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VK3PRA > HISTOR 14.03.05 10:32l 51 Lines 2475 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : FE0181VK3PRA
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Subj: = FREEDOM'S BIRTHDAY =
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Sent: 050313/0036Z @:VK3DSE.#MEL.VIC.AUS.OC #:40051 [Narre Warren] FBB7.00g25
From: VK3PRA@VK3DSE.#MEL.VIC.AUS.OC
To : HISTOR@WW
On the first day of 2004, freedom in this world turned 200. But no-one
noticed, or almost no-one.A few days later the country where this birth
occurred, HAITI, found itself in the media spotlight. Not for the
anniversary of universal freedom but because there had been a bloodbath
that culminated in the ousting of President Aristide.
HAITI was the first country to abolish slavery.However, almost all the
encyclopedias and text books attribute this honorable deed to England. It
is true that one fine day the empire that had been the champion in the
slave trade changed its mind. But abolition in Britain took place in
1807, three years after the Haitian Revolution, and it was so unconvincing
that in 1832 Britain had to ban slavery again.
There is nothing new about this slight of Haiti. For two centuries it has
suffered scorn and punishiment.THOMAS JEFFERSON, a slave owner and
champion of liberty at the same time, warned that Haiti had created a bad
example and argued it was necesary to " confine the plague to the island
" .His country heeded him. It was 60 years ! before the US granted
diplomatic recognition to the freest of nations.
In 1915 the US Marines landed in Haiti. They stayed 19 years.
The first thing they did was occupy the custom house.The occupaying army
suspended the salary of the Haitian President until he agreed to sign off
on the liquidation of the Bank of the Nation, which became a branch of
City Bank of New York. The President and other blacks were "barred entry
into private hotels, restaurants and clubs of the foreign occupaying
power".
The occupiers didn't dare re-establish salavery but they did impose force
labour for building of public works.And they killed a lot of people. It
wasn't easy to quell the fires of resistance. The guerrilla
chief,Charlemagne Peralte, was exhibited en the public square, "
crucified on a door " to teach people a lesson.
This civilizing mission ended in 1934. The occupiers withdrew, having
created a National Guard to exterminate any possible trace of democracy.
They did the same in Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. A short time
after,Duvalier became Haiti's equivalent of Somoza and Trujillo.
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A very interesting chapter of world history, I think.
73 - Ruben, VK3PRA @ VK3DSE
Message timed: 11:31 on 14 Mar 05
73 - Ruben, VK3PRA @ VK3DSE
Message timed: 11:31 on 14 Mar 05
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