Haiti’s Politics of Migration and Oppression

Oppression is deeply rooted in Haitian history. From the day Columbus discovered Haiti and proceeded to use the Taino Indian, inhabitant of Hispaniola as it was called then, for force labor, thus wiping them out, and replacing them with African slaves. Through the revolution for independence and beyond, politics of terror is part and parcel of Haiti’s culture.

Post independence Haiti is marred with violence and political instability. Most of us remember the thirty years of Duvalier. The notorious “Tonton Macoutes” who did most of “Papa Doc” Duvalier’s killings. The Haitian army did its fair share also.

Post Duvalier the oppression continued unabated and peaked in 1991, after President Aristide was ousted by Army General Cedras coup d'état. During that time the Haitian population was subject to some of the worst violence perpetrated by the army and para military groups such as FRAPH’s death squads on C.I.A. payroll.

After Aristide return in 1994, and the abolition of the army by U.S. President Clinton, the country had a bit of breathing room for a while. But quietly another form of tonton macoutes was being organized, youth gangs in the slums of Cite Soleil and elsewhere by President Aristide. Eventually those gangs perpetrated some of the worst violence on the population, and kidnapping became a popular terror tool.

Haiti’s politics of terror is lucrative business for political leaders, the business elite, and the international community. Since instability is an impediment to growth and prosperity, the country’s standard of living remains marginal.

Haiti is poor not because of lack of resources, on the contrary there are plenty of economic and natural resources albeit misallocated, but by design. For Haiti’s poverty is good for the State, Oligarchs, NGOs, and developing countries that welcome Haitian cheap labor on their shores.

The oppression today is lack of basic services nationwide, excessive unemployment, gang violence courtesy of the State and Oligarchs, kidnapping. The result of this oppression is mass migration, any place but Haiti.

Beneficiaries of Politics of terror are, you guessed it, the oligarchs and the countries that Haitians flee to to escape their plight, legally or illegally. And it’s always been that way, difference is today the internet, air travel, and technology make the world a tiny place.

Your comments are always appreciated. Join the discussion and subscribe.