Resistance journalism in Haiti: The role of Radio Enriquillo in the coup against Aristide

Abstract

Abstract From the moment Jean-Bertand Aristide declared his intention to run for president of Haiti, the poorest mobilized to support him as he raised hopes of a better future after years of invasions and dictatorships. He went on to win the presidency in 1991, which was then called ‘Aristide’s year’ by his followers. Nevertheless, this hope was short-lived as he was rapidly deposed by a military coup d’etat on 30 September that same year. As is usual in these cases, a total blackout of the news media in that country followed under strict censorship and repression. However, in the darkest of moments, ‘Radio Enriquillo’, a local radio station in the south of the Dominican Republic, managed to evade censorship and kept the Haitians informed of what was happening in the country. This is the account from its then director who reported the events as they unfolded and a reminder that journalism can always make a difference as long as it fosters strong links with the community it serves.