Rally to

Protect Constitutional Democracy in Haiti

Friday February 27th

230 S. Dearborn 12:00 PM

Stop the Return of a Terrorist Regime to Haiti

Ad-hoc Committee to Protect Constitutional Democracy in Haiti



To All Supporters of Peace, Freedom and Democracy:

After experiencing 36 Coup D’etats during the first 188 years of its existence, the last 14 years, Haiti has been in the process of building of democracy, although without interruption. President Aristide was elected with over 67% of the votes in 1990 after the first democratic election in the country’s history. Rene Preval was elected President in 1995. President Aristide was elected president again in 2001 as allowed by the constitution of Haiti. His term is over in 2006. This young and growing democracy must be protected.

*In recent weeks, the Haitian crisis has been deepening. In addition to mass protests against President Aristide, demanding his resignation, there have been military assaults in several cities and what appears to be a move toward insurrection. The alleged rebels have been described in different ways, but they appear to be the armed wing of at least a section of the opposition.

President Aristide was duly elected by the Haitian people. In fact, he was elected twice. In the most recent election there is no credible source that questions the legitimacy of the election. There is no credible allegation that the election was stolen or that methods of intimidation were utilized. In fact, the cries about electoral irregularities have focused almost entirely on several parliamentary seats, the results of which, even if overturned, would not have changed the balance of power in government.

There have been criticisms of human rights abuses allegedly carried out by the government and/or its allies, as well as the failure of the government to fully investigate such abuses. Some Haitian trade unionists, for example, have faced repression from the government, a development that does not match the verbal commitment of President Aristide to champion the rights of the dispossessed. Such actions have apparently resulted in the alienation of many former allies of the President.

These are all serious concerns, but, the forced resignation of President Aristide will do nothing to advance democracy. Since he became President the first time in 1990, Haitians have been able to exercise freedom of speech, of assembly, of the press as never before.

It is more than clear that the opposition is extremely diverse, held together by little more than their demand for President Aristide's removal. What, then, comes next? What will be the program for Haiti should President Aristide be forced from office? Given the association of the so called rebels with the old regime, are we not on a slippery slope toward a Duvalier ist future if President Aristide is driven from office? In fact, given the strong support that President Aristide continues to enjoy in much of Haiti, is not the scenario of civil war more likely than civil peace if President Aristide is compelled to step down due to extra legal (if not illegal) pressure?


A duly elected leader, irrespective of one's opinion, should be permitted to peacefully complete his or her term of office unless one has violated the constitution. In the case of an alleged constitutional violation, in keeping with democratic and legal practices, formal procedures should be pursued with regard to removing any elected leader from office. This does not mean that protests have no place. Protests, however, are not the same as constitutional procedures for challenging an elected leader and removing him or her from office. We believe that President Aristide should complete his term. At that juncture any of the opposition forces can choose to run its own candidates for office and articulate their own vision of the future.


In this situation the Bush administration, predictably, is playing a less than honorable role. The multi year restriction on the release of badly needed loans worsened the internal situation in the Western Hemisphere's poorest country. Now the Bush administration is implying that it is time for President Aristide to leave, while at the same time having Secretary of State Powell state that a coup would not be acceptable. One gets the feeling of a good cop/bad cop scenario. None of this should come as a surprise to us in light of world events as well as the policy and practice of hostility by this administration toward President Aristide since the beginning.

The political crisis must be solved! It appears that at least some elements of the Haitian opposition are less interested in resolving the crisis than in bringing the country to the brink of disaster. Despite repeated concessions by President Aristide, elements of the opposition continue to raise the bar, making a peaceful, Haitian centered and driven resolution of the crisis difficult, if not impossible.

There have been quite credible allegations that the Bush administration is far too involved in supporting the opposition. Statements by its spokespersons lend such allegations credibility when inferences can be drawn to the effect that the Bush administration wishes President Aristide's departure.

It is time for the people of the USA to make it clear that they want to support the growth of democracy in Haiti and not its destruction as the Bush Administration seems to be engaged in. Let your elected officials know where you stand.

Ad-Hoc Committee to Protect Constitutional Democracy in Haiti

*This statement borrowed heavily from Trans-Africa’s “Statement on Haiti”