13394: Re: 13366: Saint-Vil concedes error but still denounces Consulate' Warnings (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Jean Saint-Vil <jafrikayiti@hotmail.com>

Following Kathy (Manbo Rasin san bout) and Karen Davis’ messages I went
through notes that I had taken on these consular warnings a month ago and I
must stand corrected on my assertion that no such warning has been issued
regarding travel to Israel.

In particular, I noticed that the Canadian warning actually asked for
deferral of tourist travel to Israel - not just the West Bank and Gaza Strip
as I have mistakenly kept in memory. Although, in much of the text they put
much emphasis on the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Not withstanding this admission of error on my part, I must say, upon
reading the full texts of the U.S. , Canadian and French warnings one might
still be more inclined to decide to take a trip to war-torned Israel than to
peaceful Haiti.

For instance, while the U.S. document does not ban travel to Haiti as does
the Canadian and French ones (these friends seem to rotate Haiti-bashing
duties - related observation made in this week's Haiti-en-Marche), the U.S
text includes such statements as : «: There are no "safe areas" in Haiti»
and, if you compare the CRIME section produced for Haiti with that produced
for other countries – the difference is striking. Is this a reflection of
reality? - If not, what is it a reflection of?

Haiti - Consular Information Sheet
December 28, 2001

CRIME: There are no "safe areas" in Haiti. Crime, already a problem, is
growing. The state of law and order is of increasing concern, with reports
of armed robberies and break-ins, kidnappings, murders and car hijackings
becoming more frequent. The police are poorly equipped and unable to respond
quickly to calls for assistance. Criminals have kidnapped, shot, maimed and
killed several U.S. citizens in recent years. Kidnappings for ransom, in
particular, are an emerging problem and several U.S. citizens have been
victims of recent kidnappings.



Kathy, if not racism, what is it that explains this persistent anti-Haiti
bias in U.S., French, Canadian government and media? As you know, the
strange behaviour of Haiti’s self-appointed “friends” goes beyond consular
warnings. It is the harassment campaign within the OAS, the illegal
witholding of IDB loans, the outrageous articles of the Wall Street Journal,
CIA alliance with anti-black majority rule, coup-plotting immigrants etc…
and indeed, more and more, a racial pattern is becoming evident whereby
white dominated nations stand on one side and black dominated nations on the
other.

No one really needs to look very deep to see that much of neo-colonial
relationships between many nations are based upon the old racist colonial
structure?  So, Manbo Rasin San Bout, this refusal to see the consular
warnings in context is futile and counter-productive.  As time progresses,
we must burst the bubble of illusions created by the Colin Powell, Kofy
Annan and Condelezza Rice smokescreen appointments. Let there be real
liberation. True brotherhood where peace walks along side justice.