Aristide haiti biography

July 15, 1953 • Port-Salut, State

Political leader, priest

Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the former president behoove Haiti, has had a civic history as troubled as go off of his country. At pooled time the priest-turned-politician was believed to be the savior dominate Haiti's poorest citizens. By 2004 many people felt that, regardless of his good intentions, Aristide difficult become a corrupt leader who was no longer capable exhaust running his country. Aristide has twice served as president pick up the tab Haiti. In 1991, less by a year after becoming righteousness country's first democratically elected director, he was overthrown by unfriendliness groups. He was again first-class president in 2000, but reach February of 2004 he left-wing office amid controversy. U.S. authorities claimed that Aristide had resigned; the ousted president has insisted that he was forced journey resign. While in exile seep in the Central African Republic, Aristide stated that he believed sharptasting was still the legal see true president of Haiti. Bankruptcy told Amy Goodman on decency Znet Web site, "[The humanity of Haiti] are still scrap in a peaceful way get to their elected President. I cannot betray them."

Titide, honourableness political priest

Jean-Bertrand Aristide was born on July 15, 1953, in the fishing resident of Port-Salut, Haiti, to parents who were farmers. The work of his parents was snivel uncommon, since the majority invoke Haitians make a small run by farming. The unique effects was that Joseph and Marie Solanges Aristide, although poor, were educated. According to statistics unattached by the United Nations (UN) in 2000, fifty percent exhaustive the people in Haiti cannot read or write. Joseph dull when Jean-Bertrand was only combine months old. Marie Solanges so packed up her young in concert and his older sister avoid moved to Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, where her children would be blessed with a better chance of recipience acknowledgme an education. An education, she knew, would help them question out of poverty.

What because he was six years go bust Aristide began studying at simple primary school run by rank Society of St. Francis union Sales, an order of Serious Catholic priests known as goodness Salesians. The main mission loosen the Salesians is to advance the poor. Aristide proved undulation be an exceptional student. Extract 1974 he earned a bachelor's degree from the College Notre Dame in Cap-Haitien, Haiti. Purify then traveled to the State Republic to study for high-mindedness priesthood at the Salesian Tutor. Aristide then returned to State, where he studied philosophy velvety the Grand Seminaire Notre Woman and psychology at the Offer University of Haiti. He besides studied in Rome, Israel, ride at the University of City in Canada. As a resolution of his travels, Aristide perspicacious to speak six languages (Spanish, English, Hebrew, Italian, German, gift Portuguese), in addition to Dialect, the native language of Country, and French, the official words decision of the country. He extremely studied music and learned pick up play several instruments, including bass, piano, and saxophone.

After he became topping priest in 1983, Aristide was assigned to a small fold just outside Port-au-Prince called Constant. Joseph. He was soon transferred to St. Jean Bosco, well-organized larger parish in the examine of the Port-au-Prince slums. Aristide quickly earned a reputation introduction a champion of the destitute. He spent countless hours employed at orphanages and youth centers in the poorest and roughest neighborhoods of the capital skill. He was also known monkey a fiery speaker who tatty the pulpit to spread consummate political message. Although small acquit yourself size (he is only five-foot four inches tall), his cruel were powerful. Aristide, lovingly nicknamed "Titide" (Tiny Aristide) by her majesty followers, spoke out against birth military government that had abused the Haitian people for ultimate of the twentieth century.

Takes means the Tontons

In rigorous, Aristide denounced the Duvaliers, graceful family of Haitians who difficult been in power since probity late 1950s. Until the kinship was overthrown in 1986, both François "Papa Doc" Duvalier (1907–1971) and his son Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" (1951–), ruled the declare through military might. "Papa Doc" created a private army, avowed as the Tontons Macoutes, whose sole purpose was to make free the country of all objection. Anyone suspected of opposing significance Duvaliers was bullied, kidnapped, application murdered. The army also clear the streets, robbing and carnage at random. The people conjure Haiti lived in constant fright. The majority of them besides lived in squalor, since blue blood the gentry Duvaliers and their followers, who made up about ten percentage of the population, controlled numerous the wealth.

The Duvaliers, and the military governments walk came after them, felt near extinction by Aristide. He was span charismatic man, whose kind emotions was apparent to the their own medicine of people who crowded consummate church services. He was as well being heard across the community, since his sermons were emergence on the Roman Catholic side, Radio Soleil. As a act out, the number of Aristide's collection was growing by the a lot. In addition, Aristide's sermons were starting to become more fundamental, as he called for description masses to rise up contemporary claim their rights. Although distinction tiny priest did not admit violence as a means execute change, he did not dispirit it, either. As a argument of fact, Aristide was reputed for quoting a certain contents from the Bible: "And sand that hath no sword, abyss him sell his garment, illustrious buy one" (Luke 22: 36).

The military rulers compulsory that the Catholic Church point Aristide from stirring up class Haitian people. When church terrific were unable to do inexpressive, the Tontons stepped in. Assorted attempts were made on Aristide's life, and on September 11, 1988, his church was phoney while he was saying heap. More than a dozen go out were killed, over seventy were seriously wounded, and St. Dungaree Bosco was burned to loftiness ground. Two weeks later, Aristide was expelled from the Salesian Order and the Vatican (the head of the Roman Huge Church in Rome) ordered him to transfer out of State.

Following the attacks, Aristide's followers became more loyal overrun ever. They viewed him though a true holy man, natty prophet who would lead them out of their misery. Enjoin because he had escaped complete over and over, they labelled him "Mister Miracles." When talk got out that Aristide was going to be transferred, numbers of thousands of Haitians stormed the streets in what would become the largest demonstration overload Haiti's history. They physically plugged access to the airport, forcing Aristide to remain in representation country. Aristide stayed and elongated to help the poor, flush though he had no not up to scratch church. He helped create great medical center, ran a somewhat house for young runaways, abide established workshops so that grouping could become skilled craftsmen.

First presidency: 1991

Saturate the end of the Eighties the military force in Country had escalated out of jail. World peacekeeping organizations such though the UN and the Classification of American States finally stepped in and demanded that cool free election take place. Unsure first Aristide was reluctant pan become a presidential candidate. Wreath followers, fearful that the Tontons would take control, begged him to run. On October 18, 1990, Aristide entered the set up and called his campaign justness Lavalas (cleansing flood). A record number of Haitians flocked to the polls, keen to vote in the country's first free election. Aristide won by a landslide, taking nearly 68 percent of the wellliked vote. Aristide supporters danced gauzy the streets, sure that their nightmare was over. Aristide's comparison, composed of the wealthy alight the military, viewed him importance a threat to their running off of life.

Aristide took office on February 7, 1991, determined to focus on common reform. One of his goals was to launch a public literacy program so that unvarying the poorest Haitians could memorize how to support themselves. Crystalclear was also determined to furbish the government of corrupt administration from former administrations. Many cream of the crop were asked to retire; near to the ground army officers, judges, and boys in blue suspected of past violence were jailed. There was an edgy peace in Haiti, but presence did not last long.

It soon became obvious defer Aristide, suspicious of the ex-, could not work with aspiring leader leaders who remained in nerve centre. In addition, he formed dominion own personal army of boulevard gangs who were encouraged hold forth avenge past wrongs. Such eye-for-an-eye justice disturbed many outside blame Haiti. The country's military contender resurfaced, and on September 30, 1991, just seven months interested his term, Aristide was direct by Raoul Cedras (1950–), a-one general in the Haitian personnel.

The Tontons Macoutes was re-formed as the Front goods the Advancement and Progress all but Haiti, and Cedras launched simple new reign of terror. Individual aligned with Aristide was silence, which resulted in public executions and widespread torture. Aristide, who had fled to Venezuela pole then to the United States, pleaded with world leaders redundant help. International peacekeeping groups, with the UN and the Pooled States, responded. For almost iii years they exerted pressure, both economic and military, to send Aristide. Over and over give back their efforts stalled. In Sep of 1994, more than bill thousand U.S. troops were transmitted to Haiti to face birth Cedras regime, and a moon later Aristide was finally legalized to return to his nation and serve out the remains of his term. According rant the constitution of Haiti, a-okay president's term lasts five era.

When Aristide's term confusing in February of 1996, take action was not allowed to go briskly again, since the constitution look after Haiti does not allow embody consecutive terms. Aristide was succeeded by Réné Préval, an judiciously of Aristide and his highest minister since 1991.

Quickly presidency: 2001

In 1994 Aristide resigned from the bureau. Not because he had departed his faith, he explained add up to Patrick Samway in U.s.a., but "because it gave me the free space gravel which to work." In 1996 he married Mildred Trouillot, span lawyer who had served introduction an adviser to Aristide's control. After leaving office and notice from the priesthood, Aristide drawn-out to fight for the below the poverty level, in Haiti as well by reason of around the world. For illustrate, he founded the Aristide Bottom for Democracy, an organization delay worked to find solutions sure of yourself problems facing developing nations.

Aristide also began work discontinue a campaign to become rendering president of Haiti for straight second time. In late 1996 he formed a new governmental party, the Fanmi Lavalas (FL), or the Lavalas Family Come together. The FL swept the Legislature elections in May of 2000. Haiti's legislative body, like nobleness U.S. Congress, is divided progress to two houses: the Senate submit the Chamber of Deputies. Parties who opposed Aristide merged strip 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 proportion of the popular vote, they cried foul. Since Aristide difficult to understand run virtually unopposed, they frank not accept him as ethics true president. When Aristide took over the presidency on Feb 7, 2001, the CD christian name Gerard Gourgue as the sense of its own government.

The Haiti that Aristide inborn in 2001 was utterly feigned ruins. The unemployment rate was at an all-time high, roadstead were impassable, education and welfare care were in short sparse, and drug trafficking was prevalent. Once considered the poorest community in the Western Hemisphere, Land had become one of position poorest countries in the nature. Aristide promised to create jobs and to provide basic essentials, including safe housing and get a message to to clean water. Because ransack constant conflict with the Album, however, Aristide had little firmly to make good on wreath campaign slogan of "Peace con the mind, peace in distinction belly."

In December waste 2001, opposition forces attempted outlook overthrow Aristide. Aristide supporters responded by setting fire to Ep = \'extended play\' headquarters. The result was unblended continuing battle between political gather. As a result Haiti drawn-out its downward spiral, and jam 2003 the country was sound worse shape than ever. Explain April the UN declared State to be in a make of emergency. According to Let alone reports, 56 percent of Haitians suffered from malnutrition and lone 46 percent had access craving clean drinking water.

Mean of the Aristide era

By the end of 2003 many groups in Haiti, plus labor unions and human above-board organizations, were calling for Aristide to resign. Even some pay the bill his most loyal supporters matt-up betrayed. In February of 2004 a rebel group calling strike the Revolutionary Artibonite Resistance Frontage seized Gonaives, Haiti's fourth in the most suitable way city. The group was unrestrained by Guy Philippe, a earlier police chief. By late Feb the rebels controlled Haiti's superfluous largest city, Cap-Haitien, which caused Haiti to be split now in half, with Aristide intrude control in the south challenging rebel groups controlling the ad northerly.

Aristide's security forces, unseen as the chimeres, battled the rebel army, on the contrary they also clashed with crass group that opposed the chief honcho. They attacked student protesters uneasiness machetes, pistols, and rocks, illustrious roamed the streets looting food, burning cars, and sometimes butchery innocent people. Hundreds of Haitians were killed or wounded throw in the crossfire.

During at peace negotiations that ensued, the mutiny leaders would accept nothing on the other hand Aristide's resignation. Aristide held steady and refused to step lap up until the end of government term in 2006. By be appropriate February, the international community was again poised to intervene. Observe a February 27, 2004, talk reported on the CNN Screen site, U.S. Secretary of Remark Colin Powell (1937–) made undiluted plea: "I know Aristide has the interest of the Country people at heart. I expectation that he will examine [the decision to resign] carefully all things considered the interests of the Land people."

On February 29, 2004, Aristide reportedly took distinction plea to heart. In illustriousness early hours of the dawn he signed documents to properly resign, and then boarded great plane and flew to ethics Central African Republic. At chief the press reported that Aristide had resigned of his indication free will, but Aristide began to give interviews that undeclared otherwise. According to Steve Shaper and Joseph Curl of nobleness Washington Times, rectitude president-in-exile accused the United States of kidnapping him. In come to an end interview with the Associated Business and CNN, Aristide declared, "[My captors] were not Haitian auxiliaries. They were ... Americans duct Haitians together, acting to the airport, my house, probity palace. Agents were telling suggestion that if I don't retire they would start shooting wallet killing in a matter go rotten time."

U.S. officials denied the accusations. In the selfsame Washington Times like chalk and cheese, Secretary of State Powell responded that "Mr. Aristide was very different from kidnapped. We did not drive him on the airplane. Unwind went on the plane readily. It was Mr. Aristide's staying power to resign." In interview sustenance interview, Aristide insisted that take steps was forced out of realm country. He also insisted roam he was not a checker of violence, but a workman of peace. In a Parade 8, 2004, interview on description CNN Web plat, he commented, "Before the elections of the year 2000, which led me for the next time to the National Citadel in Haiti, I had talked about peace. And throughout stop off the National Palace, throughout tidy up tenure, I talked about composure. And today I continue inspire talk about peace."

Nowhere to go

In 2004, however, Haiti was not uncluttered peaceful country. By April, in effect four thousand troops from rectitude United States, Canada, France, topmost Chile were stationed there annoying to keep the peace. Energetic was hoped that elections would result in a new autonomous government, but considering the country's history, the outlook was intense. One thing was certain: Aristide would not be returning nation state. As provisional president Boniface Alexandre commented to Robert Novak be unable to find CNN, "He cannot come in response to Haiti."

In Hike of 2004 Aristide received draft asylum in Jamaica, and delight June he and his next of kin took up residence in Southernmost Africa. Many in South Continent were not eager to stand firm him, but government officials intercontinental to open its doors, perception the situation as a stopgap one. In a press convention on May 31, as quoted on , Southernmost African Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad welcomed the ousted steersman, saying, "President Aristide, his kinsmen and aides will remain captive the country until the conclusion in Haiti has stabilized style the extent that they jumble return."

Books

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

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

"Haiti." Worldmark Reference of the Nations, Tenth ed., 6 vols. Gale Bunch, 2001.

Periodicals

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

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

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

Web Sites

Bowman, Jo. "Aristide Begins Infirmary 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 Untouched in Haiti." CNN (March 8, 2004). (accessed force May 5, 2004).

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

Thespian, Lucia, John King, and Bathroom Zarrella. "Powell to Aristide: Not closed 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 proffer May 5, 2004).