Reply #6: STATEMENT OF JEFFREY D. SACHS, DIRECTOR, THE EARTH INSTITUTE AT COLUMBIA U [View All]

STATEMENT OF JEFFREY D. SACHS, DIRECTOR, THE EARTH INSTITUTE AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

Mr. SACHS. Thank you very much, Chairman. You asked a few minutes ago why we would stay through such a long hearing. There are two reasons: One is I would go anywhere where Congressman Rangel is and I would follow him around the world because he is the most remarkable person, and I am so honored that he is my representative in the Congress. But there is a second reason, which is that I think I speak for many Americans that are deeply frightened today. We are frightened partly for Haiti, but we are truly frightened for America because we don't know what is happening in this country.

What we hear doesn't add up. It reminds me when I am asked to believe the Administration of Groucho Marx's old line, ''what do you believe me, or your own eyes.'' Doesn't meet the smell test when I hear Mr. Noriega. And what I have heard directly, and I am experienced probably as much as any person on this planet in international development and in countries like Haiti and in Haiti, what I hear about what is happening does not make sense, Mr. Chairman. And so I come here to appeal to you, to Congressman Menendez and to the rest of the panel to exercise Democratic oversight over the Executive Branch with urgency now.

I heard a lot of speeches. A lot of your colleagues seem to know all the answers, but there are a lot of urgent questions you must find answers to. And I don't believe that you are working hard enough in the Congress yet to find out the answers to something that is at a threat to American democracy.



Now I and others have been in touch closely with the people around President Aristide, his wife. We have been in contact repeatedly. I have talked to his attorney. What you have been told and what we have been told is flatly denied by President Aristide and his wife. And I believe that rather than hearing congressmen like Congressman Weller or like others say we believe, I think it would be good to find out rather than just to believe. Where is Mr. Aristide? How safe is he right now? I know as of this morning, they fear for their safety. I know that as of this morning, they do not believe they can communicate freely with the outside world.

Are you sure? I heard Mr. Noriega just say right now the U.S. has no responsibility. This was a most shocking answer to me as an American citizen after airlifting a President out of his country and depositing him in the Central African Republic to be told by the Assistant Secretary of State, it is not our responsibility is simply amazing. What is his current status? We heard so many contradictions today. Mr. Aristide's departure was never a U.S. demand. That was in the testimony but I heard Mr. Noriega flatly contradicted himself. It was a demand. It had political reasons he said, but yes, it was a demand. And I heard it directly as well from Mr. Aristide's attorney that his client was not allowed on the airplane without giving the letter of resignation to Mr. Moreno in the Embassy in Haiti.

Do you just believe it or do you exercise oversight to find out, Mr. Chairman, because we need to know these things. Because in one case, it is a resignation and in another case, it is a coup. We need to understand these facts. What was said to Mr. Aristide about his security? Congressman Cummings said that Secretary Powell assured President Aristide—was assured of and assured Mr. Aristide of his security as of Saturday afternoon. Mr. Aristide's attorney has said that his client was told that the U.S. would not protect his personal security or family security.



Mr. Noriega said early in the testimony, Mr. Chairman, said early in the testimony that yes, we weren't going to protect him. Said later in the testimony that no, he was not at any personal risk, he was very surprised that he decided to leave under those circumstances. What are you going to believe, me or your own eyes? What about the withdrawal of U.S. support for CARICOM. Curious, isn't it? The Caribbean leaders are absolutely aghast of what we have done. One of them had the gumption to say so on the record knowing that we can turn our governments it seems and has a history of doing so. But he said at no time was CARICOM action plan predicated on the unconstitutional removal of President Aristide from office.

The removal of President Aristide in these circumstances sets a dangerous precedent for democratically-elected governments. What about U.S. links to the rebels? Please don't take these denials at face value, Mr. Chairman, because history constantly shows the CIA fingerprints after the fact. Let's find out what Guy Philippe was doing when we talked to him, what Jodel Chamblain is doing there as the head of the rebels. Let's ask not to hear that our Defense Department doesn't know how M–16s from the Dominican Republic got in their hands. Maybe they were ''sold.'' Maybe they were given. Let's find out. It is absolutely alarming.

Then what was the support from congressionally voted funds to the International Republican Institute going to an opposition that blocked the CARICOM agreement? We are supporting the opposition. Is that right? We are giving millions of dollars to the opposition that Mr. Noriega went down to negotiate with them and got a negative answer? Are you curious? I am curious as an American and I am appealing to the Chairman of this Subcommittee to be curious as well. It doesn't make sense. What do you believe, Mr. Noriega or your own eyes? What about all of the love and care for Haiti that we heard today? Now here's an area of some expertise of mine——



Mr. BALLENGER. Could you summarize?

Mr. SACHS. I will summarize. I will summarize of why I am frightened and why millions of Americans are frightened and why we are looking to you for leadership. Now I came back from Haiti in early 2001 and spoke to the leadership of the Inter-American Development Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the Organization for American States. And they all told me that the Bush Administration had put a complete freeze on all multi-lateral assistance. I know something about that business certainly as much as anyone in this room. And I know what it means for the United States to put a freeze on this aid. And then when I hear people concerned about the children of Haiti where nearly 100 children die before their fifth birthday out of every thousand that are born where we froze all aid for 3 years.

Mr. BALLENGER. Is this a summary?

Mr. SACHS. As Dr. Maguire said, we have strangled that country. I would like some answers as an American citizen. I am grateful for the chance to tell you how frightened we are for our own democracy, Mr. Chairman. We do not know what our country is doing and we appeal to you and your Committee to get real answers to these questions. Thank you very much.

Mr. BALLENGER. If I may interrupt for a second in the fact that I wondered myself about the safety of the President. And so the Steele Foundation is an organization that has been providing—taken care of his safety for years that are paid for by the Haitian government. And I called the president of the Steele Foundation and last night he told me for sure that there is no doubt in my mind that they were completely protected by our men. And then he said this morning he called me back and said I just wanted to check it out, and I will tell you now I will swear on a stack of Bibles that we had armed guards there at his request and we did whatever he told us to do.



Mr. SACHS. Mr. Chairman, may I make a suggestion to you and our colleagues. Please call President Aristide in the Central African Republic. Please call President Aristide to find out for yourself whether you are correct in that assessment because they feel at risk of their lives.
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