Haiti wants their 90 million gold francs back, with interest. This is a transcript of a radio interview with the Haitian Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Philippe Antonio.
On April 7, 2003, which marked the 200 anniversary of the death of Toussaint Louverture, President Jean-Bertrand Aristide made a statement in his speech where he asked France to pay restitution to Haiti in the amount approximately $21 billion U.S. because France had forced Haiti to pay 90 million gold francs in order to recognize Haiti's independence and for all of the transgressions France perpetrated against Haiti during the colonial period.
Couldn't happen to a more deserving nation.
Today the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dominique de Villepin responded that there is no way this would happen. What is your reaction as Haiti's Minister of Foreign Affairs?JPA: Let me say that President Aristide did effectively raise the issue of restitution during his speech. I should say that this is an issue that had already been raised in Durban, South Africa two years ago during the Conference Against Racism. There was an anti-slavery seminar on the theme of reparations and pardon, where I, the Haitian Foreign Minister, brought up the subject of restitution. That is to say this issue is not a new one. The second thing I would like to say is that I have read the reaction of the French authorities in response to the President Aristide's declaration. You will notice a certain embarrassment on their part. You will notice that they begin to talk about how much cooperation and aid Europe has given to Haiti, when we raised the very specific question of the ransom of 90 million gold francs Haiti paid to France for its independence.
He shouldn't be surprised. Dominique is a politician (and also a man), and thus did what all politicians do when faced with a tough question.
Bullshit like hell and change the subject.
We in fact paid much more because we were forced to take out loans at very high interest rates at the time the debt was incurred. So, in effect, the issue today is that there were monies that were wrongly paid by or taken from Haiti, which France obliged us to pay.
I first saw this in the print edition of todays Wall Street Journal. The total cost, loan plus interest, amounted to 150 Million gold francs.
The issue today is a matter of restitution with all the interest due. This is a rational position for Haiti to take, especially during this very difficult period we are presently living.
To be fair, Aristides, the president, seems to be doing this to divert attention from his own questionable style of ruling.
So, what's the prognosis?
Let me underline for you that lately there have been other countries, other populations who were victim during this period [of slavery] who have requested indemnity for the wrongs done to them from several European countries. At the onset, all of these countries said they would not pay, but in the end did in fact pay. They paid very graciously.
The Augeries are not good.
RS: Mr. Dominique de Villepin said in his declaration that France, through the aid that the international community has given to Haiti, has already turned over to Haiti the value of about 200 million euros as part of the 2 billion this community has given to Haiti. He estimates that this is already a large amount. Do you believe that the French are going around the issue, as we are now talking about something very specific, that is the debt Haiti had to pay for its independence - restitution for this debt?JPA: That is precisely what I just said. The reaction of the French is evidence of their embarrassment. They are embarrassed by the question. The proof is that we are talking about the ransom we paid, and asking them to pay restitution and they respond by talking about cooperation. We are talking about $21 billion and they have come back with cooperation in the sum of 200 million euros. These are two totally different issues. On the one hand, monies we were forced to pay that we should not have had to pay, plus interest. On the other hand, aid that is part of cooperation, which is part of normal relations between countries.
I love it!
A Personal note: Toussaint died in a FRENCH Castle. When the French generals, colonels, and majors voted on the question of whether to send Toussaint to France or keep him imprisoned in Haiti, only one man argued to keep him in Haiti, and voted against sending him to France.
That man was a maternal ancestor of mine. He passed that attitude to my maternal grandfather, who surreptitiously financed the Haitian underground during the Papa Doc Duvalier years. He was so good at this dangerous game that, when Papa Doc established the Order of the Knights of Haiti and make himself the first member of the Order, my grandfather was made the second member. "He's the only white man on Haiti who understands the black man." was Papa Doc's comment. My mom saw the certificate and the medal in the drawer where my grandfather kept it, and it went on the mantelpiece whenever a Ton-Ton macoute or a government lackey visited.
"Good Blood" was my cousin's pithy comment on hearing that I took after him, right down to even scowling like him!
Posted by ptah at January 2, 2004 06:42 PM