Haiti: Insanity Takes Over, While the Selection Continues

According to the puppet administration and its supporters, there will be a so-called election in Haiti later this year to normalize the situation since the ouster of Jean-Bertrand Aristide in February 2004. No official dates have been set yet. The Boniface/Latortue regime has been ruling the country like a jungle. They have no respect for any enlightened principles. Being emboldened by the continuing support of their masters is all that matters. Thanks to the technocratic revolution, the country has been transformed into a no man,s land.

If indeed the election were to go as planned, the technocrats have no concerns about the means as long as they have the assurance of the UN Security Council, the OAS and the United States that the new president will take office on February 7, 2006. No problem if polling stations are not installed in the poor neighborhoods and most rural areas. Afterwards, the slums only make 10% of the electorate, according to the electoral council. No problem if the so-called national ID cards are not available to all voters an official of the electoral body has recently confessed that voters might have to use the receipts if the cards are not ready. Thus, Haiti has become the only country where one can predict a miracle and where technocrats no longer pay attention to causes and effect but rely on fiction.

This is a fictitious administration. As a byproduct of unconstitutional maneuverings, all their actions must be measured and viewed against such a backdrop not through constitutional and legal lenses. They defy all logic and sanity. Where else would a so-called independent candidate petition the highest court on the land without a defending party whereas the court would rule in his favor without hearing the other side,s arguments? Where else can a government detain former administration officials without charges, wake them up at 4:00 o,clock in the morning and bring them to another jurisdiction in order to face charges for the first time? In what country could UN peacekeepers raid the slums at 3:00 AM, open fire and kill many while there is no major outcry and media coverage about it? Where else would the police, supported by the UN mission, enter a church during a funeral, arrest an assaulted priest while the assaulting mob goes free? The priest will be incarcerated and later charged for the murder of the person he was about to process the funeral! Welcome to the new Haiti.

While we are talking about fiction, in real life, people are being killed for no apparent reason. The rampant surge in violence has reached an unprecedented level. People,s living conditions are worsening day after day with no end in sight. Never before in the history of the country, have we witnessed such a chaos. And according to the administration, the only way out of this mess is to proceed with the election, which has become the ultimate panacea for all Haiti,s troubles.

Who in their right mind would even dare to promote election in such a chaotic context? Who is going to participate in that charade where more than 60% of the people will be excluded? But the so-called election is not about the majority, it is about capturing the presidency for and by a minority, which is crying foul following the announcement of a Haitian-American entering the race.

There are currently 34 presidential candidates in the race the electoral body (CEP) has not issued an official list yet – but in reality the upcoming selection is between two U.S.-backed candidates: the representative of the Group 184, Charles Henri Baker and the Millionaire expatriate, Dumarsais Siméus who sits on the Florida Gov. Jeb Bush,s Haiti Task Force. All indications are leading to the latter as the most favorite. No longer interested in supporting the traditional and corrupted elite to run the country, the United States has decided to change course by supporting an inexperienced candidate who lacks local support. After all, the United States influence in the country,s internal affairs has a long history. When security arrangements for the President and other high officials are being contracted at the U.S. embassy, there is no need to argue about who is really in control.

Siméus candidacy has become a litmus test for the puppet regime, which is now under tremendous pressure from both its supporters. On the one hand, the United States is pushing for Siméus and on the other hand, the traditional elite are looking for ways to keep him out of the ballot. Such challenge can ruin the organization of the election and unless the technocratic regime drops its opposition to Siméus, it can be used as a pretext to finally put Haiti under total control of the UN where Siméus would likely be the top administrator. The backers of the current regime have been denying it for months but all indications are proving otherwise. The UN Security Council resolution that granted MINUSTAH complete control of the local police and the security apparatus is one step in that direction.

The situation in Haiti must be viewed in a broader context. We are now living in an Orwellian time. When your supporters are clamoring that election can be held even though in reality it is foolish – you have no choice but to follow. Otherwise, you will be history just like your predecessor. This is where we are now in Haiti. Nothing matters anymore. Nothing makes sense. Welcome to our newest wonderland, the land of insanity.

LUCSON PIERRE-CHARLES, a native of Haiti, now lives in Maryland. He can be reached at: lpierrecharles@yahoo.com