19118: Rep. Maxine Waters' letter on Haiti 2-23-04 (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Randall White <raw@haitiaction.org>

February 23, 2004


By Facsimile
(202) 647-8947

The Honorable Colin Powell
Secretary of State
Department of State
2201 C Street, NW, Room 7261
Washington, DC  20520

Dear Secretary Powell:

         As you may know, I returned to Haiti this
past weekend.  While there, it became clear to me
that a bloodbath in that country is imminent in
spite of the fact that President Jean-Bertrand
Aristide has agreed to the peace plan worked out
by the international community.

         The opposition has rejected the peace
plan, and they have refused to negotiate.  They
also have sent a signal to groups of thugs and a
newly formed army of exiled criminals that they
will support the violent overthrow of the
democratically-elected government of Haiti.

         These thugs, and the newly reformed army
made up of exiled former military officers and
criminals known as The Front for the Advancement
and Progress of Haiti (FRAPH), have murdered many
people in Cap Haitien and now control several
cities.  They are now on their way to
Port-au-Prince, and there will be a bloodbath
there in hours unless there is some form of
intervention from the United States and the
international community beyond merely securing
their embassies.

         I implore you to act immediately to send
assistance to Haiti to strengthen the Haitian
police force and to restore law and order and
preserve democracy in Haiti.

                                                 Sincerely,



                                                 Maxine Waters
                                                 Member of Congress


MW:ks


cc:     His Excellency Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations
         His Excellency César Gaviria, the Secretary General of the OAS
         The Honorable Michael Kergin, Ambassador of Canada
         The Honorable Jean-David Levitte, Ambassador of France
         The Heads of State of CARICOM
         The Ambassadors of CARICOM
         The Members of the Congressional Black Caucus
         The Honorable Ron Dellums
         Rev. Jesse Jackson
         Mr. Randall Robinson
         Ms. Hazel Ross-Robinson
         Electronic and print media