Economic sanctions vs. human rights.

AuthorWilson, Larman C.

IT HAS BEEN almost three years since Jean-Bertrand Aristide was elected president of Haiti in the country's first free and honest presidential election since independence in 1804. After seven months in office, he was overthrown by the military in September, 1991, and went into exile. Since then, there have been protracted negotiations--first by the Organization of American States and then by the United Nations, which took over joint UN-OAS negotiations--to work out the conditions for Aristide's return. The principal means relied upon to pressure the military government have been economic sanctions, including the suspension of aid, freezing of Haitian accounts, cutoff of trade, and an arms and oil embargo.

During these negotiations--although two accords have been signed (the first under UN-OAS in February, 1992; the second and most recent under UN-OAS in July, 1993)--there have been continuing police and military attacks on Aristide's supporters. These actions, resulting in hundreds of deaths, caused the OAS to renew its efforts toward a settlement in order to end such human rights violations. However, the failure of its civilian observer mission led the OAS to turn to the UN in December, 1992.

The joint UN-OAS negotiation effort, led by Dante Caputo, resulted in the accord signed in July, 1993. The 10-point agreement includes the following major steps: working out by all parties in Haiti of a political truce; nomination of a prime minister by Aristide; approval of his nominee by the National Assembly; suspension of the OAS and UN embargoes and sanctions; resumption of foreign aid; a presidential amnesty for those involved in the 1991 coup; creation of a new police force; retirement of Gen. Raoul Cedras, Commander-in-Chief; and Aristide's return.

Many have heralded this accord as a great victory for multilateral diplomacy as well as the efficacy of economic sanctions. Others have maintained that the agreement is a breakthrough for the restoration of democracy and the protection of human rights in Haiti. These claims certainly are premature and exaggerated, for the implementation of the accord will be very difficult.

Some important questions need to be raised. Are the principal parties and their respective supporters really committed to the agreement? Are the threats of continuing the sanctions and renewing the UN's oil embargo credible and sufficient to keep the process on track? Are the inducements of lifting the sanctions and resuming...

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