[New-imc] haiti

[Petros]

> Date: Sun, 29 Feb 2004 20:04:53 -0800
> From: mark burdett <mark at indymedia.org>
> Subject: [New-imc] haiti
> To: new-imc at indymedia.org

> 
> hi
> Did any new-imc folk ever volunteer to help the potential CMI Haiti?
> 
> What with Aristide being forced out by u.s. marines and all the u.s.
> media reporting that he "fled" the country well.. it's never too late
> to help them get their imc going.
> 
> http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/public/new-imc/2003-November/004628.html
> 
> --mark B.
> 
> 
> ------------------------------

Friends,

I understand the positive and creative interest posed in the 
above proposal, but I have great worries about it.

We made the same mistake in Iraq: the US Marines go in to 
topple the government, and IndyMedia flies in on their 
tails. Isn't this embarassing to anyone else but me?

Why don't we wait until we form *solid* bonds with radical 
and free media activists in Haiti and *after* that consider 
where this alliance might go, including the possibility of 
setting up an imc group there? Why must we always start 
backwards, with the crisis leading us, and the artificially 
induced tension "hurrying" us to make some decision?

Yes, it would be great to keep building on whatever alliaces 
we have with radical and free media activists in Haiti, now 
and in the future. But we need to dispose of that model of 
crisis- driven work.

And whoever is doing the alliance building work with Haiti 
activists, must be either well- versed in Haitian politics, 
or willing to learn.
(Our alliance with  radical and free media activists in 
Haiti  - or anywhere else - can not be divorced from an 
understanding of reality and politics. For example, Aristide 
first led a populist movement against the globalisation of 
the Empire (many years ago), then made an alliance with the 
global corporate and finance powers, and then a military 
alliance with them (20000 US troops backed him up). Then 
changed his mind! When he came to his senses and realised he 
had betrayed his populist roots, they  disposed of him. And 
people died in the process. There are many sides on this 
political conflict: who do we want to be our allies there?)

Petros
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