It is essential that every possible effort be made to assure the success of the upcoming demonstrations against the war that the imperialists are so clearly determined to wage. The next few weeks could shape the possibilities for the struggles of the oppressed and exploited throughout the world for many years. * nades, comparable to the one which killed seven people on December 5" during a meeting addressed by Fr. Aristide. It is thus no surprise that the seat of the bishops' conference and the residence of the papal representative were attacked by angry demonstrators responding to Lafontant's coup d'état on January 7.
Lafontant's seizure of the National Palace with a small group of armed soldiers and civilians was a gamble. He declared that the army and police were with him.
In fact, however, the army chiefs denounced the putsch and surrounded the National Palace, arresting Lafontant after a brief struggle. Meanwhile, the USA had also denounced the attempted coup and barricades were being erected in the capital. Journalists talked about districts in a state of insurrection."
rial was Incomplete. In one station, the voting box himself. A member of the Electoral Council entrusted with organizing the voting declared in the middle of the day that the situation was very difficult, that voting slips had been stolen and that, in the countryside, the army were following the peasants into the voting booths to see how they were voting.
But the people were determined to vote. Sometimes they walted up to ten hours in line. They Intercepted the cars containing the stolen balfols, They demonstrated against "trickery" in the streets of Port-auPrince, Under popular pressure, and against the wishes of the political parties opposed to Aristide, voting was prolonged for several hours into the night. * 3
International Viewpoint #198 • January 21, 1991
HAITI / USSR president, has few powers, and the network of popular organizations is weak. It will be very hard for him to implement significant reforms, so there is a risk of popular disillusionment.
Furthermore, during the election campaign the most enlightened sectors of the bourgeoisie understood that it was in their interests to support Aristide to stabilize sounded a militant note. In his victory address he pointed the way: "form strong committees in the districts, strong vigilance brigades and strong clean-up brigades. Link up the organizations in the towns with the rest of the country. In this way there will be an avalanche of organizations, the flesh, blood, and bones of
Haiti. Without this the country will be an empty bag."*