Speculation now, horrible truth tomorrow?

In keeping with my dim view, and lack of hope for a sane and just world, I present you with an article that was posted at a blog I found today. The blog is, El Sueno de Bolivar. It is written by Kevin Alvarez, who watches Latin America for the population that is too busy playing computer games and texting irrelevancies to equally disinterested parties.

This is the article:

Haitian President-elect Martelly to consider pardon for Dictator Duvalier

Last year Haiti suffered an earthquake that left hundreds of thousands dead, almost a million displaced, and left what was already the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere in a worse state. This year, Haiti has suffered a political earthquake with the return of Dictator “Baby Doc” Duvalier and former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to the island nation. They arrived in the middle of Haiti’s presidential elections and many believed they would derail or alter the outcome of the elections. However, the elections proceeded and Michel Martelly was elected.

While on campaign, Martelly told reporters that he was more interested in preparing for Haiti’s future than dealing with its past. This was in reference to charges being brought against Duvalier for his time as dictator of the island nation. Many people were killed or disappeared during the reign of

Duvalier and he has returned to Haiti urging unity and a forgiveness of the past. Now whispers are again making their way through political circles in Haiti that Martelly will offer full amnesty to Duvalier in order to “turn the page” on Haiti’s history.

Haiti is a nation in which justice does not come easy. From the common rapist who lurks the tent cities to the officials who sell out the country’s resources and people, and now even its Dictators. Human Rights Watch has outlined a case for prosecuting crimes against Duvalier for the years of his repressive and oppressive government. However, it appears the reconciling Haiti’s past and pursuing justice will again be thrown under the bus in order to show Washington and the Western World that a “stable” government has taken over in Haiti and that the time is ripe for investment. Pitching that idea may prove difficult since Martelly has already made “revamping the military” one of the first objectives of his new government.

Despite the fact that Haiti’s civil societies and general population are the ones suffering the most from the aftermath of the earthquake we are still seeing the focus shifted away from them. Almost a million people still live in tents in Port-Au-Prince, why not make housing the focus? Violence and rape run rampant in the tent cities and some times MINUSTAH and Haitian officers are perpetrating that violence, why not empower communities to protect themselves? Haiti still has to import most of its food thanks to World Bank and IMF adjustment programs, why not rebuild Haiti’s infrastructure in order for the Haitian people to provide for themselves?

President-elect Martelly will not take office until May, and so there may yet be hope for a turning point for the Haitian people. Will we see someone who places the interests for foreigners above the well being of the Haitian people, or someone who risks his own position of power to do what’s right to provide the Haitian people with the dignity and respect they deserve?

My Source, El Sueno de Bolivar

Possible root which lends credibility to the article posted by Mr. Alvarez, and my fears.

What do we know about Haiti’s new president and his policies?
President-elect Martelly campaigned on a platform that called for change from both the political class and the policies that governed Haiti in the past. Martelly appealed to the country’s youth through celebrity, music and campaign rallies that were more like street parties than political forums. His supporters describe the president-elect as open minded and committed to a better future for Haitians.

During the campaign, Martelly called for improvements in educational opportunity, more available health care, better housing, and increased government services, but avoided providing specifics on how these goals would be accomplished. He also called for improved security through restoration of the Haitian army that was disbanded by then-President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Martelly’s call for restoring the army was seized upon by critics who noted that Haiti could ill afford the cost or the risk of recreating a military with a history of brutality and coups. Questions have also been raised about Martelly’s statement to a Canadian newspaper that he would consider an amnesty for former dictator Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier and President Aristide.

The Spoils of War: Afghanistan and Iraq

These children are victims of the bombing of Afghanistan and Iraq. If they look dead, they are dead. It is not my intention to sugar coat this to make it palatable. I have lived with the memory of collecting this horrifying assortment depicting the ultimate result of violence meted out to the innocent. The impact they have on me is as brutal as it was on the day I found them. Don't ever wonder why I am so dedicatedly against war.