THE EDITOR, Sir:
A LOT of us are familiar with the quote that democracy is the rule "of the people, for the people, by the people" which has become a standard interpretation of the meaning of the word democracy along with freedom and liberty, to name a few synonymous terms. However, many of us are not familiar with the concept of the democratic process preferring to limit it to the holding of general elections via the use of ballot boxes or referenda. The truth is that the democratic process is a far more expansive concept than this limiting idea and the reality is that other forms are also far bloodier, expensive and inefficient, but still democratic.
A case in point is Haiti of 2004. History will note that Mr. Aristide was the first democratically elected Head of State of that country, but where the real question lies is: was he deposed in a coup or in a manner consistent with the principles and definition of a democratic process?
TRICKY PART
The tricky part of this essay is to prove that the 2004 uprising was democratic and it is to this extent that I use a comparison test. In Venezuela for the better part of three years the government of Hugo Chavez has been hounded by opposition-organised strikes and demonstrations which have been given a silent support by the United States State Department in their absolute refusal to sanction the opposition, preferring instead to heap pressure on the Chavez government. These large numbers of demonstrators and the size of the 2001 general strike and the length of it also would display a degree of broad-based support to get him out of office.
However, come the day the army deposed him (which I call Election Day) an even greater number of Venezuelans mobilised themselves demanding his return to office and the rest is, as they say, history. That sort of voter turnout in the month and a half long stand-off was certainly lacking for Mr. Aristide because of the level of apathy with his leadership and the results flowing from it. In fact the low level support given to the Lavalas family regime in its hour of need and indeed for the 'Rag Tag Army' itself is akin to a low voter turnout in a regular election. But as in every election it is he who turns out the most supporters on the given day that wins and a low voter turnout favours the one who calls the election. So Mr. Aristide failed to call a presidential election or referendum on his continued leadership, CARICOM-style because it was not constitutionally due, so one was called Haitian-style for him.
The sad reality is that the form of democracy that is popular in the region and in the developed world (typified by the ballot box) whilst it has several attractive features is merely the process of the legitimisation of autocracy and despotism between elections. Hence the reason that many Jamaicans feel that the only way to be heard is through public demonstrations and the fact that there exists no official mechanism to force Members of Parliament from their seats in Gordon House even when there is disgruntlement with their leadership or when their record of visitations to the United States and Europe is far healthier than their attendance at Parliament or in their constituencies.
THE DIE IS FAIR
The political system that CARICOM espouses is closer to true democracy than, let's say, Nazi Germany or Mugabe's Zimbabwe only because at election time statistically speaking the die is fair i.e. there is a distinct chance the opposition might become government. However, democracy and the democratic process if it is to be defined as "rule of the people, for the people, by the people" has to be not merely when an election, in the traditional sense, is called or when a ruling administration feels it is time to do so. It is to that extent true democracy is inherently unstable and not desirable. However, to argue that Mr. Aristide was overthrown less than democratically is to put on blinkers and ignore the fact that this was a grass roots revolt against him. Sure the leaders' characters and past are colourful and questionable but just as much as we can allow anyone to vote for anyone we can allow Haitians the right to be led by people whom we don't like.
I am, etc.,
JERMAINE SPENCER
jermaine.spencer@uwimona.edu.jm
Via Go-Jamaica
