Haiti: Issues for Congress

Publication Date: September 2003

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Government

Type:

Coverage: Haiti

Abstract:

Congress continues to express concern about a number of developments in Haiti, especially its stalled democratic process and increased violence and human rights violations.

Since the virtual withdrawal of U.S. troops in February 1996, Congress has been concerned that U.S. assistance to Haiti be effective and that Haitian leaders pursue democratic reforms, including holding free and fair elections, adopt sound economic policies, improve security conditions, and fully investigate reported human rights abuses.

Concern over political stability increased as Haiti operated without a fully functioning government. An April 1997 election dispute remained unresolved, the prime minister resigned in June1997, and a successor could not be agreed upon. President Preval dissolved the Haitian Parliament in January 1999 and ruled by decree after that. This political paralysis also contributed to economic stagnation, preventing major reforms from being finalized and impeding access to over $500 million in international assistance.

In July 1999, President Rene Preval signed a new electoral law that effectively annulled the disputed April 1997 elections. After three postponements and international expressions of concern about Haiti's failure to set a date, new elections were held on May 21, 2000. Both domestic and international observers noted irregularities in the tabulation of election results. Nonetheless, the electoral council affirmed those results, which favored former President Aristide's Lavalas party. Because of this controversy, the opposition boycotted the November 26, 2000 national elections, and international donors, including the United States, withheld election aid. Aristide won the elections and was inaugurated on February 7, 2001. President Aristide has pledged to enact political, judicial, and economic reforms. Negotiations between Lavalas and the opposition alliance Convergence, mediated by the Organization of American States (OAS), have stalled repeatedly.

International organizations have been increasingly concerned about Haiti's inability to resolve its impasse. The U.N. withdrew its mission in Haiti in February 2001 and issued reports expressing concerns about the Haitians' failure to find a compromise and the current lawlessness and fear of political violence. In December 2002, Caribbean heads of state expressed concern over "continuing instability and the prospect of a breakdown in the social order" in Haiti.

In 2002, the OAS passed two resolutions to establish an OAS Mission in Haiti, call on the Haitian government to "restore a climate of security" necessary for resuming negotiations, and to strengthen the mission and support normalization of Haiti's relations with international financial institutions. A June 2003 resolution urged implementation of the earlier resolutions.

U.S. assistance to Haiti for FY2000 was $78 million; for FY2001, $72 million; for FY2002, $54 million. The request for FY2003 is $47 million, but the FY2003 Foreign Operations Appropriations bill (P.L. 108-7) provides "not less than$52.5 million" from food aid funds for Haiti. The bill contains no other conditions on aid to Haiti. It allows Haiti to purchase defense articles and services for the Haitian Coast Guard.