Today is an historic date in Haiti. It was February 7, 1986 that marked the departure of Jean Claude Duvalier and the end of a 30 year dictatorship that began with the "election" of Francois "Papa Doc" Duvalier. It was February 7, 1991 that marked the inauguration of Jean Bertrand Aristide, formerly a Salesian priest, who captured more than 67% of the votes in historic election of December 16, 1990, the first free and fair election in Haiti's history. After that February 7 has become the "normal" date for presidential inaugurations - at least on those occasions when Haiti's presidential elections have been held close to November (as "required" by the Haitian constitution of 1987)!
After winning a second election in 2000, Aristide was forced to leave Haiti in February 2004. I expected that there might be some demonstrations in Port au Prince today, but didn't think about it when I set out with my friend Rosemary to "stretch our legs" on the streets of Port au Prince. We walked without incident all over town starting at Hospice St. Joseph, down Rue Acacia, across Ave. Martin Luther King and then down Rue Popoulard all the way into the downtown. Crossing over at Rue Capois we walked past the Champs de Mas and climbed up the hill to the historic Hotel Oloffson (which provided the setting for Grahm Greene's novel, "The Comedians") where we had lunch (and a couple of cold bottles of Prestige, the Haitian beer that won a gold medal in a world competion many years ago).
We left the Oloffson and proceeded along Rue Christoff until we reached "Lalue" (Ave. John Brown) where we began the climb back to Christ Roi and Hospice St. Joseph. It was along Ave. John Brown that I remembered today is an historic date. Hundreds of marchers were coming in the opposite direction, demonstrating peacefully for the return of Aristide! There were Haitian national police along the route and riding admidst the demonstrators. The march was orderly and peaceful. We stood aside until the "Lavalas" (Kreyol for flood and the name of Aristide's political party) of Aristide supporters passed. Port au Prince was peaceful today, but the marchers were a vivid reminder to that, while it has been little known here in the 200 years of Haiti's history, this country longs for peace. I also recalled the words of the late Pope Paul VI: "If you want peace, work for justice."
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