The bicentennial of the Haitian Revolution (1 January 2004)

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The Bicentennial According to Radio Metropole
Thursday 1 January 2004. The 200th Anniversary of Haiti's Independence was commemorated, this Thursday January 1, 2004, in an atmosphere of chaos in Port-au-Prince and Gonaïves. The only foreign head of state present, Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, expressed his concerns regarding the current crisis. For many observers, the situation is critical and the risk of armed confrontation is greater than ever.
Honor Haiti, honor ourselves; Forget Haiti, forget ourselves
By Randall Robinson, Counterpunch, 1 January 2004. Between 1791 and 1804, Africans enslaved in Haiti united to launch a war of liberation. History forgets, first, those who forget themselves. Keep the revolutonary spirit alive. Counter those powerful nations that do not respect the ballot box in Haiti; reject being manipulated by corporate media.
The Haitian Revolution: past, present, and personal
By Guy S. Antoine, 1 January 2004. Haiti has, for all intents and purposes, become irrelevant in most people's perceptions of World History, but nothing could be further from the truth. The Haitian Revolution did in fact shake to the core many of the dearly held assumptions of the 18th century in regard to the universal applicability of the ideals of freedom, equality, and aspirations of all men, notwithstanding their racial differences.
Mbeki's Haiti Visit Was Tribute to Freedom
By Bryan Rostron, Johannesburg Business Day (Johannesburg), 7 January 2004. Gripes about President Thabo Mbeki's New Year visit to Haiti for the bicentenary of the world's first black republic have entirely missed that, while Mbeki courts international respectability by cautious political and fiscal policies, he still identifies strongly with the only successful slave rebellion in history.
Despite oppositon boycott and terror campaign, Haitians joyously celebrate their bicentennial
Haiti Progres, 7–18 January 2004. Many tens of thousands of Haitians filled the streets in Port-au-Prince on Jan. 1 to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Haiti's independence. A smaller celebration of about 7,000 took place in Gonaïves. Despite threats of violence from the Washington-backed opposition and back-room pressure to dissuade them, many foreign delegations attended the bicentennial ceremonies.
First Anti-Slavery Revolution in America
By Maria Victoria Valdes-Rodda, Granma, 8 January 2004. The Caribbean Peoples Assembly in Haiti's Cape in October 2003: the best way of honoring Haiti' Black uprising against a colonial regime is to unite all voices against neoliberalism and the current pretensions of imperialism—disguised as a fair interlocutor of free trade agreements—to impose merciless law of the market. It is necessary to continue battling like yesterday for equality among peoples.
Haitian People and Government Thank Cuba for its Solidarity
Radio Rebelde, 8 Enero 2004. A message of gratefulness to Cuba on behalf of the Haitian people and government. During commemorations for the 200th anniversary of the Haitian Revolution at Santiago de Cuba's Physical Cultura Faculty, a Haitian official stressed bilateral historic and cultural relations between both countries.
Huge rally marks 1804 Haitian revolution
By Mark Almberg, People's Weekly World, 8 January 2004. The US State Department and media play up demonstrations against Aristide, while huge outpourings of support for him have gone largely unreported. At the bicentennial rally people chanted, Elections, yes! Coup d'etat, No! US Rep. Maxine Waters expressed support for Aristide and brought a proclamation from the Congressional Black Caucus.
New Book: Haiti a Slave Revolution
Announcement from the International Action Center, [8 January 2004]. The International Action Center and Haiti Support Network are proud to commemorate Haiti's 200 years of struggle against racism and colonialism by publishing a unique and deeply informative book—Haiti: A Slave Revolution—200 Years After 1804.
San Francisco Labor Council salutes Haiti Revolution
Workers World, 8 January 2004. The San Francisco Labor Council voted in early December to send warm greetings of solidarity to the working people and government of Haiti on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the Haitian Revolution, which abolished slavery and ended colonial rule.
Haiti celebrates 200 years of independence
By G. Dunkel, Workers World, 15 January 2004. Tens of thousands of Aristide's supporters came out Jan. 1 in Port-au-Prince to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Haiti's independence. Given the country's tense political climate—fueled by an opposition that intends to drive Aristide from power through violent street protests like those that have killed 40 and injured hundreds in the last six months'organizers said the turnout was surprising and encouraging.
Past Imperfect: Independence Day
By William Jelani Cobb, Africana, 3 February 2004. 200 years after overthrowing its colonial rulers, Haiti struggles with a dismally familiar slate of third world problems—not to mention a lack of respect.
Throttled by History
By Gary Younge, The Guardian, Monday 23 February 2004. The nation's 200th anniversary this year looks back on 13 coups and 19 years of American occupation, and now once again looks forward to more bloodshed and instability. The country's political class must bear their share of responsibility for where they go from here. Western powers, particularly France and the United States, must also take responsibility for how they got to this parlous place to begin with.