Preval takes office and restores democracy in Haiti

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-05-14T172136Z_01_N11294220_RTRUKOC_0_US-HAITI.xml

Lets see how long it is until we try to destabilize them again.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (Reuters) - Haitian President Rene Preval took office on Sunday, giving the poorest nation in the Americas its first democratically elected leader since Jean-Bertrand Aristide was ousted more than two years ago.

Before the inauguration, Haitian police and U.N. peacekeepers used tear gas to contain a riot by prisoners demanding to be set free at the National Penitentiary, just blocks from the legislature where Preval was being inaugurated.

Preval, a 63-year-old agronomist, took the red, yellow and blue presidential sash from the speaker of the National Assembly in a 25-minute ceremony more than two months after he was declared the winner of Haiti's chaotic February 7 presidential election.
snip
The United States, a major behind-the-scenes player in Haiti, has welcomed Preval's election, but American officials have warned him not to bring Aristide back from exile.

Political analysts say recent trips by Preval to Cuba and Venezuela have played badly in Washington.

he's not Washington's choice....and that's bad news for Haiti.

i cant for the life of me understand what the fascination is of the bush regime with elections and 'democracy' when they abhor it so.
do they see the trappings of democracy an evil they have to live? why?

...it keeps the people complacent, they just don't want actual democracy. Actual democracy is messy, too hard to control, and adversly affects corporate profits.

'revolution' sceduled???

from http://www.freehaiti.net/

"Haiti's 56th President Rene Garcia Preval was sworn into office on May 14, 2006. Surrounded at the inauguration by elites and backers of the 2004 coup, Preval called for peace. Turning his back on the foreign installed President Boniface Alexandre, he refused to be handed the sash by the interim government, having instead an elected official from his Lespwa party place the sash around him. Outside of Haiti's national palace filled with security and foreign dignitaries, masses of Haitians chanted for Preval and the return of Arsitide. "Whether they like it or not, Aristide is returning," the protestors cried. According to the constitution Preval should have taken office 96 days ago.

Haiti Progres writes that after giving his speech and snubbing Florida Governor Bush who sat nearby, Preval "..personally came to Venezuelan vice-president Rangel, who had been sitting one seat away from Jeb Bush, and led him away without even acknowledging Bush. The governor, stone-faced, quickly left for the airport."