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Haitian students, Lavalas unite to fight against imperialism, for living wage
Tuesday, July 28, 2009 was a day of protest for Haitian students and Lavalas supporters. This marks the first time that the demands of students at the State University who have been demonstrating for months and popular organizations have been united.
The demands are: - MINUSTAH’s departure - Aristide’s return - Apply the Parliament’s vote for a 200 gourde a day [$5.05] minimum wage - Reform at the State University - Justice for Roudy, the man shot dead by MINUSTAH soldiers at the Port-au-Prince Cathedral on June 18 - Liberation of all political prisoners, above all Ronald Dauphin - Down with the neoliberal plan.
There is much anger against President Rene Preval, who, although elected in 2006 due in part to a struggle on the behalf of Haitian people against election fraud aimed at preventing his victory, has lost much credibility in the eyes of the Haitian people for promoting neoliberal policies. For example, Preval has stalled on signing the minimum wage bill increasing the minimum wage from 70 to 200 gourdes per day due to opposition from business leaders.
This action carries with it two important lessons for the Canadian student movement. First, it is an example of the kind of student movement we should strive towards. These students are taking militant action in defense of their rights (including student strikes at the State University) and building coalitions with popular organizations in defense of all people against neoliberalism. This is something which is not only mutually beneficial, but it is something that is a responsibility of student organizations as democratic mass membership organizations which make up civil society. Although some right-wing and liberal-elitist commentators, particularly those at Macleans or in CUP-affiliated student newspapers in Canada like to say that students unions have a responsibility to not get involved, that notion is little more than drivel designed to neuter student unions and civil society groups opposed to the agenda of capital. Fortunately, student unions, at least those affiliated with the CFS and with progressive leadership, aren’t too bad at making an effort to be involved with various struggles against neoliberalism (such as the opposition of student unions to the plans to privatize water in Winnipeg), despite a general lack of militant struggle in Canadian society.
Second, it is an important illustration as to why the Canadian student movement must recognize the rights of oppressed people to self-determination and oppose militarism and imperialism. Canada’s imperialist role in Haiti is well-documented; our government played a leading role in the overthrow of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, no doubt due to capitalist interests in Haiti such as the sweatshops of Montreal-based Gildan Activewear. As we are organizing in our relatively privileged position inside the belly of the beast, we have a responsibility to our brothers and sisters in the third world to oppose the Canadian imperialism which they are victims of. This is especially important given the rise of neoliberal globalization at the hands of the forces of international capital – global capitalism requires a global response, and international solidarity is necessary for global resistance.
Brian Latour is a student, activist, and student activist living in Winnipeg. Read more by Brian Latour.
