Haitian101, you're right on the money about the constitution and the parties involved.

Nadine, to your mindful question whether Aristide is forced to 'accept' the opposition because ... I would tell you the following.

1- Nothing had ever stopped a Haitian president/ruler from using the most brutal type of violence to protect his power. Aristide so far is the exception. That has nothing to do with him being a good or bad president. He's just different.

2- Francois Duvalier had suffered 8 US military invasions during his first year as President. In the 3 years following, JFK made it secretly official in the White House to invade Haiti.

The Cayard incident was the forefront of what was to come later. A Haitian version of the Cuban Bay of Pigs failure. After JFK's sudden death (thank God, JFK knew about occupying everybody in the Caribbean, but he didn't know about the Oswells of the world), the Haiti's dossier was found on his desk as the next thing he was going to accomplish: The occupation of Haiti. A huge military ship was already in the Caribbean bassin. It was ordered to make a 180-degree turn back. Do you understand now why Francois Duvalier claimed credit for JFK' death?

Even facing the US directly, Papa Doc used the most prohibitive form of fear and violence to protect his power. In fact, that same year, he proclaimed himself President FOR LIFE! That's typical of Haitian rulers.

I don't think Aristide government is so materially menaced by the US -compared to Papa Doc- for him to find himself 'obliged' to let the opposition do what they're doing. He must have some democratic bones in his body for that kind of tolerance as a Haitian ruler with so much power.

3- It's true that the Opposition may be equipped with more death weapons than the police force, but Aristide can erase them off by just ordering the population behind him to crush them. That would be civil war but a short one. No matter what the situation is now in Haiti, Aristide is very popular. When 5,000 take the streets against him, 50,000 do the same for him (of course the US media only talks about the 5,000) and about 2,000,000 more stay home because they don't have any motive to DEFEND him with their lives. But they would still defend him with their votes or whatever.

Aristide is a good orator, a good crowd electrifyer. He can get half of those dormant supporters out of their homes to burn houses and cut throats. If revenge is the political order, trust me, there are ten thousand times more pro-Aristide people who are dying for revenge than Opposition insurgents craving for power. If Aristide doesn't turn the country into that kind of chaos, he must have some sort of peaceful bones in his body.

That's why I credit him for the freedom of speech and weapons the opposition is enjoying. But what I'm fearing is his reaction if he feels really cornered. "TOUT BET JENNEN MODE", "quand on se noie on s'accroche à toutes les branches", "there's no wrong way for somebody with no way".

But to anybody defending Aristide's governance blaming the US or the Opposition, I would say that Aristide knew what 'being the president' of Haiti entailed. He knew the CIA would be there; he knew SOME (not all) of the ruling class (not necessarily mulattoes) would not approve of his presence in the Palace. If he was a good thinker, a good governor, he would have a clear and effective plan to embrace them or to annihilate their impact on his government.

You can't blame constraining forces for your failures. They are there to prove whether one is qualified or not. Aristide has failed big time. In that context, he's fully responsible for letting the country into that abyss. the situation seems to have overcome him rather than the opposite he was mandated for by the Constitution.

If JFK's plan was to occupied Haiti, why Haitian loves the Kennedys so much? 

IGNORANCE, Tijou, IGNORANCE!

History is so different when counted by the sheep rather than the devouring wolves. Unfortunately, most of the sheep herd are so ignorant amd parasite that their knowledge are fed off by the very same wolves who have been sucking their flesh for more than 20 millenia. 

The truth of this matter is: JFK WAS AN IMPERIALSITIC MONSTER FOR HAITI, FOR CUBA and he got what he deserved! Do you read about Malcom X? Do you know he made that same declaration after JFK's death saying that the president got what he deserved since one of his 'chickens' who had been killing people for him in the Caribbean and other countries had returned and killed him? That's what got him ejected from the Elijah Muhammad Muslim congregagation. His final days got numbered after that press statement.

KNOWLEDGE SETS FREE!

Very good Ti bob, good information bravo I will voice my opinion later

"yes the f**king mullatos have the country's wealth under their hands while the majority is starving in extreme porverty."

Yes but how exactly did these mullatos gain this wealth ? Was it beacause the white man gave them preferential treatment ? was it because they held a gun to the black man's head, was it because they raided, raped and robbed the black man's house, was it through hard work and industry ?

They gain their money through hard work, discipline and mutual support.There are also other factors such as preferential treatment by whites who prefer those who look like them. Let's face it diplomats, businessmen, relief agencies decision makers from these NGOs are usualy caucasians. A perfect example is how USAID gave Apaid and his allies million of dollars they favor their. They don't pay taxes, electricity or most duties (customs ect.) A few of them have been involved in drug trafiking, money laundering and other illegal activities. Many of them are arrogant, selfish and ungratful to the country who make them somebody. Let's look at Apaid and his genres they came to Haiti broke like most immigrants looking for a better life then become conquerors. They don't give a danm about Haiti. it's people, future, religion and culture to them its all about money and power. While the vast majority of Haitians is of African descent they are of European and in the case of Andy Apaid Middle Eastern origin with his Arab culture. Luckily Apaid works for the (establishment) pays for connections in the US otherwise he would have been label a terrorist. As Ti bob mentioned earlier Francois Duvalier would have never tolerate his b.s. The curent government let them get away with wat too much s... Speaking of drug dealers from the wealthy families Jean Claude Baby Doc Duvalier's brother in law made headlines when he was arrested in Puerto Rico.This non sense will end Haiti will return to the Haitians. Le pays ou le negre Haitien se sent reelement souverain et libre. Vive Haiti Haiti to the real Haitians.

Daniel Ulysse