12042: pina's question: HUdicourt replies

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: JHUDICOURTB@aol.com

Pina's question is:
"Why is it that so-called liberal lawmakers in the US are pushing so hard for
the Bush administration to accept the claims of "political persecution" by
Haitian detainees? Once the Bush adminstration accepts detainees claims of
"political persecution" does this not contribute to the further
villification of Aristide and Lavalas, on whose behalf many of these same
lawmakers have been lobbying to unblock much needed financial assistance and
loans. Am I the only one who sees the obvious contradications and
convolutions in all of this? Folks like NCHR are tricky indeed, gotta
respect 'em for that."

My response

There are 2 different issues here.  The boat people have already risked their
lives to escape Haiti.  They have already fled the Lavalas regime.  There is
no question about that.  There are international laws protecting refugees
whether Mr. Pina agrees with them or not.  There are also American laws
protecting the rights of individuals.  For several years now the test of the
laws been the dry foot test.  If a person touches the American soil that
person's claim of persecution is to be listened to and that person has
rights.  Refugees of other nationalities are permitted to work and stay
pending a court ruling on their case.  Haitians are being denied a right
offered to people of other nationalities who make asylum claims.  That has
nothing to do with Lavalas.  The Lavalas effect is only related to people
risking their lives on the boat.  That judgement is already made by each boat
passenger.   NCHR and the law-makers are about equal rights under American
law not Lavalas law.

Foreign aid has to do with money and obeying the hand that feeds you.  How
can you ask for money and disobey your donor?  Is that how you do business?
Will you pay your suppliers for rotten coffee?  I don't personally agree with
witholding of foreign aid money but that is  really only for those
giving/loaning the money to decide.  Those who want the money must comply to
conditions of donors or bargain with donors.  Banks decide on loan
conditions, buyers decide on acceptable prices, donors decide on what they
require in return.  That is the only way business is done, right?