19th Anniversary of Coup in Haiti Which Deposed Democratically Elected President Aristide
No to Foreign Intervention in Haiti!
Long Live the Resistance of the Haitian People!
Hands Off Haiti!
Nineteen years ago, on February 29, 2004, Canada, the U.S. and France carried out a violent coup against the democratically elected President of Haiti, Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Aristide was defamed as a “dictator” and “violator of human rights” in order to hide the plans that had been hatched some time in advance to remove him from power on the bicentenary of Haiti’s independence. Canada played a particularly nefarious role in executing those plans.
On this sombre anniversary, the Communist Party of Canada (Marxist-Leninist) condemns the actions of the Canadian government then and now. For 19 years it has made continuous attempts to block the Haitian people from resolving their affairs on their own terms, in accordance with their own constitutional arrangements and experience which comes out of their centuries old struggle for liberation and independence.
Today, Canada, the U.S., France and others they cajole to join them are once again citing the violent and unstable situation in the country, which has escalated unabated since the violent coup they helped plan and execute 19 years ago, as a reason for a new coup against the Haitian people and their constitution. Behind the backs of Canadians, the Trudeau government is step-by-step increasing its military presence in Haiti with spy planes, surveillance ships and the provision of armoured vehicles used for counterinsurgency. It has also been given the task by the U.S. to pressure Haiti’s sister nations in the Caribbean to contribute police and armed forces for an intervention force. It is a most dishonourable role which must be condemned.
All the talk today about gangs and violence in Haiti, like the talk about “chimères” 19 years ago, is aimed at disinforming the people about what is going on in Haiti and who is responsible. Because of the gangs, people are supposed to stay silent in the face of the new criminal military intervention that is in the works by the U.S., which Canada is being pushed to lead. It is also meant to cover up that the Haitian people have been opposing political and criminal violence instigated, funded and organized by foreign powers since the people took their destiny into their own hands and revolted against the French enslavers some 219 years ago. For the last 19 years in particular, day-in and day-out, the Haitian people have asserted that they want to control their own destiny and bring forward political solutions that favour them. However, what is called the Core Group of foreign interventionists have time and again put corrupt gangs which serve them, not the people, in power. Under their rule, Haiti’s vast natural and human resources are exploited mercilessly. Foreign aid, instead of benefitting the Haitian people, is funneled back to the donor countries through various schemes, including the purchase of used military vehicles from Canada by the Haitian National Police.
The people of Canada and Quebec are one with the people of Haiti. Canadians of Haitian origin form part and parcel of the Canadian working class and people. For almost two decades the Haitian people in Haiti and those in the diaspora, joined by allies, have fought a valiant resistance struggle against the likes of Canada, the U.S. and France to gain control of the country.
The insecurity and violence which we see today is taking place because these foreign powers refuse to permit the Haitian people to organize their own governments and make them render account to the people. This is what Canada keeps hidden from the people when it does propaganda to justify its actions, such as its talk of pursuing a “Haitian-led” solution.
CPC(M-L) expresses its full confidence that the Haitian people are more than capable of resolving the problems the country faces on their own terms and based on their own thought material as their resistance has shown.
Long Live the Resistance of the Haitian People to Foreign Interference!
No to Any Foreign Intervention Force!
Hands Off Haiti!
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