The Labor Movement in Haiti: A Personal Reflection

IRI did not fund or coordinate the Democratic Convergence.  You can read the facts about IRI’s work in Haiti, which ended in 2007, at http://bit.ly/cg8zPY. 

here's an excerpt:

``In 2004, several of the people who had attended IRI trainings were influential in the toppling of Aristide. Among them, according to Kim Ives, a journalist with the newspaper Haiti Progres, was André Apaid, a conservative Haitian politician who had backed a previous anti-Aristide coup in 1991. Apaid became one of the leaders of the Group of 184, which organized the street demonstrations against Aristide''

source: http://motherjones.com/politics/2004/11/coup-connection

one more excerpt:

``Haiti is not unique. In Venezuela, Cambodia, and other nations, IRI—unlike other government-funded democratization groups—has increasingly focused on training opposition parties intent on toppling elected governments.''

dennes demennes

It's fairly well known that the IRI funneled funds from the NED and USAID for the founding of the Democratic Convergence and a variety of other organizations.  Furthermore, they held trainings for them in the Dominican Republic including attendees such as Guy Phillipe who lead the coup, crossing into Haiti from the Dominican Republic.  The IRI's man in Haiti leading up to the coup, Stanley Lucas, was heard on Haitian radio calling for the Haitian people to do to Aristide what the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo "did to Kabila", referring to Kabila's assassination.  There are numerous, numerous examples of the IRI's pivotal role in overthrowing the elected government of Jean Bertrand Aristide.  Anyone who doubts this should just type in "International Republican Institute" + Aristide...or + Haiti 2004...or + Haitian coup.  Of course, we can never know the full extent, because the NED, although created by Congress and funded with public monies, is officially designated a private institution and is anything but transparent.