20690: Esser: Haiti Human Rights Protest on Wash. Mall (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. Esser torx@joimail.com

Haiti Human Rights Protest on Wash. Mall
DC Indymedia (dc.indymedia.org)

March 21, 2004

The Washington Mall tourists were witness today to a small but
adament crowd of roughly a hundred protesters to the US's recent
assault on democracy in Haiti. This event was organized by 10th DOHE,
10th Department Organization for Haitian Empowerment, a non-partisan,
non-profit organization that seeks to strengthen transnational ties
between the Haitian Diaspora, Haiti and international communities for
the empowerment of Haitian people throughout the world.

The protesters marched from Constitution Avenue to the State
Department, then on to White House, and concluded at the National
Mall where they participated in the National Rally for Democracy in
Haiti. The activists rallied around thier outrage to the US's
involvement in the violent overthrow and forced exile of Haiti’s
President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. They contended that this overthrow
of a legitimately elected government has ripped aside the democratic
pretensions of Washington and the other major powers to expose the
brutal and predatory character of imperialism in the modern world.
The actions taken by the US government in Haiti demonstrate the
farcical character of its claims that the aim of the US invasion of
Iraq was to inaugurate an era of democratization and freedom in the
Middle East and around the world. They contended that Aristide’s
overthrow is the outcome of a bloody coup. Speakers talked about the
apparent orchestration of the coup by the Bush administration and
denounced the interferance and the kidnapping of Aristide. They
called for the US to allow Aristide's return so that he could finish
out his elected term and denouned the U.S. backed Prime Minister
Latortue. The march and rally was endorsed by: Congresswoman Maxine
Waters, California ,Congressman John Conyers, Michigan ,Haiti Action
Committee, Ajoupa ,Veye Yo, Fondasyon Trant Septanm, Haitian American
Association of Massachusetts, Black Voices for Peace, Haiti Support
Project, Brothers and Sisters International,Washington International
Committee on Haiti, Haitian American Leadership Council, EPICA
(Ecumenical Program on Central America and the Caribbean ),
TransAfrica Forum, Pastors for Peace, Global Justice,Washington Peace
Center.

The demands were:

1. The U.S. FREE President Aristide and RESTORE him back to office
NOW!!!

2. The Haitian army MUST NOT be allowed to reconstruct themselves.

3. The IMMEDIATE ARREST of Louis Jodel Chamblain, Jean Tatoune, Guy
Philippe and other FRAPH death squad members (Convicted felons and
murderers cannot be a part of Haiti's democratic process).

4. A congressional investigation to determine the extent of US
involvement.

5. Asylum be granted to democratic supporters seeking refuge

6. Fair and credible parliamentary elections in Haiti .

7. Peaceful and diplomatic resolutions, and an end to the violence
and terrorism in Haiti .

8. Haiti s sovereignty and its constitution must be RESPECTED .

9. Haitian-Americans and friends to vote for regime change in the
White House on November 2, 2004.

10. Haitians must STAND UNITED for peace reconciliation, in unity
today for a stronger Haiti and Diaspora tomorrow.
.