Former Haiti president Aristide: I want to go back, too

* Read Karshan's letter to Jean-Bertrand Aristide

BY TRENTON DANIEL
tdaniel@MiamiHerald.com

In what may be his first public statement since one-time nemesis Jean-Claude Duvalier showed up in Haiti, former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide said he is ``ready'' to return to his troubled homeland.

Aristide, a two-time head-of-state, wrote a letter from South Africa, according to his former foreign press liaison, Michelle Karshan. Copies were e-mailed to a list of undisclosed recipients and it is now circulating on the Internet.

Karshan said Wednesday she received the letter ``directly'' from Aristide and his spokeswoman Maryse Narcisse.

If Aristide were to return, it would be come at a politically fragile time in Haiti, compounded only by Duvalier's presence in the country. One year after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake, Haiti is wrestling with sluggish reconstruction, an electoral crisis, and adeadly cholera outbreak.

``The purpose is very clear,'' according to Aristide's letter. ``To contribute to serving my Haitian sisters and brothers as a simple citizen in the field of education,'' Aristide wrote in the letter dated Jan. 19. ``The return is indispensable, too, for medical reasons: It is strongly recommended that I not spend the coming winter in South Africa's because in 6 years I have undergone 6 eye surgeries.''

``We do not doubt President Aristide's desire to help the people of Haiti. But today Haiti needs to focus on its future, not its past,'' U.S. State Department spokesman PJ Crowley said in a statement posted on Twitter. ``This is an important period for Haiti. What it needs is calm, not divisive actions that distract from the task of forming a new government.''

Aristide, a priest-turned-president who fought the Duvalier regime in the mid-1980s, could not be reached for comment in South Africa.

Seven months after he was democratically elected in 1990 for his first term, a military junta ousted him. Three years later, a U.S. invasion restored him to power.

He went into exile a second time in 2004 amid a violent rebellion; Aristide said he was ``kidnapped'' by the international community.

Since he was ousted, Aristide, 57, has been a research fellow at the University of South Africa in Pretoria, where he has been teaching and presenting research papers, such as ``Why African descendants are still facing poverty in Haiti.''

Aristide's apparent desire to return to Haiti on Wednesday comes just days after Jean-Claude ``Baby Doc'' Duvalier made a surprise visit to his native country -- the despot's first trip since nationwide unrest led to the end of a brutal 29-year dynasty that ran the country until 1986.

Duvalier, the son of medical doctor-turned-tyrant Francois Duvalier, traveled back to Haiti on an expired diplomatic passport.

He spent his years in exile in France. On Tuesday, embezzlement and corruption charges were filed against him.

That Duvalier was able to enter Haiti without proper travel documents raises questions about Aristide's own ability to return. Aristide doesn't have a diplomatic passport, said Ira Kurzban, Aristide's lawyer, but it's been no secret that he has yearned to return home.

``The hope is that if [Aristide] gets a passport, the South African government will work in a cooperative way with the United States and other governments to make sure [he] can return to Haiti,'' Kurzban said.

In the letter, Aristide wrote that he was looking to return soon.

``Let us hope that the Haitian and South African governments will enter into communication in order to make that happen in the next coming days.''

On Monday, one day after Duvalier unexpectedly landed in Haiti, Kurzban said he and Aristide had spoke over the telephone. Kurzban declined to discuss the details.

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/01/19/2024063/former-haiti-president-aristide.html#ixzz1BdRRahM9

"If you want to sleep well at night, it's best to avoid watching the making of sausages or politics." Otto Von Bismarck

#2 - Posted 21 January 2011, 9:39 AM
jambdebois Location: United States Join date: December 2010 Member #: 6604 Posts: 525	RE: Former Haiti president Aristide: I want to go back, too Quote: Atabey previously said: Former Haiti president Aristide: I want to go back, too * Read Karshan's letter to Jean-Bertrand Aristide BY TRENTON DANIEL tdaniel@MiamiHerald.com In what may be his first public statement since one-time nemesis Jean-Claude Duvalier showed up in Haiti, former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide said he is ``ready'' to return to his troubled homeland. Aristide, a two-time head-of-state, wrote a letter from South Africa, according to his former foreign press liaison, Michelle Karshan. Copies were e-mailed to a list of undisclosed recipients and it is now circulating on the Internet. Karshan said Wednesday she received the letter ``directly'' from Aristide and his spokeswoman Maryse Narcisse. If Aristide were to return, it would be come at a politically fragile time in Haiti, compounded only by Duvalier's presence in the country. One year after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake, Haiti is wrestling with sluggish reconstruction, an electoral crisis, and adeadly cholera outbreak. ``The purpose is very clear,'' according to Aristide's letter. ``To contribute to serving my Haitian sisters and brothers as a simple citizen in the field of education,'' Aristide wrote in the letter dated Jan. 19. ``The return is indispensable, too, for medical reasons: It is strongly recommended that I not spend the coming winter in South Africa's because in 6 years I have undergone 6 eye surgeries.'' ``We do not doubt President Aristide's desire to help the people of Haiti. But today Haiti needs to focus on its future, not its past,'' U.S. State Department spokesman PJ Crowley said in a statement posted on Twitter. ``This is an important period for Haiti. What it needs is calm, not divisive actions that distract from the task of forming a new government.'' Aristide, a priest-turned-president who fought the Duvalier regime in the mid-1980s, could not be reached for comment in South Africa. Seven months after he was democratically elected in 1990 for his first term, a military junta ousted him. Three years later, a U.S. invasion restored him to power. He went into exile a second time in 2004 amid a violent rebellion; Aristide said he was ``kidnapped'' by the international community. Since he was ousted, Aristide, 57, has been a research fellow at the University of South Africa in Pretoria, where he has been teaching and presenting research papers, such as ``Why African descendants are still facing poverty in Haiti.'' Aristide's apparent desire to return to Haiti on Wednesday comes just days after Jean-Claude ``Baby Doc'' Duvalier made a surprise visit to his native country -- the despot's first trip since nationwide unrest led to the end of a brutal 29-year dynasty that ran the country until 1986. Duvalier, the son of medical doctor-turned-tyrant Francois Duvalier, traveled back to Haiti on an expired diplomatic passport. He spent his years in exile in France. On Tuesday, embezzlement and corruption charges were filed against him. That Duvalier was able to enter Haiti without proper travel documents raises questions about Aristide's own ability to return. Aristide doesn't have a diplomatic passport, said Ira Kurzban, Aristide's lawyer, but it's been no secret that he has yearned to return home. ``The hope is that if [Aristide] gets a passport, the South African government will work in a cooperative way with the United States and other governments to make sure [he] can return to Haiti,'' Kurzban said. In the letter, Aristide wrote that he was looking to return soon. ``Let us hope that the Haitian and South African governments will enter into communication in order to make that happen in the next coming days.'' On Monday, one day after Duvalier unexpectedly landed in Haiti, Kurzban said he and Aristide had spoke over the telephone. Kurzban declined to discuss the details. Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/01/19/2024063/former-haiti-president-aristide.html#ixzz1BdRRahM9 Send that boy back to Haiti and lock his ass up as soon as he land at the airport. I wonder why that boy has one eye that always looking up and one looking down? I woder..... I think that boy his crazy.....
	Post IP/Country: 72.200.153.18* / US

#1 - Posted 20 January 2011, 11:08 PM
Atabey Location: United States, NYC Join date: October 2009 Member #: 3761 Posts: 12043	Former Haiti president Aristide: I want to go back, too Former Haiti president Aristide: I want to go back, too * Read Karshan's letter to Jean-Bertrand Aristide BY TRENTON DANIEL tdaniel@MiamiHerald.com In what may be his first public statement since one-time nemesis Jean-Claude Duvalier showed up in Haiti, former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide said he is ``ready'' to return to his troubled homeland. Aristide, a two-time head-of-state, wrote a letter from South Africa, according to his former foreign press liaison, Michelle Karshan. Copies were e-mailed to a list of undisclosed recipients and it is now circulating on the Internet. Karshan said Wednesday she received the letter ``directly'' from Aristide and his spokeswoman Maryse Narcisse. If Aristide were to return, it would be come at a politically fragile time in Haiti, compounded only by Duvalier's presence in the country. One year after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake, Haiti is wrestling with sluggish reconstruction, an electoral crisis, and adeadly cholera outbreak. ``The purpose is very clear,'' according to Aristide's letter. ``To contribute to serving my Haitian sisters and brothers as a simple citizen in the field of education,'' Aristide wrote in the letter dated Jan. 19. ``The return is indispensable, too, for medical reasons: It is strongly recommended that I not spend the coming winter in South Africa's because in 6 years I have undergone 6 eye surgeries.'' ``We do not doubt President Aristide's desire to help the people of Haiti. But today Haiti needs to focus on its future, not its past,'' U.S. State Department spokesman PJ Crowley said in a statement posted on Twitter. ``This is an important period for Haiti. What it needs is calm, not divisive actions that distract from the task of forming a new government.'' Aristide, a priest-turned-president who fought the Duvalier regime in the mid-1980s, could not be reached for comment in South Africa. Seven months after he was democratically elected in 1990 for his first term, a military junta ousted him. Three years later, a U.S. invasion restored him to power. He went into exile a second time in 2004 amid a violent rebellion; Aristide said he was ``kidnapped'' by the international community. Since he was ousted, Aristide, 57, has been a research fellow at the University of South Africa in Pretoria, where he has been teaching and presenting research papers, such as ``Why African descendants are still facing poverty in Haiti.'' Aristide's apparent desire to return to Haiti on Wednesday comes just days after Jean-Claude ``Baby Doc'' Duvalier made a surprise visit to his native country -- the despot's first trip since nationwide unrest led to the end of a brutal 29-year dynasty that ran the country until 1986. Duvalier, the son of medical doctor-turned-tyrant Francois Duvalier, traveled back to Haiti on an expired diplomatic passport. He spent his years in exile in France. On Tuesday, embezzlement and corruption charges were filed against him. That Duvalier was able to enter Haiti without proper travel documents raises questions about Aristide's own ability to return. Aristide doesn't have a diplomatic passport, said Ira Kurzban, Aristide's lawyer, but it's been no secret that he has yearned to return home. ``The hope is that if [Aristide] gets a passport, the South African government will work in a cooperative way with the United States and other governments to make sure [he] can return to Haiti,'' Kurzban said. In the letter, Aristide wrote that he was looking to return soon. ``Let us hope that the Haitian and South African governments will enter into communication in order to make that happen in the next coming days.'' On Monday, one day after Duvalier unexpectedly landed in Haiti, Kurzban said he and Aristide had spoke over the telephone. Kurzban declined to discuss the details. Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/01/19/2024063/former-haiti-president-aristide.html#ixzz1BdRRahM9 "If you want to sleep well at night, it's best to avoid watching the making of sausages or politics." Otto Von Bismarck
	Post IP/Country: 74.68.159.19* / US

#3 - Posted 21 January 2011, 5:23 PM
Atabey Location: United States, NYC Join date: October 2009 Member #: 3761 Posts: 12043	RE: Former Haiti president Aristide: I want to go back, too That boy might need a re-fill and the construction funds targeted for Haiti this year offers an enticing target rich terrain for him to re-fill his basket "If you want to sleep well at night, it's best to avoid watching the making of sausages or politics." Otto Von Bismarck
	Post IP/Country: 74.68.159.19* / US

#4 - Posted 23 January 2011, 1:40 PM
jambdebois Location: United States Join date: December 2010 Member #: 6604 Posts: 525	RE: Former Haiti president Aristide: I want to go back, too Quote: Atabey previously said: That boy might need a re-fill and the construction funds targeted for Haiti this year offers an enticing target rich terrain for him to re-fill his basket Prolific, you are a visionary. Now, you know why Haiti has at least one million candidates for president? Stimilus package for the state of Florida, 20 billion dollars in promise funds. Not one of those jerks ever ran for any type of political office before; they all arrive on that plunder Haiti TAP TAP looking for millions--- destination a multimillion dollar home in florida. Someone needs to slap that cockeye aristide see if they can straighten his eye socket into position.
	Post IP/Country: 68.9.153.22* / US

May 23, 2012, Updated 6:47 AM
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