Although the humanitarian disaster left by the earthquake that hit the Haitian people has led to many charitable intentions in the speeches of the world leaders, the reconstruction plans raise once again the issue of the European Union’s free trade policies to benefit its transnational corporations.

This is exposed by the campaign “Who owes whom?” made up by fifty organizations that demand the immediate and unconditional write-off of the debt of Haiti to the European Union and international financial institutions like the IMF and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

Real World Radio interviewed Edith Perez Alonso, of Ecologistas en Accion and a member of “Who Owes Whom?” about the call made at the European meeting of Foreign Ministers in Brussels a few days ago.

“Besides canceling this debt there cannot be reconstruction plans that imply a new debt for Haiti” said Edith, who also highlighted that the demand to cancel the awful and illegal debt – which was mostly contracted under Duvalier’s dictatorship – is prior to the catastrophe.

“Who Owes Whom?” considers that it is the EU’s responsibility to act in a consistent way so that the Haitian people is able to reconstruct the country and have a sovereign future.

As this regards the response in the form of humanitarian aid should be generous and immediate, but also quality aid.

The funds destined to emergency aid and to the reconstruction should not be linked to the trade interests of the donors and they should not lead to indebtedness and should be unconditional.

The Spanish government as the president of the EU for this semester, should have a clear role on this, besides canceling its bilateral debt with Haiti, said Edith.

Big differences

Also, the member of “Who Owes Whom?” draws a difference between this campaign and the intention of the French government to cancel the Haitian debt.

“As far as I know there has not been an official proposal from Brussels to these demands”, she said. She also explained that the reconstruction in Haiti will be an issue to be discussed in the alternative forum to the Summit of Heads of State of Latin America and the EU, to be held next May in Madrid.
Photo: Red Cross Flickr