Father Aristide

Early years and church career

Jean – Bertrand Aristide was born in Port – Salut, Haiti on 15 July 1953. He was educated at Salesian schools in Port- au – Prince and at the College Notre Dame from where he graduated in 1974. He continued his studies in the Dominican Republic and returned to Haiti to continue his studies in philosophy and psychology.

In 1979, after completing his studies, he travelled to Italy and Israel and he returned to Haiti in 1983 for his ordination as a Salesian priest. He was appointed curate first in a parish in Port – au – Prince and later in one large parish in La Saline slums. He became an exponent of liberation theology and became a leading figure in the Catholic Church in Haiti. From the day of his ordination he dedicated his life to the education of youth and parish ministry. He defended with zeal the poor people of the country. He was seen as supporting and helping the poor Haitian.

In an interview in the National Catholic Reporter in 1998 Aristide said “The solution is revolution, first in the spirit of the Gospel; Jesus could not accept people going hungry. It is a conflict between classes, rich and poor. My role is to preach and organize”. In that year father Aristides was expelled from Salesian order and was accused of “incitement to hatred and violence” and as stepping outside the boundaries of his role as clergyman. In 1995 he left the priesthood. In 1996 he married a US citizen Mildred Trauillot with whom he had two daughters.

Three times President of Haiti

In 1990 father Aristide was a candidate for the presidential elections and following only a six-week campaign he was elected President of Haiti with a majority of 67% of the votes. He took office on February 7,1991.

On February 30, 1991 Aristide resigned as president as he lost a vote of no-confidence in parliament. Elections were scheduled but never took place as the American Government interfered with the elections. The power fell in the hands of the army commander Raoul Cedras.

Aristide went into exile in Venezuela and later in the United States. A UN embargo was imposed on Haiti and the military government of Haiti was removed and US troops were stationed in Haiti. In the US he placed pressure on the administration of President Carter in the way it behaved towards Haitians and for not helping to restore democracy in Haiti. Haitians were refused refugee status which meant that they would be killed by the military regime in Haiti. On October 15, 1994 Aristide returned to Haiti as a president to complete his term of office. He established a police force to replace the army. He finished his term of office in 1996. He could not run for President again as this was not allowed by the constitution of Haiti. He was succeeded by Rene Preval, a strong ally of Aristide who took in the election 88% of the votes.

After changes to the electoral laws, Aristide returned as president for a second term in 2000 winning the elections with a 90% majority. He was forcibly removed from office, by a coup d’ etat in 2004. Many accused the US as playing a role in the coup. He was expelled to South Africa.

His former ally Rene Preval was elected President of Haiti in 2006 and he had hinted that Aristide might return to Haiti but he never took any action to do so. There were American threats that they would reveal evidence that he was involved in drugs trafficking. After Aristide’s ousting in 2004 few countries continued to recognize him as President of Haiti.

Life in South Africa

In South Africa Aristide became research fellow at the University of South Africa and received a doctorate in languages. In December 2007 he made a speech to mark Haiti’s Independence Day during which he criticized the presidential election of 2006 describing it as a “selection” in which “the knife of treason was planted” in the back of Haitian people”.



Bibliography:

Jean Bertrand Aristide. (2009) In Wikipedia. Retrieved February 17, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Bertrand_Aristide

Greenhouse, Steven. (1994) Aristide Condemns Clinton's Policy as Racist. Retrieved 17, 2009, from http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E07E2DB1331F931A15757C0A962958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all

Rohter, Larry. (1994) MISSION TO HAITI; Haiti's Priest-President Faces A Hostile Catholic Hierarchy. Retrieved 17, 2009, from http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E03EED7103AF93BA1575AC0A962958260