The killing of Jovenel Moise must not be an excuse for U.S. Intervention

U.S. Hands off Haiti

Statement by the United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC)

7/13/21

Haitians protest the refusal of Jovenel Moise to leave office when his term was up

The assassination of Haitian president Jovenel Moise is yet another tragic event for the people of that country. His death only creates new traumas for Haiti. Moise was the latest United States installed puppet, whose administration continued in defiance of Haiti's constitution which in fact required him to step down in February 2021. Haitians in the hundreds of thousands engaged in mass protest for many months against his illegal presence in office and demanded that their democratic rights be respected. 

But Haiti has no democracy. It is run under the auspices of the Core Group which consists of the United States, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany Spain, the European Union, the Organization of American States and the United Nations. Haiti has no representation among the Core Group members and is at the mercy of entities which have exploited its people and resources ever since its 1804 revolution.  

The request for an increased U.S. presence in the wake of the assassination is one that demonstrates the weakness of Haiti's government and the continued denial of its sovereignty.  Democrat and Republican presidents alike have routinely violated Haiti's rights. Woodrow Wilson sent the marines to occupy Haiti in 1915 and they remained there for 19 years. Bill Clinton again intervened militarily in 1994 and George W. Bush kidnapped president Jean-Bertrand Aristide in 2004. Secretary of state Hillary Clinton undermined election results and installed yet another puppet president after the devastating 2010 earthquake.

The FBI is the last entity that should assist in investigating the crime. Its record of acting against people’s movements cannot be forgotten. Nor should Colombia, home of some of those arrested be a part of any investigation. Both the Haitian and Colombian governments have violently subverted any chance of democracy for their citizens, and always in connivance with the U.S. Their involvement in an investigation is farcical. The United States never has clean hands as allegedly "spontaneous" demonstrations have erupted in Cuba which in fact are the usual modus operandi instigated by regime change efforts coming from Washington. 

While it is relevant to want to know the identity and ultimate plans of the assassination plotters, at this juncture it is equally important to remember the role that the U.S. has played in Haiti over many decades. The United Nations also cannot be trusted in Haiti. Its peace keeping forces were in fact occupiers and brought cholera that killed 10,000 people. The U.N. special envoy for Haiti declared a new president without consulting the Haitian. Even philanthropy has failed as was seen in the wake of the 2010 earthquake when millions of dollars poured into the country which never benefited the masses. Instead, they continue to live in great poverty caused by outside control of their nation. 

The involvement of the U.S. and its partners in crime must end. The only hope for Haiti is true democracy and that cannot happen when the usual suspects are repeating their endless crimes against that country. Despite any appearance of benevolence, the U.S. and its friends must stay out and finally allow Haiti the sovereignty that it is guaranteed under international law. 

Self-determination for Haiti free from imperialist intervention!

U.S. Hands Off!