14628: Benodin: Haiti Nouvel Ordre Unitaire (HAITI NOU) / Haiti New Order (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Robert Benodin <r.benodin@worldnet.att.net>

Haiti Nouvel Ordre Unitaire (HAITI NOU) /   Haiti New Order
ATTENTION:   ALL HAITIANS
PLEASE READ TWICE, FORWARD TO FRIENDS, AND RETURN TO SENDER
(haitinou@aol.com) AS AN EXPRESSION OF YOUR CONSENT WITH THE DOCUMENT.
EVERY ENDORSEMENT COUNTS, Issued January 28, 2003.
_____________________________________


Haiti Nouvel Ordre Unitaire (HAITI NOU) /   Haiti New Order

Resolution Follow-up to Group 184 Declaration

DOCUMENT FEATURES:  An Overview, A Joint Declaration, Guiding Principles to
be observed, and a Framework for Action

Overview
Haiti Nouvel Ordre Unitaire (NOU) is a standalone expression of common
values and common goals of participating members of the Haitian communities
abroad seeking a new leadership in Haiti.  Of more than just a standalone
expression, it is designed to stand-together with concrete actions to impose
the resignation of a failed government and its seek its replacement with a
transition team that will have established a burden of proof.
The concept of Haiti NOU belongs to no particular (Me) entity, but to those
with the capacity to turn it into reality.  Haiti NOU is intended to serve
as a central framework for action out of which will emerge new leadership--
leadership which the Haitian people will respect and deemed worthy of state
power. On January 1, 2004, Haiti will be celebrating its historic milestone
of 200 years of independence.  Haiti NOU is motivated by the Haitian
people's determination to rescind the current fiasco ironically and
tragically fostered by the current regime.

I. The NOU Declaration
1. WE, the endorsers of Haiti NOU are committed to the principles of
self-determination as recognized by our constitution and supported by the
principles of international law.  We reserve the privilege to exercise that
inalienable right anytime our national interest is threatened, and anytime
our leadership fails us, the Haitian people.   Today, the Haitian State has
failed and the country being misled-- creating an environment prone to
undermine the security, peace and development of the Haitian people. WE can
no longer continue to vest our interest in the present statehood or the
"elected" statesman.

2. WE, by all accounts, proclaim Haiti a collapsed state; the institutions,
judiciary, parliament, and executive have all collapsed.  The legalized
president in office, Mr. Jean-Bertrand Aristide, has proven himself
incapable and incompetent of the task at hand.

3. WE, by recalling that Mr. Aristide is holding on to a mandate he acquired
under rigged conditions which ultimately gained legal recognition from the
United Nations and the Organization of American States, proclaimed all along
his government illegitimate, and today delinquent-- judging by his 2 years
of performance.  This judgment is rendered on the basis of 3 key indicators
in evidence:  (i) his inability to guarantee protection of civilians (ii)
his  inability to bring together the Haitian people and, (iii) his inability
to bring political and economic stability in the country as a result of his
compromised stance.  Results of his detrimental actions and reprehensible
inaction are clearly leading the country into further economic, political
and humanitarian ruin and isolation within the international community.

4. WE, as responsible citizens, therefore, collectively, resolve to impose
on Mr. Aristide his resignation and seize the moment of the country's
upcoming 200 years of anniversary of independence to give the country a new
direction and its image a facelift.

5. WE, seek to put in place a new political and economic order in the
country.  In this pursuit, We launch this final call demanding, the
President-legalized, Mr. Aristide to gain self-recognition of his failure
and resign the presidency as of the date of February 7, 2003 as foreseen by
the 184 Group.  Such resignation should be followed immediately by the
automatic dissolution of the so-called Parliament.

6. WE, until February 7, 2003, request, Mr. Aristide to cease making
official representation before the international community on behalf of the
sectors or peoples signatories to Haiti NOU on an array of relevant issues
including matters pertaining to immigration, legal, diplomatic, financial
and other conceivable interstate affairs that may carry implications for
those of us living abroad.

7. WE, until February 7, 2003, warn  Mr. Aristide about any inappropriate
use of public offices or the use of any remnants of the public's law
enforcement bodies to carry on arrests against those or  prosecution  of
those who may justly be advocating change or rightfully exercising their
freedom of expression under the letter and spirit of the constitution of the
republic.

8. WE, on February 7, 2003, expect Mr. Aristide's official announcement of
resignation to be deposited with the justices of the Supreme Court of the
country, and the following order to take into effect:

A transition team to be formed comprising of no more than 5 members to
assume, after such resignation , the day-to-day care of the nation.  Members
of the team are to be drawn one each from the following organization/
entity, namely,  Initiative Societe Civile, Union Patriotique, Convergence
Democratique, Organization of Peuple en Lutte, and Police Nationale.  Those
representatives are all proposed  on the basis of their constituency or
professional responsibility  in the country.  Those are to be referred to
as, Les gerants de la nation, with a mandate to aggressively pursue an
economic order before 2004, while preparing the country for general
elections.

9. WE, on the failure of Mr. Aristide to resign by February 7, 2003, resolve
to impose his resignation through a number of concerted actions.  Those
actions include:

(i) A general tax boycott.
(ii) Legal contest of all documents dated after February 7, 2003 transacted
and signed in the name of the Republic of the Haitian State.
(iii) The complete shutdown of businesses for a determined period of time.
(iv) A public statement advising the international community of the people's
referendum to self-rule.
(v) Accountability of security - In his retention of the country's security
forces,  Mr. Aristide, as of February 7, 2003, shall as well be held liable
for casualty of innocent civilians and abuses of power perpetrated by his
regime or his mob.  Accounts that are subject to criminal prosecution at any
such time a legitimate government is established.
(vi) Accountability of Finances--  Mr. Aristide and his regime as of
February 7, 2003,  shall be held accountable for any misappropriation of the
funds of the republic.

10. WE, on the failure of Mr. Aristide to resign by February 7, 2003 expect
the following order to take into effect:


A civil-society council to be formed --  charged with redirecting all of the
dealings of the country away from the outgoing government.    The council to
appoint representatives at the international level to handle its matters
before the international community.

11. In either turn of events, the transition team or the council will have
ONE constant in their agenda.  That is to assume a burden of proof before
the general public demonstrating that Civil Society has the capacity to do
much more for the country providing a framework independent of a failed
State. As proof, the team or the council will push for a Humanitarian Aid
Relief Package (HARP) in order to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the Famine
situation, and the Security crisis.

II. The Principles for which WE Stand:
12. WE, are of the belief that a working democracy anywhere is one with a
political process driven with the participation of national stakeholders,
the institutions, and where the outcome be determined by the masses.

13. WE, vow to keep sacred our sovereignty under all circumstances.

14. WE, resolve to find a Haitian solution to this crisis.

15. WE, believe in the taking of full responsibility of our actions and full
blame of our failures.

16. WE, believe that no one should be excluded from participating in the
development of the country on the pure basis of political past.

17. WE, believe that no Haitian, in the interest of political gain, should
incite the public into violence and divisive slogans.

III. NOU Framework for Action (proposed)
18. WE, in addition to our resolve for a new political order in Haiti,
commit ourselves to a  concerted effort as civil society constituents, to
achieve short-term security and humanitarian goals for the country:
(i) Put a halt on the constant violence on the streets costing the lives of
innocent civilians.
(ii) Take a bite out of the HIV/AIDS epidemic which is gnawing the
population.
(iii) Accelerate efforts to provide food and medicines for the population.

19. WE, constituents of civil society, organizations, groups, associations,
endorsing Haiti NOU, in our quest to achieve our goals pledge ourselves to
the following:

(i) Mobilize strong national and international political commitment for
humanitarian assistance to the country, develop collective action plans
which enhance significantly the need of the population at large.
(ii) Ensure the engagement and participation of community-based
organizations in the formulation, implementation and monitoring of
strategies at the village level.
(iii) Implement as a matter of urgency education programmes and actions to
combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
(iv) Enhance the status of the State.
(v) Build on existing mechanisms to accelerate progress.

20. Drawing on historical evidence, the incoming organ to replace the
outgoing government will establish a commission to investigate past crimes;
in the sole vision of leading the country towards reconciliation.

21. WE, pledge to strengthen accountable international mechanisms to give
clear expression to these commitments and to ensure that the NOU Framework
for Action is on the agenda of every decision-making forum at the
international level.