18518: White: Haiti Action Committee letter to the U.S. State Department 2/12/04 (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Randall White <raw@haitiaction.org>

Secretary Powell,

On February 9, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher told
reporters in Washington, DC:

"We recognize that reaching a political settlement will require some
fairly thorough changes in the way Haiti is governed... I think that
could indeed involve changes in Aristide's position."  Regardless of
how The State Department is trying to portray these remarks, most
major news organizations interpret them to mean that President Jean
Betrand Aritide must step down as President of Haiti. If that is not
the position of the U.S. State Department, then it must immediately
and formally rescind those remarks.

In order to encourage a peaceful normalization of the situation in
Haiti, the U. S. State Department must make it clear that President
Aristide shall not once again be prevented from completing his term
as the constitutionally elected President of Haiti while all sides
must seek a political solution quickly through dialogue, negotiations
and democratic elections.

The Haiti Action Committee condemns this blatant attempt by the U.S.
to sabotage Haiti's constitutional government.  This State
Department's statement knowingly gives the green light to the
opposition forces in Haiti who are trying to take through violent
means what they have never been able to win through elections. In
order to not repeat the genocide that occurred in Rwanda, the
international community must support the constitutional mandate given
by the People of Haiti to stop the possibility of civil war. Thus, as
the violence continues to mount in Haiti, the U.S. government, in
particular, bears a high degree of responsibility for the current
situation.

Understandably, the People of Haiti will not allow their democracy to
be overturned by any internal or foreign force, power or policy. They
have made it clear that they are ready to die to see their vote
respected. The recent actions of the U.S. State Department has pushed
Haiti to the brink of civil war.

If the situation in Haiti continues along the path provided by
remarks of Richard Boucher and Louis Joinet-provoking the conditions
where President Aristide does not complete his five-year term-the
resulting civil war will push back peace and progress in Haiti more
than fifty years. Many thousand of Haitian lives are at stake in this
dangerous game being played by the Bush Administration.

The Country of Haiti belongs to its people. This Friday, February
13th, in Manhattan the Haitian-American community will come together
with other friends of Haiti to speak as one voice of solidarity with
the HAITIAN PEOPLE AND THEIR COUNTRY.

In Haiti they have been saying:

"We will not go into hiding again in our own country!"

"ELEKSYON WI KOUDETA, LANMO NON"

Yes, to elections - No, to Coup D'etat and Death

The Haiti Action Committee supports the People of Haiti in their
demand for respect. Respect for The Haitian People's right to vote,
respect for their right to democracy, to self-determination, and
self-rule.

Respect for President Aristide's 5-year mandate. Respect their
children's right to attend school without the opposition campaign of
forced school closings, violent demonstrations and daily strikes that
threaten their safety. Respect for Haitian life and the rule of law
in Haiti. At that demonstration and with their voices the People of
Haiti will make it clear:

"Haitian people will not tolerate this interference, especially in
this our bi-centennial year in which we celebrate our nation's
triumph over both racial slavery and French colonial domination.

"Our rights to democracy are sacred. Our right to vote for the leader
of our choice is called "D E M O C R A C Y." We voted for Aristide.
This time, he shall serve his full 5-year term.This times we won't
have a foreign sponsored-Coup D'etat in Haiti."

The Haiti Action Committee is working for peace. Peace for all
Haitians.  We demand that our own U.S. government respect the rights
of the Haitian People to freely and democratically chose and
keep their own sovereign government.

Haiti Action Committee

www.HaitiAction.net
info@haitiaction.org

P.O. Box 2218
Berkeley, CA 94702