Exile - Haiti Observer Blog

2014 is not a leap year. So, that means 28 days are all we will have. Still, while the date February 29 will not come around again for another two years, this man-made measurement of time cannot postpone the 10th anniversary of the overthrowing of the Aristide administration.

As chronicled in part 1 of a 3 part series by writer Yves Engler for the newsletter Dissent Voice, the government of Canada's Jean Chrétien, the then Prime Minister, organized an initiative to which French, Canadian and American officials were invited. The object of the "Ottawa Initiative on Haiti" was to have the country's democratically elected President ousted so the army could be reinstated and the country put under a trusteeship by the United Nations, much like that for Kosovo.

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It is always thought wiser to teach a man to fish than to hand him one. This is a sentiment that Jean Dominique shaped his career around upon returning to Haiti from private school in France. Working with the poor, he took his training in agronomy to teach the peasantry how to sustain themselves through skillful use of the land.

Because of his efforts, which included showing peasant farmers how to avoid being in debt to wealthy landowners, Dominique was imprisoned for six months due to the connivance of the landowners who convinced the authorities to jail him so they could hold on to their control over the peasants. Upon his release from jail, he became a fierce detractor of François 'Papa Doc' Duvalier and his militant regime.

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Jean Dominique spent his early career first educating farmers on how to be self-sufficient under the thumb of wealthy land-owners. He then went on to making two notable firsts in the broadcasting world, opening the first film club in Haiti as well as Radio Haiti, the first station to broadcast in Creole. He went on to have multiple run-ins with the Duvalier regiments and was exiled in New York until his return in the mid 80's when he became a member of the Lavalas party which won the 1990 election.

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Faustin-Élie Soulouque was ushered into office as Haiti's 9th President in 1847. He was installed by advocates of the Boyerist movement as a figurehead ruler. But he soon rebelled, staging a coup against his supporters and turning his government into a dictatorship. Faustin ensured his totalitarian rule through devotion of a citizen militia, and finally persuaded Parliament to crown him Emperor of Haiti in 1849.

As emperor Faustin-Élie Soulouque ruled with a centralist government and created a black nobility with dukes, marquis, counts, barons, and nobles of lower rank. He formed military, civil, and religious orders, and created a Royal Academy of Art.

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A defender of Human rights in Haiti lost his own battle. Professor Jean-Claude Bajeux, died on Friday, August 5, 2011. According to a family member, he died of lung cancer at home Port-au-Prince.

His political and social activist movement started in 1964 when Jean-Claude Bajeux was forced into exile under the Duvalier regime, after attempting to organize Haiti's Catholic clergy in protest of the expulsion of the Jesuit order.

He became leader of the political party Konakom and a supporter of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

Jean-Claude Bajeux and his family left Haiti in October 1993 due to threats made on his life. He was harassed by members of the Front for the Advancement and Progress of Haiti, known as FRAPH. He returned to Haiti in 1994 until his death. Professor Jean-Claude Bajeux died on Friday, August 5, 2011, at his house.

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Here it is my friend, as it was expected, Jean-Bertrand Aristide wands to go back to his country as well. On January 19, 2010, three days after the surprise return of Jean-Claude Duvalier in Haiti, Aristide wants the same treatment. In the press conference and accompanied with his wife, Mildred, Jean-Bertrand Aristide said: "I am ready to leave today, tomorrow, at any time". He said that in light of the suffering of the Haitian people after the 2010 earthquake, his place is in Haiti to Help."

Here is the video of Jean-Bertrand Aristide press conference:

Jean-Bertrand Aristide went on to say in his news conference that Haiti helped many countries around the world to gain their independence, including the United States. He also explained his current health problems made his exile hard for him. According to Jean-Bertrand Aristide, he does not want to spend the next winter in Sour Africa.

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Here is the latest video report on the return of Jean-Claude Duvalier to Haiti. according to the video report, Jean-Claude is currently at the airport in Haiti and is expected to leave Toussaint L'Ouverture International airport shortly.

As new pictures and videos of Jean-Claude arrival to Haiti unfolding, we will continue to share them with you

Where will Jean-Claude sleep tonight?

He is going to go under the tents in Port-au-Price to show his support?

How long will he stay in Haiti?

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This is not a joke. The "Haitian Joudalist" just learned that Former Haitian president Jean-Claude Duvalier is returning to Haiti as we speak. According to Agence France Press (AFP), he is expected to land at Port-au-Prince International Airport today, around 5:30 pm. Jean-Claude Duvalier is on board of an Air France flight directly from Paris, France.

This is definitely big

Why did Jean-Claude decide to return to Haiti now?

How will that move affect the current election crisis?

What is his objective for returning o Haiti?

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