17773: Dupuy: HSA Declaration (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: alex dupuy <adupuy@wesleyan.edu>

Haitian Studies Association Declaration of Principle on the Human Rights
Situation in Haiti


The Haitian Studies Association,

BEING DEEPLY CONCERNED about the continuing violation of human rights in
Haiti by the Government of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and/or its
supporters who act with impunity;

TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION that many intellectuals and academics in Haiti
and elsewhere have raised their voice against the Haitian Government’s
continuing repression and violation of the fundamental principles of
democratic liberties and the human rights of the citizens of Haiti;

CONSIDERING that as an independent scholarly organization the Haitian
Studies Association cannot remain neutral when the very principles it
believes in­the right of free speech, of assembly, of organization, of
protest, of individual liberties, and of the inviolability of the
person­are being systematically denied to our colleagues in and out of
academia, to opponents and critics of the government, and to ordinary
Haitian citizens;

CONVINCED that taking a principled stand against the Haitian Government’s
policies and practices does not mean endorsing or supporting any organized
Opposition to the Government;

CERTAIN that taking such a principled stand is a defense of the democratic
and human rights of all Haitian citizens, regardless of their personal or
political views;

AFFIRMING that the Haitian Studies Association is not taking a position on
the conflict between the Government of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and
the Opposition, or whether or not the Government of President Jean-Bertrand
Aristide is legitimate;

CALLING on the Government of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to act
quickly and decisively to bring those responsible for the violation of the
human rights of Haitian citizens to justice, and bring an end to impunity;

BELIEVING that the Haitian Government is obligated to respect the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the International
Convention on Torture, both of which it has ratified;

RECOGNIZING that implicit in this statement is that all political actors
must respect the rule of law and the rights of others;

MAINTAINING that the Government of Haiti is vested with the authority to
ensure that all citizens and political actors uphold the rule of law,
including itself and its supporters, the Government of Haiti must be called
to account when it violates that authority;

INSISTING that such a stand is in favor of political neutrality since it is
calling on the Government of Haiti to create the conditions that make it
possible for the citizens of Haiti to engage freely in politics and the
expression of ideas;

CONSIDERING that one of the clearest ways that the Haitian Studies
Association could express its support for democracy and opposition to
arbitrary government is to issue a Declaration of Principle,

  BELIEVING that for the Haitian Studies Association to remain silent on
the continuing violation of human rights on the ground of maintaining its
neutrality amounts in principle to taking a stand in support of the
Government of Jean-Bertrand Aristide;

CONSIDERING that to hold the next scheduled annual conference of the
Haitian Studies Association in Haiti next year and pretending that one can
engage in a free exchange of ideas, when in fact this is proving
increasingly difficult and dangerous for those who live and work in Haiti,
would in effect validate the Government of Jean-Bertrand Aristide’s claim
that it does not violate the human rights of its citizens and that those
who so accuse it are seeking to undermine its authority;

BELIEVING that such a claim is discredited by the continuing violation of
the human rights of Haitian citizens by members of the Haitian National
Police, which is charged with protecting, not abusing human rights,
supporters of, or gang-members supporting the Government of Jean-Bertrand
Aristide who act with impunity;

BELIEVING that the Haitian Studies Association could show its solidarity
with intellectuals, writers, artists, journalists, human rights advocates,
and educators in Haiti by issuing a Declaration of Principle that calls on
the Government of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to uphold the rule of
law, put an end to impunity, and respect and protect the human rights and
civil liberties of the citizens of Haiti;

BE IT RESOLVED that the Haitian Studies Association take a stand on the
violation of human rights by the Government of Jean-Bertrand Aristide and
its supporters who act with impunity and call on the Government to uphold
the rule of law and allow the citizens of Haiti to exercise their
constitutional and civil rights without fear of persecution;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Haitian Studies Association will not hold
future conferences in Haiti, starting with the previously scheduled 2004
Annual Conference, until the Government of Haiti respects and protects the
non-derogable human rights of the citizens of Haiti, not just in words and
official declarations but in practice.

Kathleen M. Balutansky, President
Marie-José N’Zengou-Tayo, Vice-President






__________

Alex Dupuy
Professor of Sociology
Wesleyan University
Middletown, CT 06459
860-685-2952
Fax: 860-685-2781