M A R C H    2 0 0 5   

One year ago I began a series of articles about Haiti, and U.S. interference with its democratic government (Daykeeper, April 2004). This situation is particularly poignant because it is a classic example of U.S. takeover of a country which doesn’t go along with its policies. Another classic feature is that Haiti is right next door, and is mostly ignored by the U.S. electorate. It is a blatant example of how we close our eyes and allow our government to do what it wants with other countries, regardless of how ruthless is U.S. behavior. The—again classic— hypocrisy of the U.S. talking about democracy, and yet preventing it, is loud and clear here in Haiti.

One year ago President Aristide, DEMOCRATICALLY elected by a large margin, was kidnapped by the U.S. and transported to Africa. A puppet government from Florida was installed. (Aristide was a super-popular leader who worked hard to lift his people out of misery, poverty, and illiteracy. He was not "manageable.")

The aim of this U.S.-installed government has been to kill and/or frighten the supporters of Aristide. This interim Prime Minister, Gerard Latortue, estimated that it would be necessary to kill 25,000 people in the capital alone to stop calls for the return of exiled Pres. Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

They have been working at it. Haiti is drenched in blood. Morgues are overflowing, and bodies are dumped, unobserved, into mass graves at night. By whom? By thugs and killers who are now free to rampage, under U.S. protection, as Haitian "police" and "Army." Prior to Aristide, these same criminals were running rampant in Haiti. Aristide disarmed and expelled them, but now they are back, as arms of U.S. policy.

Haiti is a nightmare.

Congresswoman Maxine Waters (Los Angeles) wrote a letter to Secretary of State Powell (who engineered the coup d’etat), which included:

"History will record that this crisis is a direct result of the failed policies of the United States, France, and Canada which worked with the Group of 184, the former members of the Haitian Army and known thugs to carry out last February’s coup d’etat. While I am certain that you would be the last to agree, I believe that the only way to stabilize Haiti is to do so with the return of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the democratically-elected President of Haiti, until the end of his term in office, with a restoration of assistance for the rebuilding of Haiti’s infrastructure and, at the end of his term, assistance for free and fair elections."

Right now "state" violence has been greatly stepped up, in anticipation of demonstrations demanding Aristide’s return at this one-year anniversary of his kidnapping. Yes, people are afraid, and with good reason. They tend to stay in their houses, and much of the country’s life has come to a standstill. However, these descendants of slaves who rebelled and created their own nation in 1804 are truly indomitable.

The Haitian chart is set for January 1, 1804, 12:00 p.m. It is a very strong Capricorn, and Capricorn has a hard path, climbing the mountain, but it never gives up.

This last year has been a real test for Haitians. And for all of us, it is an example of the chaos which can accompany Uranus in Pisces. Uranus has been transiting Haiti’s Pluto during this time, and is just now completing this transit. Uranus is the wake-up call. Haitians have been awakening, in a new way, to the dark and repressive forces which have been part of Haiti’s history.

Neptune has just finished transiting Haiti’s North Node in Aquarius. This is likely to have enhanced the sense of solidarity of the majority of the people, as they have been undergoing this attempted coercion through violence.

This month, March, Ceres is stationing on Haiti’s Neptune. Can the Great Mother bring truth to the light? This is a process which will finish in September 2005.

Haiti’s progressed Moon will conjoin its Sun in June, to begin a new 28-year cycle of integration of its Capricorn identity. In three years, Haiti’s progressed Sun will enter Leo, and by then she can feel a new pride in herself, and a new autonomy.

I believe Haiti will lift herself out from under U.S.-French domination (quite a feat!). Let us observe her progress, and visualize the best for this brave little nation.