Re: [Marxism] The Chinese occupation of Haiti

["Paula" <Paula_cerni@xxxxxxx>]

Greg wrote:
> There are around 60 Chinese cops out of the 9,000 + UN troops in Haiti.  I 
> do not support their presence, but how does having 2/3 of a percent of the 
> forces occupying the country make the occupation a "Chinese" occupation?

I understand the Canadians contribute around the same portion to the 
occupation forces (though I can't find exact and up to date figures). Would 
this make it a "Canadian" occupation? More to the point - what are the 
intentions of the Canadian and Chinese governments? Are they benevolent, or 
imperialistic?

> Brazil's role in Haiti is to do the bidding of the United States;  it is 
> not building an "empire" -- no matter how absent-minded they are --  
> because it doesn't have the military or economic capability.

Since the Brazilians are heading the UN mission in Haiti and contributing 
many troops to it, obviously they do have a capability. The question is, 
even if they are doing somebody else's bidding, are they also defending 
their own interests (like, say, Canada)?

Here is a recent report on the Brazilian role in Haiti:
http://haitiaction.net/News/HIP/2_20_8/2_20_8.html

Nestor wrote about "Paula's pipe dreams of an imperialist Brazilian
élite". But others on the left have taken this notion quite seriously.

For example, this article dated 2004 discusses the arrival of Brazilian 
imperialism in Africa [in Portuguese]:
http://www.izquierda.info/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=3509

Here is more from the same group, whoever they are [in Spanish and 
Portuguese]: 
http://www.izquierda.info/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=3123

And here is Fidel Castro himself denouncing Brazilian imperialism:

"Brazilian subimperialism acts aggressively against Uruguay, for example. It 
even mobilized troops at the border for the elections, to employ the
psychology of fear and influence elections, pretending that a victory of
the Frente Amplio would mean Brazilian intervention and war. Brazilian
imperialism has acted in Bolivia and supported Bolivian fascism, now in
power. It supported Bolivian fascism with resources and is still trying to
support it." (Source: 
http://lanic.utexas.edu/project/castro/db/1971/19711223.html)

Of course, that was 1971, when the Brazilian regime was quite different, and 
Cuba had less need of Latin American patrons. Which goes to show how easily 
definitions of imperialism can vary according to political and strategic 
calculations...

Paula

 


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