Too many black leaders in the United States have a two-faced approach when it comes to human-rights violations, repression and corruption in Africa and the Caribbean.
Last June, the TransAfrica Forum, a progressive black-American organization, released a letter condemning the ongoing repression orchestrated by President Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe, arguing that ''Black American(s) cannot afford to romanticize African leaders if they hope to remain relevant to the struggles on the continent. They must be willing to condemn wrongdoing, even if that means criticizing some revered leaders.'' That was very well put, but what about Haiti?
In its May 16, 2003, report, TransAfrica argued for the release of frozen foreign aid to Haiti. But it was silent about the deteriorating state of the government. The facts about Haiti and the government of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide must not be ignored:
• Aristide's return to power in February 2001 was preceded by intimidation and massive electoral fraud that guaranteed the lowest voter turnout since the 1990 elections, with barely 15 percent of potential voters going to the polls.
• Human-rights violations are drastically increasing as loyal paramilitary forces threaten opposition leaders, grass-roots activists and dissidents and impose the president's will on the Haitian people.
• The Haitian police are neither neutral nor independent. Two weeks in office were enough to convince newly appointed police chief Jean-Robert Faveur that refuge in the United States was his only salvation once he refused to compromise his force's independence and bend to Aristide's will.
• Scores of Haitian journalists have fled Haiti recently because they fear for their lives. Those who remain are subjected to daily threats as the political climate for the media continues to deteriorate.
Black leaders in the United States are doing neither themselves nor their constituency any favors by papering over these embarrassing truths.
How can the Congressional Black Caucus, TransAfrica and other groups ignore the murder of Haiti's most prominent journalist, Jean Dominique, the lack of cooperation by the government in investigating the murder, the ensuing silencing of Radio Haiti Inter, his radio station, and that his widow, like the police chief, has had to flee to the United States after she shut down the station?
Today, Haitians across the socioeconomic spectrum are turning their backs in disgust on ''the Prophet'' and his cronies. Why aren't the traditional allies of Haiti's democratic struggle among black Americans standing alongside the Haitian people? Why aren't they showing the honesty to acknowledge that Aristide has not delivered for his people?
Haiti will celebrate its bicentennial in 2004. Many prominent black-American organizations are jumping head first on the Haitian government's celebratory bandwagon, without any questioning of the worsening social, economic and moral quagmire that is Aristide's Haiti.
As a Haitian, I am proud of my heritage. We will celebrate and honor the memory of our forefathers, but we will not do so with a despotic regime.
Raoul Peck is a filmmaker who served as Haiti's Minister of Culture from 1996 to 1997. He is currently directing a film on the 1994 Rwanda genocide.
Topic: Haitian Director Raoul Peck speaks out
