Haiti.
What's causing the recent violence? How much is due to anger over the 2000
legislative election which President
Jean-Bertrand Aristide's opponents charge was flawed?
The underlying cause is both economic and political. Politically, it does
go back to the 2000 election and the government's inability to
address that issue effectively and the opponents' inability to participate.
It has created this growing crescendo of political polarization that
in the past two months has reached the shouting point of violence and demonstrations
in the street.
The economic component is somewhat linked to those 2000 elections. Even
before that and surely following that, most bilateral and
multilateral assistance was cut off - including by the US. Some $500 million
in developmental assistance was withheld and essentially this
has been a resource starved government unable to invest in social welfare
programs, infrastructure development and any other investments
in the hemisphere's poorest country. This has obviously eroded support
of the government since people expected it to deliver and it has
been unable to accomplish virtually anything
Who is in the opposition to Aristide's rule?
The opposition is multi-faceted. The traditional political opposition which
has been intransigently opposed to Aristide since 2000. You have
the more elite opposition to Aristide which is led by more traditional
elites - people from the business class and intellectuals - which has
attracted people from middle and lower middle classes. They are all disaffected
by corruption and the inability to meet the nation's needs.
The third component in this opposition, the one gaining headlines, is the
violent gangs. These gangs are a very fluid bunch. They can shift
alliances pretty easy. They're opportunistic gangs who view politics as
a means of survival. Some of them had been affiliated with the
government where as others had not. Among the gangs, we are currently seeing
a resurgence of organized resistance comprising former
Haitian military and paramilitary members.
Is there a danger that former military leaders could seize power?
Not in the immediate future. There is a real danger that whatever public
security Haiti does have could erode. A beleaguered, corrupt, and
weakened Haitian police force will be unable to withstand opponents who
are quite well armed and in many different locations.
Is there any significance that the main site of violence is Gonaives, where
a revolt against former dictator Jean-Claude
Duvalier began in 1985?
Gonaives has been a hot bed of political action since 1985. I think that
what may be even more significant is the existence of gangs there.
Some of them were born in the 1985 period. You've had some repeated episodes
of violence.
What are Aristide's prospects?
His government has never been unchallenged, but this level of opposition
accompanied by violence is the largest challenge his government
has experienced since he was sworn in Feb. 2001 to a second term. I believe
he is intent on hanging on and I believe that up until now he
had the support of the principal international actors who continue to recognize
his legitimacy. We should watch whether the Haitian
government will appeal to the Organization of American States, since they
are now characterizing the violence as an attempted coup d
etat.
What are the prospects for a peaceful resolution?
The interesting question is how will the nonviolent opposition will respond
to the increasing violence and chaos being done in their name. I
haven't seen much of a response yet. There is a tendency in Haitian politics
to step back and let violence spin out if you perceive it will help
you meet your goals. That's why it's going to be very important to see
what the opposition does - whether violence could push them to try
to mediate a solution with Aristide.