A republic in the West Indies on the island of Hispaniola; the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere.
Country in the Caribbean, occupying the W part of the island of Hispaniola; to the E is the Dominican Republic.
government
The 1950 constitution was revised 1957, 1964, 1971, 1983, 1985, and 1987. The 1987 constitution provides for a 27-member senate and a 77-member chamber of deputies, all popularly elected, as well as a “dual executive” of a president and prime minister sharing power, based on the French model. The president is elected by universal suffrage for a five-year term and appoints a prime minister from the party commanding the support of members of the chamber.
history
The island of Hispaniola was once inhabited by Arawak Indians who had died out by the end of the 16th century owing to conquest, warfare, hard labor, and diseases brought in by the Europeans after the arrival of Christopher Columbus 1492. The island was made a Spanish colony under the name of Santo Domingo, but the western part was colonized by France from the mid-17th century. In 1697 the western third of the island was ceded to France by Spain.
independence achieved
The period 1790–1804 was fraught with rebellions against France, tension among blacks, whites, and mulattos, and military intervention by France and Britain. In one such rebellion 1791 the island was taken over by slaves, under Toussaint L'Ouverture, and slavery was abolished, but it was then reinstated after he was killed by the French. After independence 1804 the instability continued, with Santo Domingo repossessed by Spain and then by Haiti, and self-proclaimed kings ruling Haiti. In 1844 Haiti and the Dominican Republic became separate states. During the late 19th century Haiti suffered from growing economic and political instability. Several leaders were ousted and murdered.
Duvalier era
Friction between Haitians of African descent and mulattos, and the country’s political instability, brought a period of US rule 1915–34. In the 1940s and 1950s there were several coups, the last occurring 1956, which resulted in Dr François Duvalier being elected president. After an encouraging start, his administration degenerated into a personal dictatorship, maintained by a private army, the Tontons Macoutes. In 1964 “Papa Doc” Duvalier made himself president for life, with the power to nominate his son as his successor.
On his father’s death 1971 Jean-Claude Duvalier came to the presidency at the age of 19 and soon acquired the name of “Baby Doc”. Although the young Duvalier repeatedly promised a return to democracy, there was little change. In the 1984 elections about 300 government candidates contested the 59 seats, with no opposition at all. In 1985, political parties were legalized, provided they conformed to strict guidelines, but only one party registered, the National Progressive Party (PNP), which supported Duvalier’s policies. He was overthrown and exiled to France 1986.
democratization failed
The new military regime led by Lt Gen Henri Namphy offered no protection to the electoral council, and the US government withdrew aid. Elections Nov 1987 were sabotaged by armed gangs of Duvalierists who massacred voters and set fire to polling places and to vehicles delivering ballot papers in the country. Leslie Manigat, with army support, was made president Feb 1988 but four months later was ousted in a coup led by Namphy, who was in turn replaced by Brig Gen Prosper Avril in a coup Sept 1988. Avril installed a largely civilian government, but the army was still in control and a coup attempt April 1989 was quickly put down. Early in 1990 opposition to Avril grew, but was suppressed. Acting president Ertha Pascal-Trouillot defied calls for her resignation, but elections were held Dec 1990. Jean-Bertrand Aristide, a Catholic priest, won a landslide victory and in Feb 1991, as president, dismissed the entire army high command, with the exception of General Hérard Abraham, who had earlier permitted Haiti's fir
st free elections.
Aristide ousted
A military coup, led by Brig Gen Raoul Cedras, overthrew Aristide Sept 1991. In the following month, the army appointed Joseph Nerette as interim president, with Jean Jacques Honorat as prime minister. There was international condemnation of the coup and economic sanctions were imposed against Haiti, but all efforts to reinstate Aristide failed. Nerette's term of office was extended indefinitely.
foreign sanctions
In early 1992 the US began to modify its 1991 sanctions, but the Organization of American States increased its sanctions May 1992. Marc Bazin replaced Honorat as prime minister June 1992, but resigned June 1993 after a disagreement with the military, at which point a United Nations (UN) embargo was imposed.
Aristide’s return blocked
UN-sponsored talks between military leaders and Aristide led July 1993 to an agreement under which Aristide might return to Haiti on condition that an amnesty was granted to coup leaders. International sanctions were lifted Aug 1993 after the chamber of deputies accepted Robert Malval, Aristide's nominee, as prime minister. However, Malval and his supporters suffered continued harassment and in Oct 1993 the military blocked Aristide's return. The UN immediately resumed its embargo, and froze Haiti's foreign assets. Prime Minister Malval resigned Dec 1993, but agreed to remain in office until a successor was found. In May 1994 Emile Jonassaint, a pro-military Supreme Court judge, was appointed by the coup's leader, Brig Gen Raoul Cedras, to replace Nerette as president.
Aristide returns
In Sept 1994 an opposed invasion of Haiti by US forces was averted after an agreement, brokered by former US president Jimmy Carter, was reached with the island’s military leaders. The US landed 15,000 troops without bloodshed, insisting that Haiti adopt a “structural adjustment program” of privatizing assets, removing trade tariffs, and not raising the minimum wage. In Oct Cedras, who had agreed to relinquish power in return for an amnesty, withdrew into exile in Panama. In the same month, President Aristide returned. He gave up his priesthood to concentrate on the presidency, and nominated Michel Smarck as premier. An electoral commission was appointed to organize free elections Dec 1994. In March 1995 US troops handed over to a UN peacekeeping force, the UN Mission in Haiti (UNMIH), which was to oversee the island’s “more complete transition to democracy”. Prior to their arrival, there had been concern over a breakdown of law and order in the capital, Port-au-Prince, after several political assassinations,
and US aid was targeted to counter nationalist and revolutionary movements. + prikaži više