Jake Johnston Profile picture
Researching, writing. @ceprdc, @HaitiAidWatch. Author of AID STATE from @StMartinsPress, available now
Oct 18, 2021 11 tweets 2 min read
THREAD: Yesterday, October 17, is a day of commemoration in Haiti for Jean Jacque Dessalines, a leader of the Haitian revolution. To mark the day, the president has traditionally placed a wreath of flowers at Pont Rouge, the site of Dessalines’ 1806 assassination. Current de facto PM Ariel Henry was unable to make it to the site due to the presence of armed individuals. Jimmy Cherizier, the notorious leader of the G9, a consortium of armed groups, did go to Pont Rouge, however.
Oct 7, 2021 50 tweets 6 min read
Today's briefing with former Special Envoy Daniel Foote is now underway. English: . French: Chairman of the @HouseForeign, Rep. Meeks, notes in his opening statement that the Biden administration's current policy in Haiti is a holdover from the previous administration and is in desperate need for change.
Apr 26, 2021 6 tweets 4 min read
68 members of Congress, led by @RepGregoryMeeks and @RepJeffries, the chair of the @HouseDemocrats, sent a letter today to @SecBlinken calling for a reassessment of US policy in Haiti. “Continuing along the same path will only exacerbate the situation,” they wrote. While @StateDept has advocated elections as an answer to the political impasse, the members stated that @moisejovenel “lacks the credibility and legitimacy to oversee” either the June constitutional referendum or elections later this year.
Feb 8, 2021 4 tweets 2 min read
The Haitian military (FAdH), reconstituted under @moisejovenel, released a press statement today citing its responsibility to "assure national security" and defend "democratic order." A few hours later, FAdH soldiers reportedly shot two journalists during a protest. ImageImage @moisejovenel One of the injured journalists is apparently in critical condition and in need of blood.
Feb 1, 2021 6 tweets 3 min read
Today, @ICEgov removed 102 Haitians on a charter flight from San Antonio, Texas to Port-au-Prince, including 17 children aged 2 and under. In the middle of a pandemic, and in the middle of a political crisis in Haiti. Another #ICEAir flight is scheduled for Thursday. @ICEgov Statement from the inimitable @GuerlineMJozef and @HaitianBridge. ICE Deports Black Immigrants
On First Day of Black History Month:
docs.google.com/document/d/1FI….
Dec 10, 2020 21 tweets 3 min read
Today's @CIDH hearing on human rights in Haiti starting now. Can watch here: oas.org/en/iachr/jsFor… Image Mario Joseph highlights recent decree that expands definition of terrorism -- notes that blocking roads, a common protest tactic, is now considered a terrorist act.
Oct 20, 2020 5 tweets 3 min read
In 2019, among the 226 actas that the OAS claimed were proof of fraud, were 8 from a voting center in Villa Tunari. We don't have full results for 2020, but 13 actas from the same voting center have been processed. MAS doing even better. The. OAS. Has. Been. Lying. All. Along. We've got official results data for 13 voting centers where, in 2019, the OAS alleged that ALL of the tally sheets were fraudulent. Here's how things look in 2020 compared to 2019.
Oct 20, 2020 5 tweets 2 min read
It's almost like it was never actually about fraud, but the inability of opposition figures to accept a victory of the MAS party. He deleted the tweet.
Dec 6, 2019 26 tweets 16 min read
THREAD: @OAS_official released its final audit of the Bolivian elections. In the 35 days since it released a preliminary report: Evo Morales was ousted in a coup; an opposition Senator swore herself in as president; 30+ have been killed, most by state security forces. @OAS_official The Oct 20 results were annulled. The congress is working w/ the de facto gov’t to hold new elections. But can the OAS be an impartial election observer going fwd? All of the OAS’s Bolivia elections work has had serious problems. The final audit is no exception.
Nov 13, 2019 16 tweets 3 min read
THREAD: Today marks one year since police officers and armed gangs stormed the Port-au-Prince neighborhood of La Saline, massacring 71 individuals. Local and international human rights reports alleged the involvement of government officials. The intellectual authors of this crime have yet to face justice. It took 10 months for the two government officials allegedly involved to even resign from their posts. They both remain free.
May 9, 2018 15 tweets 3 min read
Thread: Last week I returned to the Maranatha school near Haiti’s Grand Ravine neighborhood. In November, a police operation gone wrong resulted in a civilian massacre on the campus. theintercept.com/2018/01/10/hai… The courtyard that was bloodstained and full of bullet shells and tear gas canisters last time I was there, was instead full of children playing.