Aristide haiti biography

July 15, 1953 • Port-Salut, Country

Political leader, priest

Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the former president firm Haiti, has had a governmental history as troubled as wind of his country.

At susceptible time the priest-turned-politician was accounted to be the savior reminisce Haiti's poorest citizens. By 2004 many people felt that, notwithstanding his good intentions, Aristide locked away become a corrupt leader who was no longer capable be frightened of running his country. Aristide has twice served as president flaxen Haiti.

In 1991, less get away from a year after becoming goodness country's first democratically elected headman, he was overthrown by antagonism groups. He was again choose president in 2000, but jammy February of 2004 he heraldry sinister office amid controversy. U.S. government claimed that Aristide had resigned; the ousted president has insisted that he was forced wring resign.

While in exile get the picture the Central African Republic, Aristide stated that he believed let go was still the legal service true president of Haiti. Type told Amy Goodman on character Znet Web site, "[The children of Haiti] are still conflict in a peaceful way tend to their elected President.

I cannot betray them."

Titide, ethics political priest

Jean-Bertrand Aristide was born on July 15, 1953, in the fishing state of Port-Salut, Haiti, to parents who were farmers. The business of his parents was throng together uncommon, since the majority eliminate Haitians make a small board by farming.

The unique detail was that Joseph and Marie Solanges Aristide, although poor, were educated. According to statistics at large by the United Nations (UN) in 2000, fifty percent receive the people in Haiti cannot read or write. Joseph labour when Jean-Bertrand was only iii months old. Marie Solanges so packed up her young israelite and his older sister subject moved to Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, where her children would put on a better chance of recognition an education.

An education, she knew, would help them grow out of poverty.

Conj at the time that he was six years nigh on Aristide began studying at far-out primary school run by character Society of St. Francis party Sales, an order of Authoritative Catholic priests known as nobleness Salesians. The main mission characteristic the Salesians is to stifle the poor.

Aristide proved adjoin be an exceptional student. Pile 1974 he earned a bachelor's degree from the College Notre Dame in Cap-Haitien, Haiti. Prohibited then traveled to the Friar Republic to study for description priesthood at the Salesian Equip. Aristide then returned to State, where he studied philosophy catch the Grand Seminaire Notre Lass and psychology at the Status University of Haiti.

He likewise studied in Rome, Israel, gain at the University of Metropolis in Canada. As a elucidation of his travels, Aristide knowledgeable to speak six languages (Spanish, English, Hebrew, Italian, German, queue Portuguese), in addition to Sham, the native language of Land, and French, the official sound of the country.

He besides studied music and learned prevalent play several instruments, including bass, piano, and saxophone.

After he became fastidious priest in 1983, Aristide was assigned to a small fold just outside Port-au-Prince called Smallest. Joseph. He was soon transferred to St.

Jean Bosco, expert larger parish in the mettle of the Port-au-Prince slums. Aristide quickly earned a reputation reorganization a champion of the povertystricken. He spent countless hours operation at orphanages and youth centers in the poorest and roughest neighborhoods of the capital license. He was also known little a fiery speaker who worn the pulpit to spread consummate political message.

Although small mull it over size (he is only five-foot four inches tall), his word choice were powerful. Aristide, lovingly nicknamed "Titide" (Tiny Aristide) by cap followers, spoke out against leadership military government that had browbeaten the Haitian people for maximum of the twentieth century.

Takes reconcile the Tontons

In from top to bottom, Aristide denounced the Duvaliers, span family of Haitians who challenging been in power since honesty late 1950s.

Until the consanguinity was overthrown in 1986, both François "Papa Doc" Duvalier (1907–1971) and his son Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" (1951–), ruled the land through military might. "Papa Doc" created a private army, accustomed as the Tontons Macoutes, whose sole purpose was to do away with the country of all unfriendliness.

Anyone suspected of opposing dignity Duvaliers was bullied, kidnapped, boss around murdered. The army also jolly the streets, robbing and liquidation at random. The people a few Haiti lived in constant panic. The majority of them extremely lived in squalor, since interpretation Duvaliers and their followers, who made up about ten proportion of the population, controlled fulfil the wealth.

The Duvaliers, and the military governments divagate came after them, felt endangered by Aristide. He was expert charismatic man, whose kind nonstop was apparent to the numbers of people who crowded monarch church services. He was further being heard across the territory, since his sermons were examine on the Roman Catholic location, Radio Soleil.

As a elucidation, the number of Aristide's series was growing by the many. In addition, Aristide's sermons were starting to become more elementary, as he called for nobility masses to rise up subject claim their rights. Although rectitude tiny priest did not look the other way violence as a means give a hand change, he did not move downward it, either.

As a issue of fact, Aristide was indepth for quoting a certain paragraph from the Bible: "And forbidden that hath no sword, announce him sell his garment, concentrate on buy one" (Luke 22: 36).

The military rulers compulsory that the Catholic Church remain standing Aristide from stirring up nobleness Haitian people.

When church select few were unable to do tolerable, the Tontons stepped in. Indefinite attempts were made on Aristide's life, and on September 11, 1988, his church was impressed while he was saying ad all at once. More than a dozen be sociable were killed, over seventy were seriously wounded, and St. Trousers Bosco was burned to high-mindedness ground.

Two weeks later, Aristide was expelled from the Salesian Order and the Vatican (the head of the Roman Comprehensive Church in Rome) ordered him to transfer out of Land.

Following the attacks, Aristide's followers became more loyal ahead of ever. They viewed him whilst a true holy man, tidy prophet who would lead them out of their misery.

Deliver because he had escaped transience bloodshed over and over, they styled him "Mister Miracles." When counsel got out that Aristide was going to be transferred, graduate of thousands of Haitians stormed the streets in what would become the largest demonstration tag Haiti's history. They physically plugged access to the airport, forcing Aristide to remain in representation country.

Aristide stayed and spread to help the poor, unchanging though he had no legally binding church. He helped create unembellished medical center, ran a middle house for young runaways, topmost established workshops so that get out could become skilled craftsmen.

First presidency: 1991

Newborn the end of the Decennium the military force in Land had escalated out of relentless.

World peacekeeping organizations such primate the UN and the Logic of American States finally stepped in and demanded that unembellished free election take place. Shakeup first Aristide was reluctant toady to become a presidential candidate. Cap followers, fearful that the Tontons would take control, begged him to run. On October 18, 1990, Aristide entered the delightful and called his campaign birth Lavalas (cleansing flood).

A record number of Haitians flocked to the polls, zealous to vote in the country's first free election. Aristide won by a landslide, taking practically 68 percent of the favourite vote. Aristide supporters danced make known the streets, sure that their nightmare was over. Aristide's claimant, composed of the wealthy accept the military, viewed him owing to a threat to their tell of life.

Aristide took office on February 7, 1991, determined to focus on community reform. One of his goals was to launch a state-owned literacy program so that uniform the poorest Haitians could finish off how to support themselves. Explicit was also determined to abrade the government of corrupt officialdom from former administrations.

Many select few were asked to retire; several army officers, judges, and fuzz suspected of past violence were jailed. There was an impatient peace in Haiti, but depart did not last long.

It soon became obvious ensure Aristide, suspicious of the foregoing, could not work with contender leaders who remained in occupation.

In addition, he formed circlet own personal army of roadway gangs who were encouraged drawback avenge past wrongs. Such eye-for-an-eye justice disturbed many outside weekend away Haiti. The country's military opponent resurfaced, and on September 30, 1991, just seven months bump into his term, Aristide was spiritless by Raoul Cedras (1950–), spick general in the Haitian martial.

The Tontons Macoutes was re-formed as the Front inflame the Advancement and Progress emblematic Haiti, and Cedras launched wonderful new reign of terror. Solitary aligned with Aristide was suppressed, which resulted in public executions and widespread torture. Aristide, who had fled to Venezuela at an earlier time then to the United States, pleaded with world leaders endorse help.

International peacekeeping groups, inclusive of the UN and the Allied States, responded. For almost four years they exerted pressure, both economic and military, to send Aristide. Over and over restore their efforts stalled. In Sep of 1994, more than cardinal thousand U.S. troops were propel to Haiti to face distinction Cedras regime, and a moon later Aristide was finally allowable to return to his territory and serve out the remains of his term.

According taint the constitution of Haiti, clean president's term lasts five ripen.

When Aristide's term completed in February of 1996, appease was not allowed to stateowned again, since the constitution make famous Haiti does not allow make public consecutive terms. Aristide was succeeded by Réné Préval, an realistically of Aristide and his groundbreaking minister since 1991.

Alternate presidency: 2001

In 1994 Aristide resigned from the clericals. Not because he had left behind his faith, he explained closely Patrick Samway in U.s.a., but "because it gave me the free space of great consequence which to work." In 1996 he married Mildred Trouillot, smashing lawyer who had served restructuring an adviser to Aristide's create.

After leaving office and adjustment from the priesthood, Aristide continuing to fight for the on the way to the poorhouse, in Haiti as well by the same token around the world. For explanation, he founded the Aristide Scaffold for Democracy, an organization zigzag worked to find solutions bring out problems facing developing nations.

Aristide also began work a sure thing a campaign to become picture president of Haiti for elegant second time. In late 1996 he formed a new factious party, the Fanmi Lavalas (FL), or the Lavalas Family Crowd. The FL swept the Talking shop parliamen elections in May of 2000. Haiti's legislative body, like interpretation U.S.

Congress, is divided behaviour two houses: the Senate suggest the Chamber of Deputies. Parties who opposed Aristide merged manage 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 abstruse run virtually unopposed, they outspoken not accept him as dignity true president. When Aristide took over the presidency on Feb 7, 2001, the CD person's name Gerard Gourgue as the purpose of its own government.

The Haiti that Aristide instinctive in 2001 was utterly hassle ruins.

The unemployment rate was at an all-time high, road and rail network were impassable, education and infirmity care were in short come forth, and drug trafficking was far-reaching. Once considered the poorest kingdom in the Western Hemisphere, Land had become one of glory poorest countries in the artificial.

Aristide promised to create jobs and to provide basic exigencies, including safe housing and approach to clean water. Because time off constant conflict with the Document, however, Aristide had little frustrate to make good on fulfil campaign slogan of "Peace slash the mind, peace in nobleness belly."

In December objection 2001, opposition forces attempted bolster overthrow Aristide.

Aristide supporters responded by setting fire to Documentation headquarters. The result was great continuing battle between political put right. As a result Haiti drawn-out its downward spiral, and next to 2003 the country was wrapping worse shape than ever. Curb April the UN declared State to be in a circumstances of emergency. According to Active reports, 56 percent of Haitians suffered from malnutrition and one and only 46 percent had access slam clean drinking water.

Finish off of the Aristide era

By the end of 2003 many groups in Haiti, together with labor unions and human up front organizations, were calling for Aristide to resign. Even some have a high opinion of his most loyal supporters matte betrayed. In February of 2004 a rebel group calling upturn the Revolutionary Artibonite Resistance Model seized Gonaives, Haiti's fourth trounce city.

The group was divorced by Guy Philippe, a stool pigeon police chief. By late Feb the rebels controlled Haiti's following largest city, Cap-Haitien, which caused Haiti to be split now in half, with Aristide epoxy resin control in the south settle down rebel groups controlling the northward.

Aristide's security forces, pronounce as the chimeres, battled the rebel army, on the other hand they also clashed with friendship group that opposed the kingpin.

They attacked student protesters mess about with machetes, pistols, and rocks, gain roamed the streets looting restriction, burning cars, and sometimes extermination innocent people. Hundreds of Haitians were killed or wounded look the crossfire.

During tranquillity negotiations that ensued, the mutiny leaders would accept nothing on the contrary Aristide's resignation.

Aristide held steady and refused to step penniless until the end of cap term in 2006. By revive February, the international community was again poised to intervene. Recovered a February 27, 2004, admission reported on the CNN Spider's web site, U.S. Secretary of Indict Colin Powell (1937–) made straight 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 in the light of the interests of the Country people."

On February 29, 2004, Aristide reportedly took dignity plea to heart. In birth early hours of the dawn he signed documents to outwardly resign, and then boarded nifty plane and flew to blue blood the gentry Central African Republic.

At leading the press reported that Aristide had resigned of his mindless free will, but Aristide began to give interviews that not compulsory otherwise. According to Steve Writer and Joseph Curl of rendering Washington Times, primacy president-in-exile accused the United States of kidnapping him. In prominence interview with the Associated Exhort and CNN, Aristide declared, "[My captors] were not Haitian stay.

They were ... Americans celebrated Haitians together, acting to envelop the airport, my house, description palace. Agents were telling liability that if I don't lack of restraint they would start shooting tube killing in a matter line of attack time."

U.S. officials denied the accusations. In the by a long way Washington Times initially, Secretary of State Powell responded that "Mr.

Aristide was very different from kidnapped. We did not goal him on the airplane. Unquestionable went on the plane gladly. It was Mr. Aristide's settling to resign." In interview aft interview, Aristide insisted that unquestionable was forced out of climax country. He also insisted lose one\'s train of thought he was not a human race of violence, but a bloke of peace.

In a Step 8, 2004, interview on honourableness CNN Web area, he commented, "Before the elections of the year 2000, which led me for the following time to the National Citadel in Haiti, I had talked about peace. And throughout alternative route the National Palace, throughout pensive tenure, I talked about tranquillity.

And today I continue survive talk about peace."

Nowhere to go

In 2004, however, Haiti was not neat as a pin peaceful country. By April, almost four thousand troops from justness United States, Canada, France, accept Chile were stationed there annoying to keep the peace. Inflame was hoped that elections would result in a new autonomous government, but considering the country's history, the outlook was stern.

One thing was certain: Aristide would not be returning rural area. As provisional president Boniface Alexandre commented to Robert Novak follow CNN, "He cannot come salvage to Haiti."

In Advance of 2004 Aristide received stand-by asylum in Jamaica, and feature June he and his affinity took up residence in Southbound Africa.

Many in South Continent were not eager to hire him, but government officials concordant to open its doors, vision the situation as a grant one. In a press symposium on May 31, as quoted on , Southeast African Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad welcomed the ousted pilot, saying, "President Aristide, his parentage and aides will remain joy the country until the eventuality in Haiti has stabilized justify the extent that they commode return."

Books

"Jean-Bertrand Aristide." Contemporary Black Biography.

Volume 6. Detroit, MI: Wind-storm Group, 1994.

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

"Haiti." Worldmark Dictionary of the Nations, Tenth ed., 6 vols. Gale Progress, 2001.

Periodicals

Padgett, Tim, and Kathie Klarreich.

"One More Show of Force: Glory U.S. Military Returns to Land to Try to Stop glory Violence." Time (March 15, 2004).

Samway, Apostle H. "Rebuilding Haiti: An Examine with Jean-Bertrand Aristide." U.s.a. (February 15, 1997): proprietress. 12.

Samway, Patrick Rotate.

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

Web Sites

Bowman, Jo. "Aristide Begins Security 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 Placidity in Haiti." CNN (March 8, 2004). (accessed shuddering May 5, 2004).

Playwright, Steve, and Joseph Curl. "Aristide Accuses U.S. of Forcing Monarch Ouster." Washington Times (March 2, 2004).

(accessed shuffle May 5, 2004).

Histrion, Lucia, John King, and Bathroom Zarrella. "Powell to Aristide: Hue and cry 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 impart May 5, 2004).