Brazil Brings Haitian Foes to the Bargaining Table

After ten years, the major political groups in Haiti resumed their dialogue, and the meetings to discuss the electoral process are coordinated by the Brazilian mediator, Ricardo Seintenfus, an International Relations specialist and author of the book, “Haiti, The Sovereignty of the Dictators.”

Seintenfus has been in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince for ten days, at the request of the Brazilian Minister of Foreign Relations, Celso Amorim.


Seitenfus, who directs the Santa Maria Faculty of Law, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, commemorates the opening of negotiations, but he recalls that the tense climate still persists.


“We managed to get this political dialogue started without the exclusion of any of the country’s political forces. Only the movements and groups that espouse the use of violence will be excluded.”


The Brazilian mediator in Haiti disclosed that the meetings even include the participation of politicians connected with the Lavalas, the party of ex-President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, ousted early this year.


In Seintenfus’s view, political stabilization depends upon greater participation by the international community, including economic assistance for social reorganization.


“Our big effort is to get Haitians to accept the electoral contest as something normal in a democracy. Rivals need to be seen as political adversaries, to be fought on the field of ideas,” the specialist explains.


“Opposition to the process is masked, opportunistic, coming from those who are unable to win the election. Therefore, it is important for the international community to follow the situation closely.”


Brazil has been in command of the United Nations Peace Force in Haiti since May of this year.


The situation in the country has become tense in recent months after a hurricane killed 3 thousand people and left thousands of people homeless.


In September the activities of gangs obliged the Brazilian soldiers to intensify their support for police operations.


The commander of the Peace Force, General Augusto Heleno Pereira, believes that these episodes are related to criminal groups, not political parties. Even so, he sees the electoral process as a big challenge.


“The experience with democracy here was transitory and brief. There is no habit of referring to democratic institutions and human rights,” the general recounts.


“Everything has to be sought. If it weren’t difficult, there wouldn’t be a peace mission here.”


Haiti has around 5 million inhabitants, 95% of whom live in precarious conditions, below the poverty line. A transitional government is preparing elections for the final months of next year.


It is expected that a government elected by the people will take over the country’s administration in February, 2006.


Agência Brasil
Translator: David Silberstein

Tags:

You May Also Like

Brazil’s Fish Leather Shoes Are for Export Only

Businesswoman Tânia Pedracini, from Maringá (in the southern Brazilian state of Paraná), established a ...

Disrobed Women, Alcohol, Floats. World’s Biggest Street Party Is on in Brazil

Brazil beauties with nothing for clothing but sequins led Carnaval parades lasting until dawn ...

In Brazil, Dilma Woman Takes Place of Lula Man as President’s Chief of Staff

Gleisi Helena Hoffmann, 45, a Brazilian senator and wife of Brazil’s Communications Minister Paulo ...

Brazil Empire Through the Eyes of an Arab Imam

This is the only known record of the outlook of a Muslim Arab into ...

Back from Brazil, Rio Gringa Is Ready for Other Flights

Readers who follow my  "Odds and Ends" on The Brasilians newspaper pages are aware ...

Study Offers Suggestions on How to Increase Population of Brazil’s Jaguars

For people living on the Brazilian plains jaguars versus cattle is an age-old conflict. ...

Ronaldinho Superstar

Well-behaved, patient with the media and autograph seekers, Ronaldinho is not the spoiled rebel ...

Rio Favelas Celebrate 6 Months Free of Druglords

There were celebration this past weekend in the hillside slums of Penha and Morro ...

Goodbye Song

American musician Stan Getz once asked Brazilian conductor Júlio Medaglia, "Why doesn’t Baden Powell ...

Boom Times for Rio, Brazil: US$ 70 Billion to Be Invested in 3 Years

Exploration of oil in Campos Basin, the Petrobras investment, the construction of the Angra ...