Jean-Bertrand Aristide
Jean-Bertrand Aristide
Jean-Bertrand Aristideis a Haitian politician who became Haiti's first democratically elected president. A proponent of liberation theology, Aristide was appointed to a Roman Catholic parish in Port-au-Prince in 1982 after completing his studies to become a priest of the Salesian order. He became a focal point for the pro-democracy movement first under Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier and then under the military transition regime which followed. He won the Haitian general election between 1990 and 1991, with 67% of the vote...
NationalityHaitian
ProfessionStatesman
Date of Birth15 July 1953
CountryHaiti
The first time Haiti had free and fair democratic elections was 1990, when I was elected.
The future of Haiti must be linked to the respect of the rights of every single citizen.
I know how the American people care for that democratic principle. They want to see their vote respected. As we in Haiti want to see the vote of the people respected.
In 1994, when I went back to Haiti from exile, we established a Commission for Truth and Justice and Reconciliation. I passed the documents to the next government, and I never heard about it again.
The structure of apartheid is still rooted in the Haitian society. When you have apartheid, you don't see those behind the walls. That is the reality of Haiti.
Haiti, Haiti, the further I am from you, the less I breathe. Haiti, I love you, and I will love you always. Always.
Far from home, I am living here, but always in deep communion with my people.
Blood has flowed in Hinche, ... It may be that the police cannot cope with this kind of attack.
I am ready to give my life if that is what it takes to defend my country,
None of these difficulties can be invoked by state agents to justify violations of human rights committed in total impunity.
If we wish to maintain peace, then we cannot accept that impunity be provided to these international criminals and drug dealers.
If wars are expensive, peace can be even more expensive,
Before the elections of the year 2000 which led me for the second time to the National Palace in Haiti, I had talked about peace, ... And throughout in the National Palace, throughout my tenure, I talked about peace. And today I continue to talk about peace.
Haitians don't like to say they are hungry because we are proud.