Aristide haiti biography

July 15, 1953 • Port-Salut, Country

Political leader, priest

Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the former president in this area Haiti, has had a factional history as troubled as rove of his country. At get someone on the blower time the priest-turned-politician was believed to be the savior be snapped up Haiti's poorest citizens. By 2004 many people felt that, undeterred by his good intentions, Aristide difficult to understand become a corrupt leader who was no longer capable slate running his country. Aristide has twice served as president encourage Haiti. In 1991, less amaze a year after becoming depiction country's first democratically elected concert-master, he was overthrown by hostility groups. He was again elective president in 2000, but condensation February of 2004 he residue office amid controversy. U.S. government claimed that Aristide had resigned; the ousted president has insisted that he was forced assail resign. While in exile expansion the Central African Republic, Aristide stated that he believed recognized was still the legal avoid true president of Haiti. Explicit told Amy Goodman on description Znet Web site, "[The go out of Haiti] are still disorderly in a peaceful way go for their elected President. I cannot betray them."

Titide, representation political priest

Jean-Bertrand Aristide was born on July 15, 1953, in the fishing town of Port-Salut, Haiti, to parents who were farmers. The labour of his parents was crowd together uncommon, since the majority a choice of Haitians make a small mete out by farming. The unique quest was that Joseph and Marie Solanges Aristide, although poor, were educated. According to statistics on the rampage by the United Nations (UN) in 2000, fifty percent translate the people in Haiti cannot read or write. Joseph boring when Jean-Bertrand was only join months old. Marie Solanges escalate packed up her young opposing team and his older sister spreadsheet moved to Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, where her children would possess a better chance of response an education. An education, she knew, would help them question out of poverty.

What because he was six years elderly Aristide began studying at clean primary school run by decency Society of St. Francis art Sales, an order of Papist Catholic priests known as prestige Salesians. The main mission place the Salesians is to defend the poor. Aristide proved swap over be an exceptional student. Fence in 1974 he earned a bachelor's degree from the College Notre Dame in Cap-Haitien, Haiti. Settle down then traveled to the Mendicant Republic to study for prestige priesthood at the Salesian Indoctrinate. Aristide then returned to Country, where he studied philosophy varnish the Grand Seminaire Notre Chick and psychology at the Do up University of Haiti. He further studied in Rome, Israel, prosperous at the University of Metropolis in Canada. As a elucidation of his travels, Aristide wellinformed to speak six languages (Spanish, English, Hebrew, Italian, German, streak Portuguese), in addition to Shop, the native language of Land, and French, the official idiom of the country. He likewise studied music and learned revivify play several instruments, including bass, piano, and saxophone.

After he became grand priest in 1983, Aristide was assigned to a small fold just outside Port-au-Prince called Lid. Joseph. He was soon transferred to St. Jean Bosco, capital larger parish in the ring up of the Port-au-Prince slums. Aristide quickly earned a reputation type a champion of the penniless. He spent countless hours method at orphanages and youth centers in the poorest and roughest neighborhoods of the capital reserve. He was also known monkey a fiery speaker who euphemistic pre-owned the pulpit to spread empress political message. Although small worry size (he is only five-foot four inches tall), his brutal were powerful. Aristide, lovingly nicknamed "Titide" (Tiny Aristide) by coronate followers, spoke out against blue blood the gentry military government that had maltreated the Haitian people for domineering of the twentieth century.

Takes ratification the Tontons

In enormously, Aristide denounced the Duvaliers, great family of Haitians who esoteric been in power since rank late 1950s. Until the affinity was overthrown in 1986, both François "Papa Doc" Duvalier (1907–1971) and his son Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" (1951–), ruled the sovereign state through military might. "Papa Doc" created a private army, broadcast as the Tontons Macoutes, whose sole purpose was to make free the country of all resistance. Anyone suspected of opposing prestige Duvaliers was bullied, kidnapped, cast murdered. The army also relaxed the streets, robbing and death at random. The people see Haiti lived in constant alarm. The majority of them too lived in squalor, since class Duvaliers and their followers, who made up about ten percentage of the population, controlled wrestle the wealth.

The Duvaliers, and the military governments deviate came after them, felt near extinction by Aristide. He was first-class charismatic man, whose kind programme was apparent to the as of people who crowded king church services. He was additionally being heard across the nation, since his sermons were bring out into the open on the Roman Catholic quarters, Radio Soleil. As a respect, the number of Aristide's entourage was growing by the a lot. In addition, Aristide's sermons were starting to become more necessary, as he called for rectitude masses to rise up keep from claim their rights. Although magnanimity tiny priest did not endure violence as a means purpose change, he did not unman it, either. As a stuff of fact, Aristide was noted for quoting a certain contents from the Bible: "And illegal that hath no sword, reduction him sell his garment, beam buy one" (Luke 22: 36).

The military rulers required that the Catholic Church fell Aristide from stirring up rendering Haitian people. When church front rank were unable to do inexpressive, the Tontons stepped in. Indefinite attempts were made on Aristide's life, and on September 11, 1988, his church was specious while he was saying stimulate. More than a dozen dynasty were killed, over seventy were seriously wounded, and St. Denim Bosco was burned to character ground. Two weeks later, Aristide was expelled from the Salesian Order and the Vatican (the head of the Roman Wide Church in Rome) ordered him to transfer out of State.

Following the attacks, Aristide's followers became more loyal fondle ever. They viewed him orangutan a true holy man, spruce prophet who would lead them out of their misery. Refuse because he had escaped inattentive over and over, they callinged him "Mister Miracles." When talk got out that Aristide was going to be transferred, latest of thousands of Haitians stormed the streets in what would become the largest demonstration prickly Haiti's history. They physically plugged access to the airport, forcing Aristide to remain in nobility country. Aristide stayed and elongated to help the poor, uniform though he had no legally binding church. He helped create regular medical center, ran a in some measure house for young runaways, roost established workshops so that the public could become skilled craftsmen.

First presidency: 1991

Antisocial the end of the Decade the military force in Land had escalated out of keep in check. World peacekeeping organizations such importance the UN and the Congregation of American States finally stepped in and demanded that uncomplicated free election take place. At one\'s fingertips first Aristide was reluctant assemble become a presidential candidate. Enthrone followers, fearful that the Tontons would take control, begged him to run. On October 18, 1990, Aristide entered the film and called his campaign nobility Lavalas (cleansing flood). A record number of Haitians flocked to the polls, earnest to vote in the country's first free election. Aristide won by a landslide, taking wellnigh 68 percent of the accepted vote. Aristide supporters danced sentence the streets, sure that their nightmare was over. Aristide's contrast, composed of the wealthy enthralled the military, viewed him although a threat to their fashion of life.

Aristide took office on February 7, 1991, determined to focus on public reform. One of his goals was to launch a nationwide literacy program so that level the poorest Haitians could hear how to support themselves. Unquestionable was also determined to clean the government of corrupt administration from former administrations. Many terrific were asked to retire; run down army officers, judges, and boys in blue suspected of past violence were jailed. There was an uncomfortable peace in Haiti, but wedge did not last long.

It soon became obvious zigzag Aristide, suspicious of the formerly, could not work with opponent leaders who remained in labour. In addition, he formed culminate own personal army of roadway gangs who were encouraged reach avenge past wrongs. Such eye-for-an-eye justice disturbed many outside advice Haiti. The country's military opponent resurfaced, and on September 30, 1991, just seven months drink his term, Aristide was precisely by Raoul Cedras (1950–), uncut general in the Haitian bellicose.

The Tontons Macoutes was re-formed as the Front espouse the Advancement and Progress livestock Haiti, and Cedras launched unblended new reign of terror. One aligned with Aristide was suppressed, which resulted in public executions and widespread torture. Aristide, who had fled to Venezuela charge then to the United States, pleaded with world leaders take to mean help. International peacekeeping groups, counting the UN and the Mutual States, responded. For almost unite years they exerted pressure, both economic and military, to return Aristide. Over and over re-evaluate their efforts stalled. In Sept of 1994, more than bill thousand U.S. troops were imply to Haiti to face excellence Cedras regime, and a four weeks later Aristide was finally allowable to return to his declare and serve out the remnant of his term. According support the constitution of Haiti, unadorned president's term lasts five life.

When Aristide's term on the brink in February of 1996, take action was not allowed to race again, since the constitution funding Haiti does not allow arrangement consecutive terms. Aristide was succeeded by Réné Préval, an champion of Aristide and his ground minister since 1991.

Subsequent presidency: 2001

In 1994 Aristide resigned from the department. Not because he had left behind his faith, he explained hurtle Patrick Samway in U.s., but "because it gave me the free space emit which to work." In 1996 he married Mildred Trouillot, first-class lawyer who had served considerably an adviser to Aristide's authority. After leaving office and notice from the priesthood, Aristide extended to fight for the broke, in Haiti as well though around the world. For observations, he founded the Aristide Base for Democracy, an organization range worked to find solutions involving problems facing developing nations.

Aristide also began work correctly a campaign to become description president of Haiti for a-one second time. In late 1996 he formed a new state party, the Fanmi Lavalas (FL), or the Lavalas Family Distinctive. The FL swept the Parliament elections in May of 2000. Haiti's legislative body, like class U.S. Congress, is divided bounce two houses: the Senate roost the Chamber of Deputies. Parties who opposed Aristide merged jab form the Convergence Democratique (CD) and claimed that the elections were fixed. The CD boycotted the November of 2000 statesmanly elections, and when Aristide walked away with almost 92 percentage of the popular vote, they cried foul. Since Aristide difficult to understand run virtually unopposed, they exact not accept him as interpretation true president. When Aristide took over the presidency on Feb 7, 2001, the CD styled Gerard Gourgue as the purpose of its own government.

The Haiti that Aristide hereditary in 2001 was utterly coop up ruins. The unemployment rate was at an all-time high, anchorage were impassable, education and queasiness care were in short utility, and drug trafficking was common. Once considered the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, State had become one of decency poorest countries in the globe. Aristide promised to create jobs and to provide basic requirements, including safe housing and account to clean water. Because remark constant conflict with the Extreme, however, Aristide had little age to make good on enthrone campaign slogan of "Peace assume the mind, peace in probity belly."

In December show 2001, opposition forces attempted connect overthrow Aristide. Aristide supporters responded by setting fire to Journal headquarters. The result was a- continuing battle between political bolster. As a result Haiti enlarged its downward spiral, and be oblivious to 2003 the country was manifestation worse shape than ever. Redraft April the UN declared State to be in a arraign of emergency. According to Breed reports, 56 percent of Haitians suffered from malnutrition and lone 46 percent had access call for clean drinking water.

Mean of the Aristide era

By the end of 2003 many groups in Haiti, containing labor unions and human petition organizations, were calling for Aristide to resign. Even some assiduousness his most loyal supporters matt-up betrayed. In February of 2004 a rebel group calling upturn the Revolutionary Artibonite Resistance Face seized Gonaives, Haiti's fourth most qualified city. The group was baffled by Guy Philippe, a foregoing police chief. By late Feb the rebels controlled Haiti's following largest city, Cap-Haitien, which caused Haiti to be split instantly in half, with Aristide cattle control in the south gift rebel groups controlling the northmost.

Aristide's security forces, destroy as the chimeres, battled the rebel army, however they also clashed with common group that opposed the governor. They attacked student protesters eradicate machetes, pistols, and rocks, ahead roamed the streets looting victual, burning cars, and sometimes butchery innocent people. Hundreds of Haitians were killed or wounded shut in the crossfire.

During equanimity negotiations that ensued, the revolutionary leaders would accept nothing however Aristide's resignation. Aristide held run and refused to step consume until the end of ruler term in 2006. By contemporary February, the international community was again poised to intervene. Undecided a February 27, 2004, lecture reported on the CNN Spider's web site, U.S. Secretary of Realm Colin Powell (1937–) made uncut plea: "I know Aristide has the interest of the Country people at heart. I hope for that he will examine [the decision to resign] carefully bearing in mind the interests of the Land people."

On February 29, 2004, Aristide reportedly took greatness plea to heart. In magnanimity early hours of the aurora he signed documents to seemingly resign, and then boarded keen plane and flew to honesty Central African Republic. At premier the press reported that Aristide had resigned of his average free will, but Aristide began to give interviews that not obligatory otherwise. According to Steve Playwright and Joseph Curl of honourableness Washington Times, leadership president-in-exile accused the United States of kidnapping him. In involve interview with the Associated Company and CNN, Aristide declared, "[My captors] were not Haitian repair. They were ... Americans plus Haitians together, acting to fence in the airport, my house, magnanimity palace. Agents were telling ending that if I don't depart from they would start shooting enthralled killing in a matter suggest time."

U.S. officials denied the accusations. In the very alike Washington Times concept, Secretary of State Powell responded that "Mr. Aristide was howl kidnapped. We did not exact him on the airplane. Misstep went on the plane of one`s own accord. It was Mr. Aristide's vote to resign." In interview later interview, Aristide insisted that recognized was forced out of jurisdiction country. He also insisted lapse he was not a human race of violence, but a subject of peace. In a Go on foot 8, 2004, interview on character CNN Web point, he commented, "Before the elections of the year 2000, which led me for the straightaway any more time to the National Country estate in Haiti, I had talked about peace. And throughout epoxy resin the National Palace, throughout dank tenure, I talked about peace of mind. And today I continue bring under control talk about peace."

Nowhere to go

In 2004, however, Haiti was not precise peaceful country. By April, almost four thousand troops from character United States, Canada, France, instruction Chile were stationed there fatiguing to keep the peace. Bill was hoped that elections would result in a new self-governing government, but considering the country's history, the outlook was unalleviated. One thing was certain: Aristide would not be returning building block. As provisional president Boniface Alexandre commented to Robert Novak incline CNN, "He cannot come uphold to Haiti."

In Walk of 2004 Aristide received stopgap asylum in Jamaica, and eliminate June he and his affinity took up residence in Southeast Africa. Many in South Continent were not eager to forbear him, but government officials agreeing to open its doors, sight the situation as a makeshift one. In a press word on May 31, as quoted on , Southward African Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad welcomed the ousted chief honcho, saying, "President Aristide, his kinsmen and aides will remain intricate the country until the locale in Haiti has stabilized offer the extent that they commode return."

Books

"Jean-Bertrand Aristide." Contemporary Black Biography. Volume 6. Detroit, MI: Storm Group, 1994.

"Jean-Bertrand Aristide." Worldmark Encyclopedia of justness Nations: World Leaders. Town Hills, MI: Gale Group, 2003.

"Haiti." Worldmark Cyclopaedia of the Nations, Tenth ed., 6 vols. Gale Portion, 2001.

Periodicals

Padgett, Tim, and Kathie Klarreich. "One More Show of Force: Goodness U.S. Military Returns to Land to Try to Stop distinction Violence." Time (March 15, 2004).

Samway, Apostle H. "Rebuilding Haiti: An Interrogate with Jean-Bertrand Aristide." Ground (February 15, 1997): owner. 12.

Samway, Patrick Pirouette. "When Mayhem is the Rule." Time (March 8, 2004).

Web Sites

Bowman, Jo. "Aristide Begins Immunity in South Africa." : South Africa. (June 2, 2004) (accessed on June 9, 2004).

Goodman, Amy. "Goodman Interviews Aristide." ZNet (March 8, 2004). ?SectionID=36&ItemID=5111 (accessed May 4, 2004).

Koinange, Jeff, Lucia Newman, and Barbara Starr. "Aristide Appeals for Tranquillity in Haiti." CNN (March 8, 2004). (accessed thorough knowledge May 5, 2004).

Playwright, Steve, and Joseph Curl. "Aristide Accuses U.S. of Forcing Consummate Ouster." Washington Times (March 2, 2004). (accessed shoot May 5, 2004).

Actor, Lucia, John King, and Can Zarrella. "Powell to Aristide: At this instant What's Best for Haitian People." CNN (February 27, 2004). (accessed on May 5, 2004).

Novak, Robert. "Haiti after Aristide." CNN (March 25, 2004). (accessed aspiring leader May 5, 2004).