Analysis of the current context of Haiti: Between hope and skepticism
- Friday, May 21, 2010
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Translasted from: http://www.adital.com.br/site/noticia.asp?idioma=ES&cod=47857
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While the international community continues to organize major summits on the reconstruction of Haiti to raise funds and arrange an intervention strategy for the coming years, the country is on the verge of a political crisis caused by conflict between the regime in power and groups the opposition.
Haiti, May 18, 2010
HAITI: BETWEEN HOPE AND Skepticism
More than four months of the earthquake on January 12, 2010
More than four months of the earthquake on January 12, 2010
INTRODUCTION
More than four months of the earthquake that devastated much of Haiti on 12 January 2010, the hope of seeing the ruins and debris in a new country, different and better, slowly fades to skepticism and in uncertainty, especially for victims who yearn to improve their living conditions.
The relocation of displaced persons, camp management and coordination of the distribution of international aid and the reconstruction process are still fundamental problems to which the Haitian people requiring authorities to respond.
Haiti's fate depends largely on the ability of coordination and mobilization of the different movements and organizations of Haitian civil society to demand respect and protection of the dignity and fundamental rights of the people, especially the affected population and moved beyond the possible domestic political crisis and the fickleness of some agencies and countries in the international community to impose the country its own reconstruction project.
1. NATIONAL CONTEXT
After the quake that left nearly 300 people dead, more than 1 million people homeless and some three million victims, began to believe in the possibility of building a new Haiti.From all corners of the country and the diaspora emerged calls for unity and national dialogue and discussed on proposals for the construction of a modern Haitian society, fair, equitable, democratic and aimed on the path of development.
It was thought that the tragedy could become a new opportunity to rethink and relaunch the Haitian nation, social relations, economic structures, mental and cultural patterns and ways of doing politics in the country.
There was an awakening of conscience clearly posed and that the Haitians should be the main actors in building their country, but lacked the political will to harness that momentum and turn citizens into a force for social transformation and change.
For its part, the authorities were slow to react to disasters created by the earthquake, as they were similarly affected by the tragedy. But the delay got longer and transforming it in silence and absence.
While the international community is making a big media campaign condemning the endemic corruption of political leaders, more and more voices from Haitian civil society to demand that authorities take their responsibilities and leadership to meet the needs population and to coordinate the management of the distribution of humanitarian aid and reconstruction process.
Moreover, the current Haitian government decided to suspend the emergency aid in Haiti, despite the humanitarian crisis persists in many regions of the country. According to some local organizations, the living conditions of the population have deteriorated since January 12, and the country is virtually paralyzed. But political leaders seem more interested in the struggle for power in the search for solutions to fundamental problems of the country. It is becoming progressively to the old political practices that have led the country to several consecutive crisis and chronic instability and military intervention that led to the United Nations Organization (UNO).
On the brink of political crisis
The political crisis was announced after the recent approval by the Haitian Parliament a new bill authorizing the President René Préval to remain in power until May 14, 2011, if not conducting the presidential elections in late November this year. These elections should allow, as the current electoral law based on the country's constitution, a new president takes office next February 7, 2011. Otherwise, the Haitian Constitution provides for the formation of a transitional government led by President of the Supreme Court, which would be mandated to organize the elections from 45 to 90 days (maximum). But Préval has refused to officially name or the president of the Supreme Court of Haiti, or the different members of the Higher Judicial Council.
Political sectors of the opposition, allied with the Lavalas party of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, have taken steps to mobilize against President Préval, who they accuse of undermining the other two powers, legislative, and judicial, and be above the Constitution and the laws to remain in power.
The extension by the Parliament of the emergency law for 18 months freed the head of state from all the constitutional limitations, such as control and monitoring of the other powers and respect for fundamental rights and civil liberties.
The Organization of American States (OAS), the United Nations (UN) and other actors of the international community initiated the dialogue with political parties to see the possibility of organizing the elections (presidential, legislative, municipal and local) in the country on schedule by the current electoral law, while performing an analysis of the logistical difficulties, technical and financial support for the conduct of the contests.
Moreover, several leaders of opposition parties expressed their lack of confidence in the agency responsible for conducting the election, the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP), whose principal members are accused of favoring the current president and his party.Some candidates are going to criticize the international community for its alleged complicity with the regime in power.
Slow to start reconstruction work
Although several specific projects and initiatives on physical and mental health, agriculture and environment are being implemented across the country, mainly in the regions concerned, there has been some slowness in initiating major reconstruction work in terms of infrastructure , development and job creation.
Small job creation programs through the projects "Food for work", "Cash for Work" or "work-intensive labor" have been centralized in Port au Prince and its surroundings, but have not had a national coverage , much less a significant impact on increasing the employment rate and productivity of the country.
The great tenors of the international community, mainly the United States of America are trying to consolidate the reconstruction project and have the support of the current political leaders, before starting the process.
The Haitian Parliament has just passed a law approving the establishment of the Interim Commission for the Reconstruction of Haiti (CIRH), the new body which will coordinate the work of reconstruction under the leadership of former U.S. president Bill Clinton and Prime Minister Haitian Jean-Max Bellerive.
But there have been criticism from intellectuals, analysts and human rights activists and other social movements Haitians, who see the creation of this body an attempt by the international community, with the complicity of the current government to "occupy" the country or put permanently under a "protectorate" under the pretext of rebuilding.
As an example, say the CIRH consists of more foreigners than by Haitians, and is not subject to any control or supervision of Haitian institutions.
It seems that the international community wants to play the leading role in the reconstruction process to prevent the struggle for power, political conflicts, corruption in public administration and instability in the country affect the process.
Many Haitians are wondering what will be the involvement of countries such as the United States of America and the Dominican Republic in the process, and showing some leadership coming from the phase of emergency aid after the earthquake so far.Moreover, both countries were both headquarters and main organizers of summits and conferences on the reconstruction of Haiti.
2. THE PROBLEM OF THE FIELDS
The current situation in Haiti is also dominated by the issue of relocation of IDPs living in camps or on the streets. After four months, much of Port-au-Prince and other affected areas are still under the rubble, most displaced people do not have a decent shelter or a place where you live and the affected population is facing serious difficulties and limitations enjoy their fundamental rights, including the right to food, clean water, health, education, housing ...
The affected fields are becoming the new geography of poverty in Haiti.Nongovernmental organizations are increasingly present in them, trying to relieve the misery of the displaced and to help them meet their basic needs. The new way of life that is created in the fields requires NGOs to adapt their strategies and intervention projects, which is not always easy.
In addition, we expect a prompt formal decision on the issue of relocation of displaced persons, in view of the proximity of the hurricane season and the serious threat of flooding, epidemics and other disasters. Most of the affected population is in the streets or under tents because they can hardly resist the sun, rain and much less to hurricanes. Continuing aftershocks raise panic in people who wished to return to their homes or beginning to repair or build homes in order to leave the camps, facing increased threats from the owners of the land where these rose to evict displaced . Some fields are installed on schools and university, which has led to conflicts and even clashes between the displaced and schoolchildren and students who want to return to the classroom. The authorities have not intervened to mediate between the warring parties and take steps to solve the problem once and for all.
Have also been several reports of sexual assault and child prostitution in the camps, where living conditions are really inhumane and unsafe. Women, particularly girls and adolescents are the main victims of sexual abuse have serious consequences in the future such as unwanted pregnancies, contraction of HIV / AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases ...
The relocation plan was announced that the Government has been no follow up. The authorities have yet to implement any clearly defined strategy to resettle the displaced, those who refuse to leave the camps where they live now, not having any where else to go. Not even informed the public about all places of relocation, basic services, infrastructure and other opportunities to which they and their families would have access.A relocation plan involves more than just a geographical relocation.
3. PERSPECTIVES
There are many reasons for hope and also to be skeptical about the reconstruction and future of Haiti. More than four months of the earthquake, the concrete reality of the Haitian people, more specifically the population affected and displaced populations, has not changed substantially: the lives of those affected remain the same or worse in many cases, are abandoned by the authorities; continuing difficulties for humanitarian aid delivery and coordination of the same, the affected areas are still under the rubble, Préval was unconstitutional decision, approved by Parliament, to extend his presidential term has generated many concerns.
However, some signs of hope shine. Displaced people are organized increasingly in the fields, national NGOs and international enhance the quality and variety of services for victims, international solidarity with Haiti has not diminished, Haitian civil society is given every increasingly aware of the need to strengthen, coordinate and mobilize to defend the dignity and fundamental rights of the Haitian people against the indifference of the authorities and the fickleness of the international community to impose the country its reconstruction project.
The challenge is, first, to accompany the Haitian people, especially the injured and displaced people, to organize themselves better and are empowered to defend their fundamental rights and assert their claims.
On the other hand, should be strengthened and joint spaces mediate the various movements, groups and organizations of Haitian civil society to become a major force in the country to be representative, critical, purposeful and capable of pressure on the authorities and the international community to both respect the dignity, fundamental rights and aspirations of the Haitian people.
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