Ja: On the gullibility of journalists

Read the rest of this column to get a full sense of how credulous journalists can be. Here's a taste.

Deposed Haitian President Aristide spent his 10 allotted weeks in Jamaica in absolute silence. It was exactly what he promised. But he opened his mouth on the day he left for South Africa, to receive a top-level state welcome. Only a few hours before his departure on Sunday, May 30, he held a press conference. As one of a relatively small group of international and local media personnel, I was privileged to hear from the ex-president's own mouth some sentiments not mentioned in the official press release. President Aristide was careful to a fault, avoiding any direct reference to the major powers collaborating in his removal; he never once mentioned the US State Department, for instance. But he did not hesitate to call by name and designation as a crook the chief Haitian architect of his downfall.

As firmly as he declared his full intention to return to Haiti from temporary exile, Mr Aristide was equally strong in calling for a return to peace and democracy as a pre-condition of his restoration. There was no resounding call to supporters to rise up and overthrow the usurpers of his legitimately elected presidency. Indeed, the press conference ended on a note of "Love", with Aristide declaring, "With love will come the light, with love will come understanding," and thereby peace. The absence of rancour in any of the expressions of a man who declares he was betrayed by "them" was the main impression this writer took away from the press briefing. Indeed, attempts made to draw out just who constituted "them" received the adroit response, "a combination" (of Haitian rebels and others). The man was anything but a loose cannon - a lesson for some too-glib politicians.

I'll say this for Aristide, he is indeed Jesuitical.