Exiled Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide offers to return

[happy_liberal]

Haiti's former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide, exiled after a rebellion against him culminated in US intervention that he claimed was a “kidnapping”, has offered to return to his country.

As far as we are concerned, we are ready to leave today, tomorrow, at any time to join the people of Haiti, to share in their suffering, help rebuild the country, moving from misery to poverty with dignity,” he said, having called reporters to a hotel next to Johannesburg’s international airport – South Africa offered him a haven after he was ousted in 2004.

“Friends from around the world have confirmed their willingness to organise an airplane carrying medical supplies, emergency needs and ourselves,” he said, sitting next to his wife Mildred, who wiped tears from her eyes.

“As we all know, many people remain buried under tonnes of ruble and debris, waiting to be rescued. When we think of the suffering, we feel deeply and profoundly that we should be there, in Haiti, with them, trying our best to prevent death.”

But his return is unlikely to be welcomed by the current government of Rene Preval, a former ally of his, and it was not clear whether he was waiting for permission to come back from the authorities, or would travel unilaterally. He declined to take questions after making his announcement.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/centralamericaandthecaribbean/haiti/6994432/Exiled-Haitian-president-Jean-Bertrand-Aristide-offers-to-return.html

[applegrove]

1. Perhaps he should donate the billion dollars he stole to Haiti? How's that for a plan.

[happy_liberal]

4. The Haitians did not overthrow Aristide

the CIA did

I think you must be talking about the bankers?

[Ghost Dog]

2. "rebellion against him"?

Nice way to describe yet another US govt/corporate-organised and financed and participated 'regime change' economic hit-man job.

[Leopolds Ghost]

3. Anyone want to start placing bets on his health if he returns?

What with all the armed international agencies around that have plenty of troops available to guard the actual relief workers, who are comparatively few in number.

Didn't the UN fire on and kill people at a funeral for one of Aristide's cronies a while back? Shortly after the US extraordinarily renditioned him.