The Republic of Haiti

1. The Republic of Haiti

2. Background • Area: 27,750 square kilometers • Population 8.5 million • Density: 302 per square kilometer • 95% African descent • Remainder mixed Caucasian-African • Speak Creole; official language is French • GDP 4.3 billion • Government: Republic • Legislative, executive, judicial • Independence: 1804

3. Political History • Spain colonized Hispaniola • A key island in various colonial efforts to control Caribbean (Spanish, French, British) • African slaves imported to replace Taino • Sugar cane plantation economy evolves • 1791 slave rebellion – Toussaint L’Overture (against French) – launches long term war of attrition. • 1804, independence from France – renamed Haiti • Haitian independence credited with convincing Napoleon to sell Louisiana to USA • Haiti second oldest Republic in Western Hemisphere • Oldest Black Republic

4. Political History • 1804-1820s • Period of political re-organization of Hispaniola • 1844, Dominican Republic (Santo Domingo) breaks away from Haiti. • 1843-1915 • 22 changes of government, intense political and economic disorder • 1915-1934: U.S. military occupation • Prompted by instability

5. Duvalier Dictatorship • 1957-1986 • Military Dictatorship – family • 1986-1991 Haiti ruled by a series of provisional governments

6. 1991-1996 • Jean Bertrand-Aristide • 67% of the vote (12/1990) • Roman Catholic Priest • Overthrown in September (1991) • Army coup/elite alliance • Governs until 1993 • International efforts to promote transition to democracy fail – military refuses to step down • 1994 UN adopts resolution 940 – authorizes member states to use all resources to facilitate the capture of military leadership and restore democracy.

7. 1994 • Clinton administration threatens military invasion • Dispatches negotiation team led by Jimmy Carter • General Raoul Cedras agrees to accept the intervention of the multinational force • September 19, 1994 MNF arrives (21,000) • October 1994 military leaders and families departed for exile. • 1995 elections held • Pro-Aristide coalition (Lavalas Political Organization, OPL) wins all levels of government • Feb 96 term ends, barred from re-election, Aristide agrees to presidential election 12/1995 • Aristide ally, Rene Preval wins 88% of the vote • 1996, Feb 7th Preval sworn in (5 year term) • 1st transition between democratically elected officials

8. 1996-2000 Gridlock • Aristide breaks with OPL coalition • Creates new party - Lavalas Family • April 1997 elections – (1/3 Senate, majority of parliament, local officials) • Fraud • 5% participation rate • Not certified by international observers as free and fair • Partisan conflict • Local elections scheduled for 1998 unable to be organized • Preval dismisses incumbents with expired terms (most of the Chamber of Deputies) • converts offices to state employee status and appoints individuals to these positions • President and Prime Minister rule by decree

9. May 21, 2000 elections • Elections to select officials for • Chamber of Deputies • 2/3rds Senate • Local councils • Municipal governments • Town delegates • Multiple party candidates • Turnout exceeds 60%

10. Erroneous vote counting • Vote counting methodology to determine winners of Senate seats flawed. • FL Aristide’s new party set to sweep the election • Domestic and international controversy ensues • CEP president fled rather than release erroneous results • OAS, CARICOM, USA exert pressure to resolve the vote tabulation errors • International lenders refuse to extend credit (Haiti would not delay seating new – erroneously elected – parliament.) • Democratic Convergence • Opposition party coalition • Calls for annulment of May elections and new elections

11. Flawed elections, the return of the Aristide & International Involvement • Despite unresolved nature of vote count Aristide assumes presidency Feb 7, 2001 • Consequences: • International community continues to negotiate for a political resolution • July 2001 political violence between FL and OPL breaks out continues to December 2001. • Negotiations between the parties are suspended. • January 2002 – OAS Adopts Resolution 808 • Call to address political violence, stalemate, spreading human rights problems • OAS special mission begins work in Haiti, climate continues to deteriorate • Economic collapse – humanitarian disaster loom

12. Consequences… • September 4, 2002 OAS adopts resolution 822 • Calls for resolution by committing Haitian government to blueprint for restoration of security, free, fair elections • Protest strikes, attacks on opposition by government supported gangs continue • Nov 02- Feb 03 separation intensifies • Opposition calls for Aristide to step down spring 2003 • Government forces openly attack opposition, civilians, opposition leaders murdered. • Despite international negotiations stability deteriorates to end of 2003 • January 2004 – Aristide meets with CARICOM officials • Discussion of plan to resolve the crisis • By Feb 21 plan still not implemented • CARICOM asks for schedule • Armed anti-government groups emerge around the country taking control of various sectors. • February 29, 2004 Aristide resigns and flees to South Africa

13. 2004-2007 • Interim Government steps in • Following the constitution Supreme Court Justice Boniface Alexander assumes presidency • Mandate to organize new elections • Managed to organize three rounds (with UN/OAS assistance) • New government selected Feb 7, 2006 • Rene Preval wins • 51.15% of the electorate • In excess of 60% turnout

14. New Parliament • Parliament • 30 seat Senate • 99 seat Chamber of Deputies • Elected in two rounds – Feb and April 2006 • Multiple party participation resulted in plurality outcomes • Fusion, Union, Alyans, OPL, Famni Lavals parties gained seats in both chambers