History of Censorship in Haiti
The history of censorship in Haiti is deeply intertwined with its turbulent political landscape, particularly following its independence from France in 1804. The country has seen a succession of unstable governments, with over twenty-two presidents between 1843 and 1915, and significant foreign intervention, notably the U.S. occupation from 1915 to 1934. Under François "Papa Doc" Duvalier, who ruled from 1957 until 1986, censorship became a tool of oppression, as he outlawed political opposition and suppressed free speech through threats, arrests, and violence, often invoking societal fears associated with Voodoo to maintain control.
Following a brief period of democratic elections in the early 1990s, which saw Jean-Bertrand Aristide elected president, the military's return to power brought renewed censorship, especially concerning media coverage during U.S. military interventions. The late 20th and early 21st centuries saw some improvements in press freedom, particularly under the administration of René Préval after 2007, but challenges persisted, especially following the devastating earthquake in 2010 that exacerbated instability and threats against journalists.
By 2015, while there were no internet restrictions, access remained limited for the majority of the population, contributing to ongoing challenges in the media landscape. The complex history of censorship in Haiti reflects a broader struggle for political stability, human rights, and freedom of expression within the nation.
On this Page
History of Censorship in Haiti
Description: Caribbean nation that shares an island with the Dominican Republic
Significance: In its nearly two centuries of independence, Haiti has had a series of dictatorial regimes that have ruthlessly suppressed dissent
Since Haiti won its independence from France in 1804, it has experienced chaos in the political arena. Between 1843 until 1915 alone, more than twenty-two presidents held office, replacing one another through coups and bloody civil wars. In 1915 U.S. troops occupied the island nation and remained there until 1934. After the U.S. forces left, a series of elected presidents ruled the country until 1957. That year saw François “Papa Doc” Duvalier assume the presidency. By manipulating the constitution, he had himself designated “president-for-life,” establishing a dictatorship that he and his son controlled until the son was deposed in 1986.
During the 1960’s the United States cut off foreign aid and military assistance to Haiti because of the regime’s political repression, which Duvalier enforced with a brutal personal paramilitary force known as the Tontons Macoutes. Under Duvalier, government censorship took various forms. All political opposition was outlawed. Independent newspapers, free speech, and group assembly were all forbidden under threats of arrest; even the death penalty was occasionally applied when the government suspected that treasonous ideas had been expressed. Duvalier held power over the impoverished country using the popular fear of Voodoo and black magic to keep people obedient.
Under the Carter and Reagan administrations, the United States made human rights in Haiti an issue in the world’s international agenda. In Haiti’s first free elections in nearly four decades, in 1991, Haitians finally chose a president themselves—Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Shortly afterward, however, the army drove Aristide into exile and a new military regime took root under General Raoul Cédras.
After three years of international pressure on Cédras to allow Aristide to return, former U.S. president Jimmy Carter persuaded Cédras to step aside for Aristide. In September, 1994, twenty thousand U.S. troops landed in Haiti and reinstalled Aristide as president. With this new U.S. occupation questions on military censorship of the news media resurfaced. Fearing a return to the type of Vietnam War news coverage that might undermine U.S. troop morale and lose public support, the military closely controlled information made available to the press for reasons of national security.
In the twenty-first century, freedom of the press in Haiti steadily improved, with Freedom House upgrading its status from "not free" to "partly free" in 2007 following the election of President Rene Preval and Prime Minister Jacques-Edouard Alexis. Their administration was more tolerant of independent media than the Haitian government had previously been. However, press freedom in Haiti experienced a setback after the earthquake that devastated the country in 2010, leading to widespread political, economic, and social instability. It became harder for journalists to support themselves and for small independent news outlets to remain in operation, and there was an increase in violence and threats against journalists. President Michael Martelly, who took office in 2011, is also less press-friendly than his predecessor; he has insulted, threatened, and even sued journalists who have criticized him.
There are no restrictions on the internet in Haiti, but only approximately 10 percent of the population had access to it as of 2015.
Bibliography
Dunham, Jennifer, Bret Nelson, and Elen Aghekyan. Freedom of the Press 2015: Harsh Laws and Violence Drive Global Decline. Washington, DC: Freedom House, 2015. PDF file.
Jones, Derek, ed. Censorship: A World Encyclopedia. New York: Routledge, 2015. Print.
Sepinwall, Alyssa Goldstein, ed. Haitian History: New Perspectives. New York: Routledge, 2013. Print.