Haiti's elusive search for unity

At the dusty Telele open-air market in a hilltop section of the Haitian capital, women with blackened hands and feet sell small bundles of charcoal from huge baskets brimming with Haiti's traditional cooking fuel.

Though the hillsides for miles around are stripped of all trees - less than 5 percent of forest cover remains in this once-lush "pearl of the Caribbean" - the custom of cooking with charcoal continues.

"We know the charcoal causes deforestation," says Charles Jean-Remy, a charcoal merchant. "But it's been this way so long that no one knows what to do about it."

The disaster of charcoal's production and use in Haiti is symbolic of a failed state where many average Haitians understand the elements that keep their nation of 8 million in recurring crises but few seem to know how to stop the cycle.

The lack of progress is explained by failings both at home and internationally. Haiti's gap between a small business elite and masses of slave-descendant poor is one of the world's most severe. International aid has exacerbated problems, perpetuating a culture of dependency and feeding intense political divisions in the name of promoting democracy.

Haiti also offers lessons at a time when the global impact of failed states - from terrorism to contraband trafficking - is commanding new attention. But at its root, Haiti's tragedy is one of a deeply divided people.

"We have many deep problems, but at the bottom of all of them is the fact that we can't sit down together among Haitians to agree on something, some project or goals for our future," says Roromme Chantal, a Haitian with the United Nations Development Program in Port-au-Prince. "When today it's one government and tomorrow another one, there's no continuity. Every time we have to start over again."

Since Aristide's departure almost two weeks ago, Haiti has spiraled into deeper crisis. Violent protests this week are pitting pro- and anti-Aristide forces against some of the 1,500 US marines, 500 French soldiers, and other foreign troops who are here to secure the city. Following a month-long insurgency, US marines have agreed to help Haitian police disarm rebels.

Interim President Boniface Alexandre called on Haitians Monday to stop the violence, comparing the country to a boat. "If it sinks, we all sink together," he said. But few outside were getting the message.

Aristide supporters, who see the ousted president as the champion of the poor, say they will not rest until he returns. "We will not allow elections. We already have a democratically elected president who was kidnapped by the US on behalf of the rich and their Army," said Pierre-Louis Jean-Jacques, an electrician, as he chanted pro-Aristide slogans outside the presidential palace.

Hours later, anti-Aristide forces in the same location demanded Aristide's return - to face trial for corruption. Rebel leader Guy Philippe, who agreed under intense US pressure last week to have his militia lay down its arms, now says the armed fight will resume if the foreign forces do not quell the pro-Aristide violence.

The continuing turmoil after years of heightened attention to the Caribbean country has led to what some experts in the region openly call "Haiti fatigue" - the country is worse off for the world's focus.

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